Data Centre Infrastructure News & Trends

LFB data centre division rebrands as Apx

The data centre division of LFB Group, a European HVAC and refrigeration company, has rebranded as Apx, reflecting a shift in focus towards increasing performance, project complexity, and delivery requirements across the sector. The rebrand follows more than 20 years supporting server room and data centre operations across Europe. The company states the new identity reflects the growing role of cooling systems in high-density and AI-driven data centre environments. Apx has been formed from LFB Group’s dedicated data centre team, previously operating under the Lennox name. The business intends to focus on closer collaboration across design, development, and project delivery, alongside increased emphasis on engineering validation and pre-commissioning processes. Expansion of production and validation capability The company has expanded its facilities in Lyon, France, to support increased engineering, manufacturing, and testing capabilities. Additional sites in Genas, Mions, Longvic, and Burgos form part of a multi-site production and validation network, supporting precision manufacturing, automated testing, and climatic performance validation. Matt Evans, CEO at Apx Data Centre Solutions, says, “The industry’s dams have well and truly burst, with billion dollar projects and developments being announced almost every week. Keeping on top of this demand, though, has never been more important. “Today, collaboration is everything. Operators are searching for partners who can offer them both flexibility and agility, enabling them to build for the future while reacting quickly to what's happening right now. "That's where co-engineering becomes critical: by working with designers, contractors, and operators from day one, we can shape decisions together, anticipate challenges, and engineer solutions before they become problems. “While no-one can predict what's around the corner, one thing is clear: performance has to be proven earlier. It's been one of our grounding principles since the start - the idea that pre-commissioning must be core to every product's DNA. "By front-loading engineering, validating performance up-front and removing uncertainty before components reach sites, we give operators the head space - and time - to meet the demand. “The direction of travel is clear: scale, capacity, and density. And I couldn't be more excited about where we've taken this business. The new Apx name marks our next chapter and it's one we're genuinely proud to be part of.” Broader expansion The company has recently introduced three products aimed at data centre cooling applications, including a computer room air handler, fan wall unit, and coolant distribution unit (CDU). Apx operates within the wider LFB Group, which also includes HVAC manufacturer Redge and refrigeration specialist Friga-Bohn. The group has more than 60 years of experience in refrigeration and mechanical engineering. The company is also expanding its workforce, with recruitment planned across project management, operations, controls, commissioning, and sales support roles in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Apx expects its dedicated data centre team to grow to approximately 50 employees by 2027. For more from LFB Group, click here.

Johnson Controls launches cooling reference design guides

Johnson Controls, a global provider of smart building technologies, has announced the launch of its Reference Design Guide Series for one-gigawatt AI data centres. Each guide in the series maps the full thermal chain, offering cooling architectures tailored to diverse compute densities, geographies, and elevations. The series begins with a blueprint for water-cooled chiller plants, with future guides to address air-cooled and absorption chiller solutions. As AI transforms industries, the scale and complexity of data centre infrastructure is rapidly evolving. The ability to efficiently manage thermal loads at gigawatt scale is now a critical enabler for AI innovation, and the industry faces mounting pressure to deliver facilities that are not only high-performing, but also sustainable and future-ready. Johnson Controls says its Reference Design Guide Series responds to this challenge by outlining how to achieve "industry-leading" energy and water efficiency (PUE and WUE) while maintaining flexibility to scale across diverse climates and operational requirements. The guide outlines a complete thermal architecture supporting both liquid- and air-cooled IT loads through integrated computer room air handlers (CRAHs), fan coil walls, coolant distribution units (CDUs), and high-efficiency YORK centrifugal chillers. It provides sizing guidance for 220MW compute quadrants and defines temperature and operating conditions across all major facility loops, including Technology Cooling System (TCS) loops supporting next-generation GPUs. Stated key outcomes • Zero water consumption — A "fully water-free" heat rejection process using dry coolers, "reducing operational costs and advancing sustainability objectives." • Future-ready thermal flexibility — High-temperature TCS loop readiness aims to ensure compatibility with forthcoming GPU architectures. • Optimised high-density AI performance — Alignment with NVIDIA DSX reference architecture enables scalable deployment of 1-GW-class AI Factories. • Energy-efficient operation — Elevated condenser water temperatures, bifurcated loops, and YORK high-lift chillers aim to deliver good PUE and improved annualised efficiency. Austin Domenici, Vice President & General Manager at Johnson Controls Global Data Center Solutions, says, "AI Factories are production facilities - the places where intelligence is manufactured at an industrial scale. "By supporting the NVIDIA DSX reference architecture and improving water and energy efficiency in the cooling process while maintaining high temperature loop compatibility, our Reference Design Guide equips customers to deploy gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure that is scalable, repeatable, resilient, and sustainable." For more from Johnson Controls, click here.

