With every employee and company having so many personal devices, workspaces nowadays are demanding more from furniture than ever before. While technology offers so much convenience, getting the most out of it takes power outlets, USB ports, HDMI connections, charging stations… and the list grows longer each year.
Somewhere, in the middle of all the tech, sits your customer, who hopes their conference table won’t look like a tangled mess of cables.
And that’s where intentional wire management can become your advantage.
Over the past two decades, we’ve worked alongside furniture OEMs and dealers who have to navigate modern challenges like this. We know that the right cable solutions can turn spaces from chaotic to professional. That’s a huge differentiator when poorly planned wire management undermines even the most elegant furniture designs.
So we’ve created this guide to give you a practical framework for matching wire management solutions to your customers’ real needs. You can see when each approach works best, and why the decisions you make during specification matter far more than most people realize.
By the end, you can confidently recommend solutions that keep cables organized, spaces looking sharp, and your clients coming back for more projects.
Why Wire Management Matters
Walk into any conference room and count all the devices – laptops, phones, tablets, presentation equipment, monitors. Each of them needs power. Many need data connections. Some require specialized AV cables.
The cable proliferation creates real problems. Tangled cords look unprofessional in client-facing spaces. Exposed cables can be trip hazards and cause potential liability. Cables damaged by improper routing reduce equipment lifespan and create frustrating troubleshooting sessions.
On top of that, lost productivity adds up quickly when teams waste time wrestling with connection issues instead of focusing on a meeting agenda or task at hand.
Here’s why this is important for your business:
Wire management directly impacts your customer satisfaction.
A beautifully crafted conference table loses its appeal when surrounded by cable chaos. But a thoughtful integration of power and data solutions? That’s the kind of detail your clients remember and mention to colleagues.
Conference tables present unique challenges:
- Technology demands are concentrated in a tight area
- Users expect flexibility and to reconfigure seating arrangements easily
- Multiple people need simultaneous access to power and connectivity (while using different device types)
- Every cable shows prominently
When you can address challenges like these upfront, it turns frustrating installations into memorable ones.
An Overview of Wire Management Solutions
Five types of solutions can be used either independently or in conjunction to address different situations and wire management needs:
- Surface-Integrated solutions include grommets, in-surface power modules, and flip-up connectivity boxes built into table surfaces. These give users convenient access to power and data exactly where they sit.
- Under-Surface solutions like cable trays, baskets, and vertical wire managers mount beneath tables to organize and route cables horizontally between access points and power sources. This keeps everything concealed from view.
- Base-Integrated solutions incorporate wire management directly into table structures. Hollow columns, panel base channels, and post leg attachments hide cables within the table itself for practically invisible routing.
- Raceway solutions use adhesive-mounted channels and conduits to create protected pathways along table legs and undersides. This is a cost-effective way to add cable organization to existing surfaces.
- Power and Data Connectivity solutions encompass the endpoints where users actually plug in, such as desktop power units with outlets and USB ports, HDMI/AV boxes for presentations, and wireless charging modules.
Comparing the Different Approaches to Cable Management
Successful wire management takes a careful balance of competing priorities: aesthetics versus accessibility, built-in versus retrofit, capacity versus profile, and simple additions versus coordinated systems.
The comparison table below helps you navigate these trade-offs.
Solution Comparison at a Glance
| Solution Type | Best For | Key Advantage | Gibraltar Products | Installation Timing | Typical Cost |
| Surface-Integrated | Users need direct device access at multiple seats | Convenience at the point of use | Coordinates with base specifications for optimal placement | During table manufacturing | Higher initial investment |
| Under-Surface | High cable volumes + complete concealment from above | Maximum capacity and hidden routing | Wire trays designed for Gibraltar base footprints | During manufacturing or retrofit | Moderate |
| Base-Integrated | Complete invisibility + mobile tables | Seamless structural integration | Panel bases with wire channels, media bases, hollow column bases | Must specify during manufacturing | Premium |
| Raceway | Retrofitting existing furniture cost-effectively | Flexibility and easy adjustment | Universal Wire Manager 9001 (flat) / 9002 (round) | After delivery, field installation | Budget-friendly |
📐 For Manufacturers: Base-integrated solutions require coordination during your design phase. Our engineering team can review your table designs and recommend wire management approaches that work with your production processes – before you commit to tooling or first production runs. Standard configurations ship within 2-3 weeks. Custom modifications are available with no minimum orders for testing.
