Data Centres

Microchip launches Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 accelerators

Semiconductor manufacturer Microchip Technology has introduced the Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 series, a new family of NVMe RAID storage accelerators designed for use in server OEM platforms, storage systems, data centres, and enterprise environments. The series aims to support scalable, software-defined storage (SDS) solutions, particularly for high-performance workloads in AI-focused data centres. The SmartRAID 4300 series uses a disaggregated architecture, separating software and hardware elements to improve efficiency. The accelerators integrate with Microchip’s PCIe-based storage controllers to offload key RAID processes from the host CPU, while the main storage software stack runs directly on the host system. This approach allows data to flow at native PCIe speeds, while offloading parity-based functions such as XOR to dedicated accelerator hardware. According to internal testing by Microchip, the new architecture has delivered input/output (I/O) performance gains of up to seven times compared with the company’s previous generation products. Architecture and capabilities The SmartRAID 4300 accelerators are designed to work with Gen 4 and Gen 5 PCIe host CPUs and can support up to 32 CPU-attached x4 NVMe devices and 64 logical drives or RAID arrays. This is intended to help address data bottlenecks common in conventional in-line storage solutions by taking advantage of expanded host PCIe infrastructure. By removing the reliance on a single PCIe slot for all data traffic, Microchip aims to deliver greater performance and system scalability. Storage operations such as writes now occur directly between the host CPU and the NVMe endpoints, while the accelerator handles redundancy tasks. Brian McCarson, Corporate Vice President of Microchip’s Data Centre Solutions Business Unit, says, “Our innovative solution with separate software and hardware addresses the limitations of traditional architectures that rely on a PCIe host interface slot for all data flows. "The SmartRAID 4300 series allows us to enhance performance, efficiency, and adaptability to better support modern enterprise infrastructure systems.” Power efficiency and security Power optimisation features include automatic idling of processor cores and autonomous power reduction mechanisms. To help maintain data integrity and system security, the SmartRAID 4300 series incorporates features such as secure boot and update, hardware root of trust, attestation, and Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) support. Management tools and compatibility The series is supported by Microchip’s Adaptec maxView management software, which includes an HTML5-based web interface, the ARCCONF command line tool, and plug-ins for both local and remote management. The tools are accessible through standard desktop and mobile browsers and are designed to remain compatible with existing Adaptec SmartRAID utilities. For out-of-band management via Baseboard Management Controllers (BMCs), the series supports Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) standards, including Platform-Level Data Model (PLDM) and Redfish Device Enablement (RDE), using MCTP protocol. For more from Microchip, click here.

Digital Connexion announces first DGX-ready Chennai data centre

Data centre operator Digital Connexion today announced that its MAA10 facility in Ambattur, Chennai, has been certified as part of the NVIDIA DGX-Ready Data Center program. This certification reflects the facility’s capabilities to support accelerated computing workloads required for AI training and GPU-intensive computing. The company says the MAA10 data centre is purpose-built to offer a resilient, GPU-optimised environment capable of supporting compute-intensive AI training and inference workloads. In line with global operational standards, MAA10 is compliant with ASHRAE W2 thermal guidelines, which ensures stable and efficient cooling in environments with elevated heat loads. The facility supports both air and liquid cooling configurations, enabling flexible deployment of diverse infrastructure from conventional GPU servers to high-density systems requiring advanced thermal management. It also features a 'unique' N+2C power architecture, offering an added layer of redundancy that aims to enhance uptime and operational reliability. “The ability to process and manage data at scale is foundational to successful AI deployments," says CR Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Connexion. "As AI adoption accelerates across India’s key industries, so does the need for infrastructure that can overcome data gravity barriers and support increasingly intensive AI workloads. "Our certification as part of the NVIDIA DGX-Ready Data Center program strengthens MAA10’s position as a purpose-built, high-performance environment engineered to aggregate, process, and manage large volumes of AI data, empowering enterprises to innovate at scale.” As Indian enterprises embed AI more deeply into their operations, the amount of data to be managed - and thus the need for reliable data centres - continues to grow. As indicated by the Data Gravity Index Report 2.0, by the end of 2025, Delhi will have generated 12.3k exabytes of data, boosting the need for optimised data management. MAA10 is TIA-942 Rated 3, which highlights the facility’s capability to maintain critical operations even during maintenance activities. The data centre also holds an IGBC Platinum rating, reflecting its alignment with high benchmarks in sustainability, energy efficiency, and responsible resource management. Digital Connexion asserts that with "dedicated infrastructure engineered to handle dynamic GPU load patterns, MAA10 is positioned to support enterprises developing and deploying data-intensive AI applications in India."