Keysight, Point2 collaborate to advance AI interconnects

Keysight Technologies, a manufacturer of electronic test and measurement equipment and software, and interconnects provider Point2 Technology have announced a collaboration to validate next-generation, multi-terabit interconnects intended to address scale-up connectivity constraints in AI and machine learning data centres. The companies are working together to test Point2’s e-Tube interconnect technology using Keysight’s high-speed digital test and measurement platforms. The validation work is focused on meeting the performance and reliability requirements associated with hyperscale AI infrastructure. As AI workloads increase bandwidth demand, hyperscale operators face challenges when scaling xPU clusters. Point2’s e-Tube technology uses RF data transmission over plastic waveguide and is intended to extend reach beyond traditional copper-based interconnects while reducing power consumption and latency. The approach is positioned as an alternative to conventional copper connections within high-density AI systems. Validating multi-terabit performance Keysight is providing validation and characterisation support to assess whether the interconnect technology meets hyperscaler requirements for reliability and signal integrity. The collaboration also enables early research and development work on emerging 3.2T interfaces, supported by high-speed electrical signal generation and advanced real-time and sampling analysis. The testing environment supports the generation and analysis of high-baud-rate PAM4 signals required for terabit-scale data transmission within AI systems. Sean Park, CEO at Point2 Technology, says, “A strategic partnership with Keysight gives us access to world-class engineering tools and support, allowing us to accelerate our e-Tube product development cycles. "The confidence that comes from validating our e-Tube platform using Keysight’s rigorous test equipment is invaluable as we engage with leading hyperscaler customers globally.” Dr Joachim Peerlings, Vice President of Network and Data Centre Solutions at Keysight, adds, “AI scale-up architectures demand disruptive innovation in physical interconnects. Keysight provides the industry’s trusted source of measurement truth, helping innovative partners like Point2 validate technologies quickly and confidently at multi-terabit speeds to achieve their next breakthroughs.” For more from Keysight, click here.

AIP partners with Caterpillar for 2GW AI power

Developer of integrated AI power and compute infrastructure platforms American Intelligence & Power Corporation (AIP), construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, and equipment deliverer Boyd CAT have formed a strategic partnership to support the development of AIP’s Monarch Compute Campus in West Virginia, USA. The agreement includes a purchase arrangement for dedicated onsite power infrastructure, intended to support hyperscale and enterprise data centre requirements. The initial phase will provide up to 2GW of generation capacity, with power delivery beginning in 2026 and full capacity online during 2027. Under the agreement, AIP has ordered 2GW of fast-response natural gas generator sets to support the first phase of Monarch. Deliveries are scheduled between September 2026 and August 2027. The generation systems will be supported by battery energy storage systems (BESS), intended to manage rapid load changes associated with AI workloads. The equipment is expected to be commissioned within months of delivery, supporting phased deployment at the site. Further expansion is planned in later phases. Power platform for AI data centre workloads The Monarch site is designed as a behind-the-meter power platform, with onsite generation intended to operate independently of incremental utility transmission or distribution infrastructure. According to the companies, the platform is intended to support rapid load variability, high availability, and predictable long-term operation for AI-driven data centre environments. Daniel J Shapiro, CEO of AIP, comments, “This strategic alliance reflects a shared commitment to delivering reliable, scalable, and capital-efficient power solutions on an accelerated timeline. "Our design is purpose-built for AI data centre operations, combining fast-response natural gas generation with battery energy storage to manage rapid load variability and deliver consistent power quality at scale. "By leveraging our existing microgrid designation from the State of West Virginia, we can bring new capacity online quickly while supporting long-term grid reliability and resilience, without increasing rates or adding costs for existing utility customers.” Melissa Busen, Senior Vice President of Electric Power at Caterpillar, adds, “This collaboration reflects Caterpillar and our dealers’ continued focus on supporting customers that require primary, continuous-duty power at scale through our broad energy portfolio. "Projects like Monarch demonstrate how Caterpillar’s natural gas generation platforms are being deployed as core infrastructure for data centres and other power intensive applications where reliability, speed of deployment, and lifecycle performance are critical.” Generator details The project will use Caterpillar G3516 fast-response natural gas generator sets, selected for behind-the-meter data centre applications. The generators are designed to support rapid start, load-following operation, and continuous-duty performance. According to the companies, the systems can ramp from zero to full load in approximately seven seconds, supporting workloads with rapid load fluctuations. The generators will operate on natural gas and incorporate emissions controls, including selective catalytic reduction, to support compliance with relevant air permitting requirements. The Monarch platform has a stated long-term target of up to 8GW of planned generation capacity. With an existing West Virginia microgrid designation, the site is intended to operate without increasing rates or adding costs for existing utility customers. In parallel, AIP and Caterpillar have also entered into a strategic alliance framework covering phased expansion planning, operations and maintenance strategy, lifecycle performance, and service and parts support. The agreement also includes vendor equipment financing through Caterpillar Financial, subject to standard terms and conditions and aligned with delivery phasing. For more from Caterpillar, click here.

