A data center, or data processing center, is a critical infrastructure comprising various installation areas in which electrical, telecommunications, HVAC, photovoltaic, security, monitoring and control, among other systems, operate together. These facilities process, protect, and transmit large volumes of information in real time.
The data center sector is becoming increasingly important as reliance on highly available digital services continues to grow across economic, technological, and social activities. This trend is being driven by several factors, including the expansion of cloud computing, the growing demand for low-latency services, and the rapid increase in AI workloads, all of which are placing increasing demands on the energy infrastructure of these facilities. According to the Key Questions on Energy and AI report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity demand from the global data centre sector increased by 17% in 2025. For facilities dedicated to artificial intelligence, the increase was even more significant, with electricity demand rising by 50% during the same year. The IEA also forecasts that electricity consumption by data centers will almost double by 2030, rising from approximately 485 TWh in 2025 to around 950 TWh, equivalent to approximately 3% of global electricity demand.
At Unex, we have been manufacturing innovative insulating cable management systems for electrical, telecommunications, and HVAC installations for more than 60 years. This track record has given us a thorough understanding of the challenges encountered during both the design phase and the operational life of installations. Our extensive experience in telecommunications infrastructure—such as technical rooms, equipment racks, ICT networks in buildings, and cable management systems used for communications services—has further strengthened our expertise in insulating systems for the routing, protection, and identification of cabling in technically demanding environments.
This expertise is particularly relevant in data centers, whose operations are organised into dedicated functional areas such as power supply and distribution, HVAC systems, photovoltaic power generation, IT rooms, the Meet-Me Room, and the Network Operations Center (NOC). Across all of these areas, cable management systems form part of a critical infrastructure that must operate continuously, efficiently, and safely.
Unex insulating solutions help address these challenges by providing non-conductive, durable systems that are easy to install on site and tailored to the specific requirements of each area within the data center. As part of this range of solutions, we would like to focus on two product ranges—Insulating Cable Tray 66 and Insulating Cable Ladder 67—to highlight some of the areas where they offer clear advantages.
Unex Insulating Cable Tray 66 is designed for data, telecommunications, and auxiliary circuit cable routes in IT rooms, Network Operations Centers (NOCs), and other technical areas throughout the data center.
IT rooms form the operational core of the data center. They are technical areas that house servers and storage systems used to run applications and store data. The NOC centrally monitors and remotely manages all activities across the data center, covering both electromechanical systems and IT systems. The products used in these technical areas must address cable management requirements and allow the installation of wiring accessories from the distribution board to the connection point, while meeting the specific requirements of different professional environments. Insulating Cable Tray 66 enables cables to be routed in a clear, organised, and protected manner.
Advantages and benefits of this product:
In addition, the Unex Insulating Cable Tray 66 range is available in U23X and U48X. The latter is a halogen-free thermoplastic incorporating a 100% recycled thermoplastic component, which can contribute to achieving sustainable building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM.
Insulating Cable Ladder 67 is intended for routing medium- and large-cross-section power cables, typically used in the power supply and distribution systems of a data center.
Within the data center, it can be used for power supply, HVAC systems, photovoltaic power generation, and other applications. Its open construction promotes natural air circulation around the cables and contributes to heat dissipation. This characteristic is particularly relevant in installations with high electrical loads, where effective heat dissipation plays an important role in the efficiency of the electrical system.
Insulating Cable Ladder 67 provides high structural rigidity, is capable of supporting full loads, and enables the distance between supports to be optimised. These features allow robust, accessible cable routes to be planned for future extensions.
Advantages and benefits of Insulating Cable Ladder 67:
The Unex Insulating Cable Ladder 67 range is also available in U23X and U48X. U48X is a halogen-free thermoplastic incorporating a 100% recycled thermoplastic component, which can contribute to achieving sustainable building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM.
At Unex, we understand that critical infrastructure requires technical expertise, experience, adaptability, and solutions that address real-world challenges. That is why our goal is to support our customers in making informed decisions that enhance safety, simplify installation, facilitate maintenance and enable the data center to expand in a structured way.
Insulating Cable Tray 66 and Insulating Cable Ladder 67 form part of our offering for data centers, alongside other systems such as Slotted Trunking 77 and 88, Trunking 73, and Cable Ties 22-0. Together, they help create safe cable routes tailored to the different areas of the data center, while meeting the current and future requirements of these facilities.
Are you working on a data center project?
At Unex, we work with you to identify the cable management solution best suited to each area of your installation.
Get in touch with us for expert technical advice.