Scolmore introduces IEC Lock C21 Locking Connector

Scolmore, a UK-based manufacturer of electrical wiring accessories, circuit protection products, and lighting equipment, has expanded its IEC Lock range with the addition of a new C21 locking connector, compatible with both C20 and C22 inlets.Featuring a side button release, the IEC Lock C21’s design aims to offer extra protection against accidental disconnection, making it an appropriate choice for applications where reliability is essential.Designed to handle the heat, the company says the C21 is a durable, lockable connector built to protect appliances that are sensitive to vibration against power loss. The product is particularly suited to data centres, servers, and other industrial equipment where maintaining the proper device temperature is critical to operational success.

BSDI announces 5,000-acre campus in Montana

Big Sky Digital Infrastructure (BSDI), a Quantica Infrastructure (Quantica) company, has just announced a major project: a 5,000-acre energy and digital infrastructure campus outside Billings, Montana, USA. The initial projected capacity is 500 MW of renewable power and battery energy storage, expandable to 1 GW. The company plans construction of the Big Sky Campus beginning in 2026. “Montana has always been a state that builds its future on the strength of its people and natural resources,” says Damon Obie, a Montana native and co-founder of Big Sky Digital Infrastructure. “The Big Sky Campus represents a unique opportunity to build on the industries that powered our history with the digital economy that will define our future. "This project is about creating opportunities for Montanans, so our communities can thrive in the digital age while staying true to our values and heritage.” John Chesser, co-founder of Big Sky Digital Infrastructure, adds, “A well-planned digital economy can support communities through employment opportunities and infrastructure investments. “This project uses the rising demand for hyperscale, AI, and cloud computing to deliver land, renewable energy, and high-speed fibre in one integrated solution.” “Having worked in the Montana power industry for over twenty years,” comments Charlie Baker, BSDI’s Chief Financial Officer, “I look forward to bringing BSDI’s approach of combining traditional grid power with planned renewable and battery energy storage to help customers meet sustainability and reliability goals. "Improvements to in-state telecommunications that come with this will benefit the whole community including schools, healthcare, and community services.” The site is expected to be connected to hundreds of miles of new fibre-ready underground conduit, enabling diverse routes to major metropolitan areas and aiming to ensure fast, resilient connectivity. The site will also include large-scale renewable energy and battery energy storage to support the campus. Through this project, the BSDI team expects to create construction jobs and permanent positions, boosting local economic development and workforce training.

Sabey announces Austin Building B

Sabey Data Centers, a data centre developer, owner, and operator, has announced that construction is under way for Building B on its growing Austin campus, located in the burgeoning tech corridor of Round Rock, Texas. This three-storey facility is designed to deliver a total of 54 megawatts of power capacity, with the first 18 megawatts expected to be ready for service in Q3 2027. Sabey says Austin B continues its commitment to building "scalable, energy-efficient digital infrastructure tailored for enterprise and hyperscale needs." The facility is liquid-cooling-ready by design, building on Austin Building A, where 86% of current deployments are liquid-cooled. This next phase of development hopes to ensure that Sabey is well-positioned to support the rising demand for high-density compute environments such as AI, HPC, and advanced research workloads. “As we continue to expand our national footprint, launching construction on Austin B represents an important milestone in serving one of the country’s fastest-growing technology markets,” comments Tim Mirick, President of Sabey Data Centers. “The Round Rock facility is purpose-built for flexibility and efficiency, and it offers an ideal home for forward-thinking customers with evolving density needs.” Preleasing is now open, with the building being engineered to accommodate a range of cooling strategies and power densities, including hybrid and liquid-cooled deployments exceeding 200 kilowatts per rack. Sabey Data Centers is a joint venture between Sabey Corporation and National Real Estate Advisors, acting as the investment manager on behalf of its institutional clients. For more from Sabey, click here.