Case study: The data centre's shield against errors

In an industry where a single unplugged cable can stall a production line, "good-enough" labelling isn't an option. A leading automotive manufacturer faced a challenge: their cabling was becoming a maze of human error, threatening the uptime of their mission-critical services. The solution wasn't just better labels; it was a standardised identification ecosystem. By deploying industrial-grade materials and the high-volume BradyPrinter i7100, as well as the handheld M610, the manufacturer ensured that every rack and server remained clearly identifiable under any conditions. This move towards precision eliminated the guesswork that leads to accidental disconnections. The result? A solid infrastructure where technicians move with confidence. The operational resilience starts at the surface - with a reliable label that stays readable. Click here to read more and to learn more about reliable identification solutions for data centres. Meet Brady experts at Data Centre World (DCW) in London, UK, 4–5 March 2026, Booth F175. For more from Brady, click here.

Corning, Meta agree $6bn data centre supply deal

Corning, a US manufacturer of optical fibre for telecommunications and data centres, and US technology company Meta Platforms have today announced a multi-year agreement of up to $6 billion (£4.3 billion) to support the build-out of advanced data centres in the United States. Under the agreement, Corning will supply Meta with optical fibre, cable, and connectivity products to support its data centre and AI infrastructure. As part of the arrangement, Corning will expand manufacturing capacity across its operations in North Carolina, including a major expansion at its optical cable manufacturing facility in Hickory, where Meta will act as an anchor customer. Corning says the agreement will support increased domestic production of optical connectivity technology used in large-scale data centre deployments. Manufacturing expansion and employment impact Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Corning, comments, “This long-term partnership with Meta reflects Corning’s commitment to develop, innovate, and manufacture the critical technologies that power next-generation data centres here in the US. “The investment will expand our manufacturing footprint in North Carolina, support an increase in Corning’s employment levels in the state of 15–20%, and help sustain a highly skilled workforce of more than 5,000 people - including the scientists, engineers, and production teams at two of the world’s largest optical fibre and cable manufacturing facilities. "Together with Meta, we are strengthening domestic supply chains and helping to ensure that advanced data centres are built using US innovation and advanced manufacturing.” Meta says it is continuing to expand its data centre footprint in the US and increase the use of domestically manufactured technology to support its infrastructure requirements. Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, notes, “Building the most advanced data centres in the US requires world-class partners and American manufacturing. "We are proud to partner with Corning - a company with deep expertise in optical connectivity and a strong commitment to domestic manufacturing - to supply the high-performance fibre optic cables our AI infrastructure requires. "This collaboration will help create well-paid, skilled jobs in the US, strengthen local economies, and help secure the US lead in the global AI race.” The agreement covers the supply of latest-generation optical fibre, cable, and connectivity products designed to meet the density and scale requirements of large AI-focused data centres.