Factors for Choosing the Right Wire Management Solution
When selecting wire management solutions, consider these key factors:
- Primary use case. Dedicated conference rooms vs. multipurpose spaces? Fixed seating or frequent reconfiguration? Technology-intensive presentations or occasional connectivity?
- User connectivity needs. Does everyone need access, or just presenters? How many devices per person? What AV requirements exist?
- Aesthetic priorities. Executive/client-facing spaces demanding complete concealment? Or internal spaces accepting visible solutions?
- Project timing. New manufacturing (allows built-in solutions) or retrofit (limits options, increases costs)?
- Long-term flexibility. How often will technology change? Will the space be reconfigured? What maintenance access is needed?
📐 For Manufacturers: Involve Gibraltar during product development for optimal integration. Early coordination prevents costly redesigns. Our engineering team can review your table designs and recommend wire management approaches before tooling commitments.
The Built-In vs. Retrofit Decision
Deciding between built-in and retrofit is an important choice that impacts factors such as cost, quality, and aesthetics.
Built-In Solutions
These options deliver superior results, as cables can hide within structural elements with seamless integration. Best for aesthetics and long-term value, but this does require planning during manufacturing and typically more upfront investment. Changes after production are difficult for built-in wire management.
Choose built-in when:
- Manufacturing new tables or product lines
- Aesthetics demand complete cable invisibility
- Mobile tables need protected routing
- Connectivity requirements are clear and stable
Retrofit Solutions
These wire management solutions offer flexibility. Add wire management to existing furniture when convenient. Retrofit solutions adapt as technology evolves. They usually come with a lower initial cost (but higher labor rates and potential aesthetic compromises). Gibraltar’s Universal Wire Managers (9001/9002) provide a clean retrofit approach with coordinated finishes.
Choose retrofit when:
- Existing furniture functions well structurally
- Budget constraints prevent replacement
- Requirements might change
- Visible wire management is acceptable
Hybrid Approach
Some installations combine both strategies. For example, you might specify base-integrated solutions during manufacturing for primary routing, and then add retrofit components later for user access or expansion. Gibraltar’s modular system supports this approach – panel bases with integrated channels provide the foundation while universal wire managers add routing as needs evolve.
Quick Decision Guide
- Surface-integrated: User access at seats + premium appearance + specification during manufacturing
- Under-surface: High cable volume + complete concealment + accessible installation space
- Base-integrated: Gibraltar bases + mobile tables + seamless aesthetics + new manufacturing
- Raceway: Retrofit existing furniture + budget-friendly + flexible routing
- Combination: Complex connectivity + large tables + distributed access + central equipment management
Planning Checklist
Before specifying solutions:
- Estimate your customer’s cable volume:
- User count
- Devices per person
- Presentation equipment
- Check table material compatibility (hardwood, laminate, and glass require different approaches)
- Document cable routing paths and capacity needs
- Plan service access for future technology changes
📐 For Manufacturers: Gibraltar components can integrate at different production stages – panel bases during frame assembly, surface-mounted bases before finishing, universal wire managers during final assembly. Our engineering team provides installation sequence guidance and quality control checkpoints specific to your workflow.
Application-Specific Recommendations for Managing Wires
Different environments have distinct wire management requirements. Use this reference table to find your application.
At-a-Glance Application Guide
| Application | Primary Challenge | Recommended Approach | Gibraltar Solution |
| Corporate Conference Rooms | Professional appearance + multi-device connectivity | Panel bases + surface modules | Panel bases with integrated wire channels |
| Educational & Training | Frequent reconfiguration + durability | Protected routing + distributed access | Flip-top/folding bases with wire protection |
| Healthcare Facilities | Cleanability + mobility | Sealed routing + caster bases | Mobile bases with contamination-resistant routing |
| Hospitality & Events | Rapid setup + guest aesthetics | Internal routing + flexibility | Folding bases with hollow column routing |
| Executive Boardrooms | Complete concealment + premium finishes | Custom integrated systems | Panel bases with custom wire channels |
| Open Collaborative Spaces | User flexibility + casual function | Mobile power + protected routing | Caster bases with 9002 Universal Wire Manager |
How Gibraltar Helps You Find Wire Management Solutions That Work With Your Tables and Desks
Unlike many base manufacturers who treat wire management as an afterthought, Gibraltar engineers it into the structural design from the start. Wire channels integrate with panel base extrusions.
While suppliers may offer only standard configurations, we customize – without minimum orders. Test solutions with your actual applications before committing to large quantities. Need a custom finish to match your table line? We can coordinate that. Require dimensional modifications for unique designs? Our engineering team works with you to develop the right solution.
