The DCA Year 2 class was delighted to welcome Derek Finlay, Operations & Sales Director at Wood Communications (WoodComm), for an engaging and highly informative session on data center infrastructure and modern networking technologies.
Derek began with a live fiber‑splicing demonstration, giving students a valuable opportunity to observe real industry techniques in action. He also showcased a range of professional tools and components—including Ethernet cabling, single‑mode and multi‑mode fiber, and OTDR (Optical Time‑Domain Reflectometer) testing devices—all essential to today’s network installation and diagnostics workflows.
In addition to the technical demonstrations, Derek delivered a thorough overview of data center infrastructure, exploring key areas such as power systems, cooling strategies, structured cabling (Cat5e/6/6a/7a), intelligent PDUs, environmental sensors, modular data centers, and the design and specification processes used in enterprise‑scale networking solutions. The discussion around modular data centers highlighted their growing importance as scalable, efficient, and sustainable solutions for modern digital environments.
Derek’s industry expertise brought classroom concepts to life, helping students clearly understand how enterprise and large‑scale network operations are designed, deployed, and maintained in professional settings.
The class also learned that Wood Communications Ltd celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, marking a century of leadership in datacomms, telecom, security, and training solutions. This impressive milestone reflects the company’s long‑standing commitment to innovation, quality, and customer service.
The DCA Year 2 students found the visit extremely informative, engaging, and inspiring, deepening their understanding of networking, enterprise systems, and data center technologies. The group extends a sincere thank you to Derek Finlay and Wood Communications for sharing their expertise and supporting the next generation of networking professionals.