Case Study: Delivering a Custom High-Density Fiber to the Desktop (FTTD) Enclosure
- Apr 17th 2026
A client recently approached our team at Cables Plus with a challenge: they needed a proprietary fiber enclosure capable of securely delivering high-density fiber connectivity directly to user workstations within a secure business office environment.
The enclosure had to support multiple mounting configurations while maintaining strict fiber management standards and a compact footprint suitable for controlled spaces.
When no commercial solution could meet these combined requirements for density, flexibility, and security, Cables Plus took on the task of engineering a purpose-built enclosure from the ground up, which is now patent-pending. What followed was a structured, collaborative development process that moved from concept to prototype to production-ready deployment. The following outlines the specific challenges that shaped the design and the disciplined approach used to bring the solution to life.
The Challenge: Complex Requirements with Zero Off-the-Shelf Solutions
The customer required a proprietary fiber enclosure capable of supporting multiple mounting configurations, including wall-mount, under-desk, and raceway-embedded installations, within a controlled office environment.
The solution needed to:
- Maintain proper fiber management and bend radius protection
- Support secure terminations near the workstation
- Provide a compact, high-density footprint
- Integrate cleanly into a controlled office setting
There was one significant obstacle: no commercial market product solution existed. Recognizing the need for a purpose-built enclosure, the customer authorized Cables Plus USA to develop a comprehensive project outline for design and development. This included defined engineering steps, timeline milestones, and projected costs required to make the proprietary solution a reality.
The Solution: A Collaborative Path to a Custom Fiber Solution
Planning
The project began with discussion meetings between the customer, Cables Plus engineers, and the product design team. These sessions focused on defining the functional, environmental, and mechanical requirements. From these meetings, Cables Plus created a detailed project outline including development phases, timeline expectations, and cost structure. After refinement and customer agreement, the project officially launched.
Concept Development
Initial enclosure design and functionality were developed using 2D engineering drawings to define layout, mounting structure, and internal fiber routing. The design then advanced to a 3D CAD printed first piece model for internal evaluation and validation. Internally, the enclosure went through three feedback cycles and three revised 3D CAD prototype models. Each revision refined structural elements, mounting options, and fiber management features to ensure both durability and installation efficiency. Once the team reached an agreeable internal solution, the fourth 3D CAD model was printed and presented to the customer during an initial prototype design review meeting.
Prototype Refinement & Mold Preparation
The customer and Cables Plus team reviewed the prototype together and reached overall approval of the design direction. The refinements identified during this meeting were positive and fully achievable within the design parameters. With alignment established, the engineering team moved toward developing a final drawing suitable for submitting to the mold manufacturer for functional mold design.
At this stage, the mold manufacturer provided their feedback to be incorporated into the design, and design refinements continued through multiple cycles. In total, five rapid prototype assemblies were developed for review and approval.
A second formal meeting was held with the customer to evaluate the pre-production model that most closely resembled the final version of the enclosure’s three primary components. This physical prototype included the fiber optic components installed for the customer’s proprietary application, ensuring real-world validation of both performance and assembly.
The Result: A Secure, Scalable Fiber Solution
The final prototype successfully met all performance, installation, and design requirements. Following approval, manufacturing timelines and deployment schedules were established, confirming production readiness. The enclosure design is now patent pending, underscoring its unique approach to high-density fiber delivery and secure workstation integration.
The final prototype successfully met all performance, installation, and design requirements. Following approval, manufacturing timelines and deployment schedules were established, confirming production readiness.
Early deployment results validated both the design and the implementation process:
The enclosures are working well. The enclosures are performing as expected, and we’ve established a process that supports consistent deployment.” - Dan S., IT professional using the FTTD enclosure
Its compact footprint, flexible mounting options, and structured fiber management enabled secure, organized fiber deployment exactly where it was needed, at the edge of the network. The result was a scalable, production-ready solution that supports long-term performance and growth.
By extending fiber directly to the workstation, the solution supports higher bandwidth throughput, eliminates distance-related performance constraints, and enhances physical layer security. It also reduces dependency on centralized telecom rooms, enabling more efficient and flexible network design.
A second wave of installation is scheduled for Q2 2026, continuing the rollout of this proprietary enclosure program.
Cables Plus Engineering Innovation: Fiber to the Desktop (FTTD)
Fiber to the Desktop (FTTD) eliminates the bandwidth ceilings, 100-meter distance limitations, and security vulnerabilities inherent in traditional copper cabling. By extending fiber directly to the workstation, organizations gain virtually unlimited scalability, enhanced physical security, reduced dependency on telecom rooms, and a future-ready foundation capable of supporting next-generation applications.
If your team needs a trusted supplier to support your communications infrastructure work, Cables Plus USA has the experience, engineering capability, inventory, and service to help you succeed. From proprietary enclosure development to ready-to-deploy fiber solutions, we help organizations build networks that are secure, scalable, and built for the future.