GridAI names new CEO

GridAI Technologies, a US provider of AI-driven software platforms for managing utility load and distributed energy resources, has appointed Marshall Chapin as CEO of its AI and energy infrastructure subsidiary, GridAI, following its acquisition of the company. GridAI Technologies says the appointment is intended to support its expansion at the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure, as demand increases from hyperscale AI data centre developments. GridAI is developing grid and power-management software for large-scale AI data centre campuses. The platform is designed to coordinate distributed energy resources and manage power across multiple scales, with the aim of supporting more efficient and reliable operation as energy demand from AI workloads grows. The company says its software supports functions such as market-based dispatch, peak-load reduction, and dynamic pricing in utility and commercial environments. It also monitors real-time inputs, including energy prices and weather, to support operational decision-making. Platform focus and leadership background New hyperscale campuses can consume hundreds of megawatts of power, requiring advanced systems to manage and optimise energy resources. GridAI says that its platform incorporates forecasting, bidding, and dynamic load-balancing to support reliability and efficiency across large installations. The company also says the platform can be used in residential and small business environments to manage behind-the-meter assets such as HVAC systems, appliances, and batteries. Chapin brings experience across grid optimisation, energy transition, and distributed energy. Since March 2025, he has served as interim CEO of Amp X, an AI-driven grid-edge platform that is also a GridAI subsidiary. Jason Sawyer, CEO of GridAI Technologies, comments, “Marshall’s proven ability to commercialise complex energy-software platforms and scale global go-to-market operations makes him the ideal leader for GridAI at this pivotal moment. "With hyperscale AI campuses emerging as the defining infrastructure challenge of this decade, our power orchestration capabilities will be critical in helping hyperscalers deploy energy assets rapidly, profitably, and with enhanced reliability and resilience.” Marshall says, “GridAI is uniquely positioned to help hyperscalers, utilities, and energy-asset owners orchestrate the massive amount of flexible power required for this transformation. I’m excited to build on this vision and lead GridAI through this extraordinary phase of growth.”

Carrier launches CDU with 2°C ATD

Carrier, a manufacturer of HVAC, refrigeration, and fire and security equipment, has introduced a new coolant distribution unit (CDU), designed to support the growing use of liquid cooling in UK data centres while improving energy performance, resilience, and space utilisation. The Carrier CDU is intended to help operators manage higher rack densities and increasing cooling demands. It is designed to support liquid-cooled IT environments and provide greater control over energy use and system uptime. As liquid cooling becomes more widely adopted to meet efficiency targets, the CDU enables deployment at scale through management of secondary coolant loops. Carrier says this can help reduce pumping energy and optimise heat removal across varying load conditions. Thermal performance and system efficiency The CDU uses modular heat exchangers that can deliver approach temperatures as low as 2°C, compared with more typical 4°C systems. According to Carrier, this can enable up to 15% chiller energy savings, allowing more electrical capacity to be allocated to IT loads rather than cooling. Oliver Sanders, Data Centre Commercial Director UK&I, Carrier HVAC, notes, “Data centre leaders across the UK are focused on increasing capacity without increasing risk. “This new Carrier CDU supports that goal by giving operators greater thermal stability, more flexibility in system design, and better visibility of cooling performance. The result is improved energy efficiency and smoother scalability as liquid cooling demand grows.” The CDU is designed for use in mission-critical environments and includes redundant pumps and power supplies to support continued operation during maintenance or unexpected events. Intelligent controls manage fluid temperatures and flow rates in real time, with the aim of maintaining stable conditions for high-density servers while reducing energy consumption. Integration, scalability, and monitoring Carrier states that the CDU is designed for simplified integration into existing facilities, allowing liquid cooling to be introduced with minimal disruption. The product range includes multiple unit sizes from 1.3 to 5 MW, enabling operators to align cooling capacity with current and future high-density requirements. The system is intended to support direct-to-chip cooling as well as mixed cooling environments. Carrier says it is designed to maintain stable performance under fluctuating workloads and higher ambient temperatures. “Liquid cooling adoption is accelerating, and operators want systems that deliver both efficiency and certainty,” Oliver continues. “With this Carrier CDU, customers can integrate high-density workloads confidently, knowing their cooling system is designed to maximise uptime, efficiency, and long-term value.” The CDU integrates with Carrier’s control platforms to support centralised monitoring, performance optimisation, and energy management. This is intended to help data centre teams track cooling trends, respond to load changes, and plan capacity more effectively. The Carrier CDU forms part of Carrier’s QuantumLeap portfolio of data centre technologies. For more from Carrier, click here.