Mayflex signs distribution agreement with Schleifenbauer

Mayflex, a UK-based distributor of converged IP infrastructure, networking, and electronic security products, has announced a new distribution agreement with Schleifenbauer, adding the Netherlands-based manufacturer’s power distribution units (PDUs) and energy management tools to the Elevate brand’s data centre infrastructure portfolio. The partnership aims to support Mayflex’s ongoing focus on high-performance computing (HPC) and data centre (DC) environments, with a particular emphasis on providing equipment that is efficient, scalable, and compliant with European standards. Schleifenbauer, which designs and manufactures its products in the Netherlands, will supply intelligent PDUs and related energy management software for integration into the Elevate range. The collaboration hopes to enhance delivery times and flexibility, particularly for UK and Ireland customers. Product and operational features The partnership will see the inclusion of several features designed to improve operational performance and ease of use across data centre projects: • European manufacturing — All Schleifenbauer equipment is produced in the Netherlands, allowing for consistent quality control, shorter lead times, and full EU regulatory compliance. • Customisable production — The company offers a flexible manufacturing model with no minimum order requirements. This allows Mayflex customers to request individual units for trial projects, or bulk orders for larger-scale deployment, while maintaining consistent performance standards. • Energy monitoring software — Schleifenbauer’s energy management platform is available at no extra cost. The software enables real-time monitoring and optimisation of energy usage across installations. • Hot-swappable modules — PDUs include hot-swappable control components, enabling updates or maintenance without downtime. • Short lead times — Schleifenbauer’s production model supports faster turnaround and delivery times, which Mayflex aims to leverage across the Elevate product range. Comments from the companies Simon Jacobs, Product Manager at Mayflex, says, “We’re excited to welcome Schleifenbauer as a technology partner to our Elevate brand. Their intelligent power solutions are a perfect fit for our growing data centre portfolio. "The combination of European manufacturing, rapid lead times, and advanced features - like hot-swappable modules and free energy management software - makes this a compelling proposition for our customers.” Stuart Edmonds, UK and Ireland Sales Manager at Schleifenbauer, adds, “Partnering with Mayflex is a strategic move that allows us to expand our reach in the UK and Ireland. "Mayflex’s reputation for technical excellence and customer service aligns perfectly with our values. Together, we’re well-positioned to support the evolving needs of the HPC and data centre markets.”

EUDCA announces Board of Directors for 2025/27

Further to member voting during its annual general meeting (AGM) held on 11 June 2025, the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), the representative body of the European data centre community, has announced its Board of Directors to steer it up to 2027. Board members met subsequently to appoint key positions and renew the mandates of existing committees and their leadership. A new Board to serve the EUDCA for 2025/27 Technical expertise, extensive experience, and commercial acumen is abundant across the Board, with knowledge spanning the entire data centre lifecycle, from investment and design to sustainability/ESG and operations. The EUDCA says that the "combined expertise of the Board is instrumental for the Association to advocate and serve its members." The Board now comprises of the following: • Lex Coors, Digital Realty — President of EUDCA & Policy Committee Chair• Laurens van Reijen, LCL Data Centres — Treasurer• Bruce Owen, Equinix — Vice President• Marie Chabanon, Data4 — Vice President, EUDCA & Technical Committee Chair• Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association — Vice President• Dick Theunissen, EdgeConneX — Vice President, EUDCA & NTA representative• Matt Pullen, CyrusOne — Board Member, EUDCA & CNDCP Chair• Adam Eaton, Global Switch — Board Member• Andrew Harrison, Arup — Board Member• Matthew Baynes, Schneider Electric — Board Member, EUDCA & NTA representative• Antoine Lesserteur, France Datacenter — Board Member• Stijn Grove, Dutch Data Center Association — Board Member, EUDCA & NTA representative• Michael Winterson, EUDCA — Secretary General Leading the EUDCA Lex Coors, Chief Data Center Technology and Engineering Officer at Digital Realty, unanimously retained his position as elected President to guide board and association operations. Michael Winterson continues as Secretary General, with Laurens van Reijen of LCL Data Centers as Treasurer. The EUDCA board also appointed four new Vice Presidents: Bruce Owen, Equinix; Marie Chabanon, Data4; Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association; and Dick Theunissen, EdgeConneX. As a founding member of the Climate Neutral Data Center Pact (CNDCP), the EUDCA maintains a permanent Board seat at the Pact. As such, the EUDCA says it is happy to re-appoint Board Member Matt Pullen as the representative to the Pact where he will maintain his Chair position. Michael Winterson, Secretary General, EUDCA, comments, “As Europe moves to deliver its goals for a booming digital economy and strong AI sector, its dependence upon digital infrastructure has never been more critical. "The EUDCA continues to serve as the independent voice for Europe’s data centre community, connecting with policy makers to add nuance to the legislative process for regulations that advance digital growth. “The EUDCA remains a trusted and authoritative voice for the data centre industry. In a world of changing sentiments, we maintain a focus on the efficiency and sustainability of data centre services through our close association with the CNDCP. "As a board, we remain committed to being at the forefront of shaping policy within Europe, protecting the interests of our constituents whilst looking after the planet.” EUDCA committees bolster leadership Having renewed the mandates of existing committees with some restructuring, the Policy Committee sees Lex Coors reappointed as Chair and Eve Fensome (Stack Infrastructure) as Deputy Chair. The Technical Committee will be led by Marie Chabanon as Chair and Chad McCarthy (nLighten) as Deputy Chair. National trade associations work with the EUDCA From the national trade associations, the three existing representatives - Stijn Grove, Dutch Data Center Association; Antoine Lesserteur, France Datacenter; and Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association - were confirmed as part of the board. For more from the EUDCA, click here.

