In the world of enterprise hardware, some design conventions go practically unquestioned. The classic rack-mounted metal box? It’s long been the default for meeting space equipment—heavy, sturdy, and left largely unchallenged by the industry. At Cisco, we asked ourselves: Why settle for the status quo?
That question sparked a transformation. Enter the new Cisco Room Kit Pro G2: the most powerful engine we’ve ever created to orchestrate the modern meeting space. Powered by NVIDIA and brimming with connectivity—so much so, the back panel could barely fit a logo—Room Kit Pro G2 is purpose-built to simplify and supercharge rooms filled with cameras, mics, and all of the AVoIP, PoE, and HDMI devices you need to deliver cinematic, intelligent experiences. Supporting Webex, Microsoft Teams Rooms built on Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform, and Zoom Meetings in Cisco Rooms, it lets you meet any way you want, with the full-stack observability, manageability, and security that only Cisco can provide.
But that’s just the beginning. All this capability fits into a rackmount box—yet we refused to accept “good enough” design and engineering of that enclosure. Instead, we saw an opportunity to rewrite the rulebook for sustainability and purposeful design.
Engineering for a Lighter Footprint
Our Inevitable design language puts sustainability front and center, not just as a feature but as a defining principle. For Room Kit Pro G2, we dove deep: How could we take mass and excess out of the chassis—without any compromise in durability or performance?
The answer came from unexpected places. Our team drew inspiration from titanium camping spoons and car bodies, sheetmetal with shapes stamped into them that increase their stiffness. By introducing subtle, dune-like ridges into the top surface of the chassis, we were able to halve the wall thickness of the main enclosure—passing every strength and safety test with room to spare. The result is a lighter, ultra-sturdy all-metal box, free of plastic faceplates and built from just two main pieces instead of four.
We didn’t stop there. We reimagined the mounting brackets, replacing bulky assemblies with a pair of slim, versatile L-shaped parts that simplify installation and further cut down on material. The total savings? Up to a full kilogram—2.2 pounds—of metal per unit, depending on configuration.
Sustainability That Scales
That may sound like a small change, but across a year’s worth of Room Kit Pro G2 units, we’ve eliminated the mass equivalent of 16 vintage Volkswagen Beetles from our supply chain. The CO₂ reduction? It’s equivalent to what 1,244 mature trees absorb in a year. And less mass means less packaging, smaller shipping volumes, and reduced fuel consumption—delivering further environmental benefits at every stage.
Challenging Every Assumption—for Customers and the Planet
We sweat these details because every gram matters. By challenging conventions, we deliver products that are better for our customers and better for the world, all without compromise. Room Kit Pro G2 proves that sustainable, beautiful design can go hand-in-hand with industry-leading power, versatility, and reliability.
So, why redesign a rack mount box? Because at Cisco, we believe every detail is an opportunity—to make things better.
Stay tuned as we continue to push the boundaries of sustainable hardware design. The future of collaboration deserves nothing less.
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