- Overhead cable trays are designed to hold and protect electrical wires, power cables, data cables, and fiber optic cables. Explosive demand for network services has led to increased adoption of overhead cable management systems. Cable trays come in different types: Materials: They can be metal (like steel with a coating, or stainless steel), plastic (like. There are several types of cable trays, including ladder, perforated, solid bottom, basket, and channel trays. It consists of a series of open, ladder-like structures made of various materials, such as steel, aluminum, or even fiberglass.