DCNN supports new National Data Centre Day initiative

DCNN is proud to support the launch of National Data Centre Day, a new annual awareness initiative recognising the critical role that data centres play in powering the UK’s digital economy, public services, and AI-driven future. Taking place each year on 12 September, the day is set to commemorate the moment in 2021 when data centres were formally recognised by the UK Government as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). This classification reflects their essential role in maintaining the digital systems and services that modern society relies on, from banking and healthcare to smart cities and generative AI. National Data Centre Day aims to celebrate the innovation, sustainability, and skilled people behind the industry, while encouraging greater awareness and engagement across the UK. As one of several industry supporters backing the campaign, DCNN encourages its readers, partners, and the wider community to learn more and get involved. Visit the website to find out how to take part.

Mitsubishi partners with Modius

Japanese multinational engineering company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has signed an agreement with US-based Modius to integrate its OpenData data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) platform with MHI’s power, cooling, and control technologies. The collaboration will focus on delivering a comprehensive offering for data centre energy management (DCEM) on a global scale. Modius’s OpenData DCIM software provides real-time visibility into critical infrastructure, supporting improved capacity planning, energy efficiency, and uptime. The platform has been deployed in over 250 sites worldwide and includes AI/ML-based analytics to support proactive maintenance and operational optimisation. The integration of Modius’s platform into MHI’s data centre portfolio seeks to enhance the company’s ability to offer customers real-time diagnostics, predictive insights, and greater control over facility performance. The OpenData AI/ML module is designed to recognise normal operational patterns and flag anomalies early, allowing data centre operators to "respond before issues escalate." “With the addition of the Modius DCIM platform to our digital portfolio, we can offer enhanced services to both existing and new customers seeking visibility and operational optimisation in next-generation data centres,” claims Shin Gomi, Senior General Manager, DCEM at MHI. “MHI remains committed to supporting sustainable and energy-efficient infrastructure.” Craig Compiano, President at Modius, adds, “MHI’s global presence and its alignment with our mission to drive efficiency, improve sustainability, and optimise performance in data centres make this collaboration a strong match. We look forward to working together to support facilities worldwide.”

Ex-Google Lauri Ikonen joins Polarnode

Polarnode, a Finnish data centre developer that focuses on environmentally sustainable data centre construction and operation, has announced the appointment of Lauri Ikonen as its new Head of Technology, effective from 1 September. The appointment comes as the company accelerates its growth strategy to aim to become a leading data centre platform across the Nordic region. Ikonen joins Polarnode at a time of increasing demand for data centre capacity across the Nordics. He brings more than two decades of experience in large-scale infrastructure, with a particular focus on mission-critical operations, backup power, and cooling technologies. From 2016 to 2023, Ikonen held a series of senior roles at Google’s data centre organisation, including Site Lead and Site Operations Manager at the company’s Hamina campus in Finland. During this period, the site expanded significantly, and daily operations grew to support approximately 400 personnel. More recently, he served as Chief Strategy and Operating Officer at UpCloud, where he was responsible for strategic management, operational oversight, and service reliability across 13 global data centre locations. His earlier career includes leadership roles in ABB’s Power Division, where he worked on industrial-scale infrastructure and service management. “We are thrilled to welcome Lauri to the team,” says Mikko Toivanen, Chair of the Board at Polarnode. “His deep experience in managing and scaling hyperscale data centre infrastructure will be instrumental as we accelerate our development strategy and respond to the growing market need for high-performance, sustainable, and resilient data centre capacity.” In his new role, Ikonen will lead Polarnode’s technology strategy and oversee the design and implementation of upcoming sites. He will also guide the company’s entry into colocation services, supporting its long-term ambition to deliver clean, high-performance infrastructure to support the growing digital economy. “The Nordic region is rapidly becoming a global hub for digital infrastructure,” comments Lauri. “Polarnode is well positioned to lead that transformation with its forward-thinking approach. I’m excited to contribute to its next phase of growth.” Polarnode is 100% Finnish-owned and has so far announced major data centre developments in Lappeenranta, Nokia, and Pori.