Vendors often disappear after the sale, but Gibraltar provides next-day support throughout your project. Call with a question and talk to people who understand furniture applications – not automated systems or offshore call centers. Our Michigan-based team responds within one business day and stays engaged from specification through installation and beyond.
We are also focused on building partnerships, unlike commodity suppliers that focus solely on transactions. We help manufacturers develop product lines where wire management becomes a marketable feature.
And we support dealers with technical expertise that strengthens their consultative role. Your success directly impacts our success, which is why we’ve maintained a 99.9% on-time and error-free shipping record for over two decades.
Why This Matters to Your Business
Our comprehensive product integration means consistent solutions across our panel bases, media bases, surface-mounted bases, and universal wire managers. Modular design lets you start simple and expand as needs evolve.
For manufacturers: Streamlined production integration with clear documentation. Gibraltar’s patented designs give you exclusive product capabilities. Product line scalability from entry-level to premium tiers – one supplier serves your entire range.
For dealers: Technical expertise strengthens your consultative role. Next-business-day support throughout projects. Durable components reduce callbacks. Solutions that address operational problems demonstrate value beyond price.
Finding Your Wire Management Solution
Use this quick reference chart to match your objectives to the right solutions.
Wire Management Selection Chart
| Your Objective | Primary Solution | Secondary/Complement | Gibraltar Products |
| Manufacturing premium tables | Base-Integrated | Surface-Integrated | Panel bases, media bases |
| Manufacturing mobile tables | Base-Integrated | Raceway (as backup) | Bases with protected routing |
| Manufacturing budget-conscious line | Raceway-ready design | Under-Surface options | 9001/9002 Universal Wire Manager |
| Retrofitting existing furniture | Raceway | Under-Surface | 9001/9002 Universal Wire Manager |
| High cable volume projects | Under-Surface | Base-Integrated | Power Box Wire Management |
| Distributed user access needs | Surface-Integrated | Under-Surface | 9001/9002 Universal Wire Manager |
| Executive/boardroom spaces | Combination | All approaches | Full product line |
When to Combine Multiple Approaches
You’ll likely need more than one solution type when:
- Table length exceeds 12 feet with users along both sides
- Cable count exceeds 20+ individual cables
- Users need power access at seats and equipment needs to be managed centrally
- Both power and data/AV cables require separation for performance
- Premium aesthetics demand concealment and accessibility matters for service
Pro tip: Start with base-integrated or under-surface for primary routing, then add surface-integrated access points where users actually sit. Gibraltar’s modular approach makes this combination seamless for you.
What’s Next?
You’ve just invested time understanding wire management solutions. That knowledge puts you ahead of most furniture professionals who discover cable problems too late – after the tables are built, after clients complain, and after warranty issues emerge.
That’s the first step toward delivering better furniture systems.
The next step? It depends on your needs at this time:
Ready to Start a Project?
You know your requirements and you’re ready to move forward. Contact our team to discuss your specific application.
Call us at 616-748-4857 or email [email protected]. Share your table types, quantities, and connectivity requirements. We’ll provide a quote within one business day and help you coordinate finishes, specifications, and delivery timing for your project schedule.
Our team will work with you to find wire management solutions that work for your specific application – no matter if you’re manufacturing a new product line or specifying furniture for a client installation.
Still Exploring Your Options?
You understand wire management better now, but you need to see products and evaluate solutions before committing.
Browse our online catalog at gibraltarinc.com to explore our complete range of table bases, universal wire managers, and wire management solutions. View product specifications, finish options, and dimensional details at your own pace.
Order sample components to evaluate quality, finishes, and integration with your tables. We maintain no minimum order requirements, so you can test solutions with actual applications before larger commitments. Request finish samples to ensure proper coordination with your furniture line or project specifications.
Have a Specific Challenge?
Your situation doesn’t fit standard scenarios, or you need custom solutions for unique requirements.
Describe your challenge to our engineering team. We’ve worked with furniture professionals for over twenty years solving wire management problems. Your situation probably isn’t as unusual as you think, and we’ve likely helped someone solve something similar.
Discuss custom modifications to standard products. Need dimensional changes for unique table designs? Require custom finishes to match your brand? Want proprietary wire management features for your product line? Our team collaborates on solutions that address your specific needs.
Review your table designs with our engineers before finalizing specifications. Early coordination prevents costly redesigns and ensures wire management integrates smoothly with your production processes or installation requirements.
Contact Gibraltar:
- Phone: 616-748-4857
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: gibraltarinc.com