The modern workplace is evolving rapidly, and office infrastructure must evolve with it. As organizations embrace flexible layouts, hybrid work models, and data-driven facilities management, traditional office furniture is no longer enough. Enter the 2nd generation PoE desk from MHT Technologies — a purpose-built solution that transforms everyday workstations into intelligent, connected assets.
This latest PoE desk builds on the success of MHT’s original design, delivering improved efficiency, simplified deployment, and deeper insight into how office spaces are actually used. More than just a desk, it represents a new standard for smart office furniture and the foundation of a truly DC-powered workspace.
What Makes a PoE Desk Different?
A PoE desk is powered entirely through Power over Ethernet, eliminating the need for traditional AC outlets at the workstation. Instead of relying on electricians, conduit, and floor cores, power and data are delivered through standard Ethernet cabling from a Cisco switch.
MHT’s 2nd generation PoE desk takes this concept even further. While the first-generation model required three Cisco switch ports, the new version requires only two switch ports to power the entire desk ecosystem. This reduction simplifies network design, lowers infrastructure complexity, and makes large-scale deployments easier to plan and manage.
For organizations rolling out hundreds of desks, this refinement alone can significantly streamline deployment — without sacrificing performance or capability.
Smart Office Furniture That Does More Than Sit There
Traditional furniture is passive. Smart office furniture, on the other hand, plays an active role in how buildings operate. The MHT PoE desk integrates power, connectivity, and intelligence into a single platform.
Each desk includes a 120W power budget delivered across two MHT i-Node-90 docking stations, enabling support for:
- Laptops and USB-C devices
- DC-powered sit/stand desks
- Large-format monitors, including 34” curved displays
- Peripheral devices such as task lighting or IP phones
An integrated USB-C hub provides charging, data, and AV passthrough, while RJ-45 passthrough enables additional PoE devices at gigabit speeds. The result is smart office furniture that reduces cable clutter, simplifies desk setup, and delivers a cleaner, more modern user experience.
Built for the DC-Powered Workspace
The shift toward a DC-powered workspace is gaining momentum across commercial real estate. By eliminating unnecessary AC-to-DC power conversions, organizations can improve energy efficiency, reduce equipment loss, and simplify long-term maintenance.
The MHT PoE desk is a natural fit for this transition. Monitors, docking stations, desks, and peripherals operate directly on DC power delivered via Ethernet. This architecture supports a more efficient DC-powered workspace, while also aligning with broader smart building and sustainability initiatives.
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Even more compelling, PoE desks consume less power in standby mode and can be powered down outside of core business hours. This allows facilities teams to reduce energy consumption without impacting user productivity — a growing priority for ESG-focused organizations.
Built-In Intelligence Without Extra Sensors
One of the most powerful advantages of the MHT PoE desk is its ability to capture meaningful workplace data without the need for separate sensor networks or overlay systems. Because the PoE desk is already connected to the network, desk-level data can be surfaced through existing management platforms, giving IT and facilities teams clear visibility into how space is actually being used.
This intelligent desk-level data can also integrate with platforms like Cisco Spaces, extending occupancy and utilization insights beyond the desk to support broader workplace analytics and space optimization initiatives.
Each PoE desk can capture:
- Real-time occupancy data
- Historical occupancy trends
- Temperature and humidity readings
- CO₂ and VOC levels
- Desk-level power utilization metrics
This elevates the PoE desk from a functional workspace element to a strategic source of operational insight.
Designed for Flexibility and Reconfiguration
In traditional offices, moving desks often means moving power. That comes with labor costs, downtime, and disruption. In a DC-powered workspace, reconfiguration is dramatically simpler.
With PoE desks, relocating or reconfiguring a workspace is closer to a network change than a construction project. Ethernet drops replace electrical work, reducing both time and cost. This flexibility is especially valuable in high-cost urban environments or organizations that frequently reconfigure teams.
The PoE desk supports agile office strategies, future growth, and evolving workplace designs — without locking organizations into rigid layouts.
Reliability You Can Trust
Reliability is critical in any workplace environment. The MHT PoE desk is designed to deliver consistent power to all connected devices, with no reports of power outages or switch ports exceeding their power budgets during deployments.
Because power is centrally managed and monitored, IT teams gain visibility and control that simply isn’t possible with traditional AC-powered desks. This makes the PoE desk a dependable foundation for both today’s offices and tomorrow’s intelligent buildings.
The Future of Smart Office Furniture Is Here
The 2nd generation PoE desk from MHT Technologies represents more than an upgrade — it’s a clear signal of where workplace infrastructure is headed. By reducing switch port requirements, integrating intelligence at the desk level, and supporting a scalable DC-powered workspace, MHT continues to push the boundaries of what smart office furniture can be.
As organizations rethink how offices are powered, monitored, and optimized, the desk is no longer just furniture. It’s infrastructure. And the PoE desk is leading the way.
Ready to Build a Smarter Workspace?
As organizations continue to rethink how office environments are powered, managed, and optimized, the PoE desk is quickly becoming a foundational element of modern infrastructure. MHT Technologies’ approach to smart office furniture enables a more flexible, efficient, and intelligent DC-powered workspace that supports today’s needs while preparing for what’s next.
If you’re exploring smarter ways to power desks, improve space utilization, or modernize workplace infrastructure, MHT Technologies can help you design a solution that fits your building, your network, and your long-term strategy.