FTTH Council Europe welcomes the DNA

The FTTH Council Europe, a European industry association promoting fibre-optic broadband deployment across Europe, has said it welcomes the Digital Networks Act, as put forward by the European Commission. The mission of the FTTH Council Europe is to see the widespread availability and use of FTTH (Fibre to the Home) in Europe as quickly as possible. It therefore maintains that it is important to ensure that the regulatory framework incentivises investment and fosters effective competition, adding that that these two objectives must remain at the core of any access policy. The FTTH Council Europe positively welcomes the proposal for the switch-off of copper networks. The process, it claims, strikes the right balance between the need to incentivise the take-up of future-proof networks, the necessity to consider national specificities, and avoiding unintended consequences for consumers. The association says it is convinced that copper switch-off is an important driver for investments and that it will positively contribute to the competitiveness of the EU, supporting the digital transition and the enhancement of the Single Market. Therefore, it invites the co-legislators to support the European Commission approach on this topic. The FTTH Council Europe further considers that the current regulatory framework has delivered positive outcomes. It believes maintaining the SMP process in the proposed DNA is central to preserving competition and demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to a stable and predictable regulatory environment, something critical to supporting investors and enabling the continued development of sustainable competition. The Council also notes the proposed harmonised access products but believes that any remedies should start by being tailored to the specific realities of national and market contexts, which can vary significantly between countries and market segments. National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), it propounds, are best positioned to define, where necessary, appropriate SMP obligations that reflect the unique characteristics of their markets. The FTTH Council Europe also acknowledges the provisions on security and resilience in the DNA that recognise the critical importance of communications infrastructure. However, the body invites the co-legislators to make clear that any obligation that may arise should be adequately supported by national and European resources in the next MFF and not create excessive burdens for a sector that is investing heavily in the achievement of the Digital Decade targets. There are other aspects that need refinement, according to the FTTH Council Europe, and there are certain issues where it believes a different approach should be taken, not least regarding the availability of licence-free spectrum for RLAN. The FTTH Council Europe says it looks forward to working constructively with co-legislators to share its insights and experience in refining this proposal.

STULZ updates CyberRack Active Rear Door cooling

STULZ, a manufacturer of mission-critical air conditioning technology, has launched an updated version of its CyberRack Active Rear Door, aimed at high-density data centre cooling applications where space is limited and heat loads are increasing. The rear-mounted heat exchanger is designed to capture heat directly at rack level, using electronically commutated fans to remove heat at the point of generation. The updated unit is intended for use in both air-cooled and liquid-cooled data centre environments. Integrated sensors monitor return and supply air temperatures within the rack. Cooling output is then adjusted automatically in line with server heat load, aiming to maintain consistent thermal performance as workloads fluctuate. Designed for high-density and retrofit environments Valeria Mercante, Product Manager at STULZ, explains, “The tremendous growth of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence has driven server power densities higher than ever, creating significant heat challenges. “With data centre space often at a premium, the CyberRack Active Rear Door is precision engineered to deliver maximum cooling capacity in a footprint depth of just 274mm. "Delivering up to 49kW chilled water cooling with large heat exchanger surfaces and EC fans, it also supports higher water temperatures and can extend free cooling hours. This helps reduce overall energy consumption and operating costs.” The compact footprint means the unit can be installed without rack repositioning, making it suitable for retrofit projects and sites with limited floorspace. Custom adaptor frames are available to support a range of rack sizes and deployment models, including standalone use, supplemental precision air conditioning, and hybrid configurations alongside direct-to-chip liquid cooling. For maintenance, the system includes a two-step door opening of more than 90°, providing access to fans and coils. Hot-swappable axial fans with plug connectors are also designed to simplify servicing and reduce downtime. Differential pressure control adjusts fan speed in line with server airflow requirements, while low noise operation is also specified. The CyberRack Active Rear Door includes the STULZ E² intelligent control system, featuring a 4.3-inch touchscreen interface. The controller supports functions such as redundancy management, cross-unit parallel operation, standby mode with emergency operation, and integration with building management systems. Valeria continues, “The updated CyberRack Active Rear Door embodies our commitment to providing air conditioning solutions that combine cutting edge technology with intelligent design, user friendliness, energy efficiency, flexibility, and reliability. “In environments where space is tight, heat loads are high, or there’s no raised floor, these advanced units can deliver highly efficient cooling, regardless of the server load.” For more from STULZ, click here.