Project Overview

Do It Best Corp, a national leader in hardware and building materials distribution, needed to upgrade the network infrastructure across seven of their key regional distribution warehouses. These locations spanned Woodburn, Oregon; Mesquite, Nevada; Waco, Texas; Dixon, Illinois; Sikeston, Missouri; Lexington, South Carolina; and Montgomery, New York. The project required full network redesigns and implementations to support future technology deployments.

The Challenges

Do It Best Corp needed a scalable, comprehensive solution to accommodate upcoming technological advancements, including:

• VOIP phone systems

• Enhanced wireless networks

• Warehouse management systems (WMS)

• New camera and paging systems

Each warehouse presented unique requirements and required a tailored network design.

Our Solution

The team at Wired Communications provided design-build services to implement a new network cabling infrastructure across all seven sites, each customized to meet specific needs.

• Telecommunications Room (TC) Layout:
  We designed new TC layouts to ensure complete Ethernet coverage. Depending on warehouse size, we installed between 8 and 14 TCs per site. Additionally, one TC was installed in the flame room of each facility, incorporating the appropriate NEMA-rated cabinets and cabling.

• Redundant Fiber Backbone:
  We installed redundant single-mode fiber backbones in a star topology at each location, with primary and secondary fibers running from the main distribution frame (MDF) to intermediate distribution frames (IDFs).

• Cat6 Cabling:
  Each site was outfitted with 500 to 700 Cat6 cables, depending on the size and requirements of the warehouse. The cables were protected using a combination of EMT, rigid metal conduit, and LiquidTight flex conduit in high-traffic areas to ensure durability and performance.

• Consultation for Camera and Paging Systems:
  At select sites, we provided design consultation for new camera and paging systems to further enhance security and communication capabilities.

• Wireless Access Points and Cameras:
  We installed wireless access points (APs) and cameras at various locations to support the modernization of the warehouses’ network infrastructure.

• Siemon Manufacturer's Warranty:
  Each network installation was covered under the Siemon manufacturer’s warranty, ensuring long-term reliability and peace of mind.

Client Results

• A modern, scalable network infrastructure tailored to each warehouse's needs.

• Improved network coverage, redundancy, and system readiness across all seven distribution centers.

• Future-proof infrastructure, preparing each facility to handle technological upgrades and evolving operational needs.