News

Panasonic and Tecnair’s split solution for critical environments

Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions, a division of Panasonic that provides energy-efficient climate control systems, has collaborated with Tecnair, a supplier of custom pneumatic engineering solutions, to introduce a comprehensive split solution designed for critical environments up to 21 kW. This solution marks a milestone in precise cooling technology, combining Panasonic's outdoor PACi NX condensing units with Tecnair's P Series direct expansion (DX) units. The system utilises R32 refrigerant, known for its low Global Warming Potential (GWP), with the aim to ensure effective cooling with minimal environmental impact. It is intended as a solution for environments where precise temperature and humidity control is crucial, yet space and load capacities are limited. Examples include laboratories, museums, archives, office buildings, and server rooms with compact equipment and small capacity requirements. The Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) DX unit provides control of indoor climate, maintaining strict parameters for temperature and humidity. The control system on the P Series units offers full Modbus control, featuring a Wide Full Graphic LCD display, configurable digital inputs-outputs, and predictive safety systems. The system’s design allows integration into various settings, while a compact footprint maximises space. Energy-conscious users are likely to appreciate its reportedly low operating costs and energy efficiency. Additionally, a wide selection of accessories enables customisation to meet specific needs. Designed for quiet operation, the system places the compressor outdoors, reducing noise levels. Installation is versatile, with the ability to connect indoor and outdoor units across distances of up to 100 metres. For larger applications, the system supports networked configurations, allowing up to 12 CRAC units to be cascaded for expanded coverage and precise climate control. Panasonic says its collaboration with Tecnair reflects a commitment to innovation and market responsiveness, offering solutions that reduce design, manufacturing, and operational costs, and that the range of units and accessories ensures the ability to meet diverse design and installation specifications.

ZincFive expands global reach with EMEA warehouse

ZincFive, a world leader in nickel-zinc (NiZn) battery-based solutions for immediate power applications, today announced a major milestone in its global growth strategy with the establishment of a new warehouse and service depot in Europe. The facility, operated in collaboration with Akkuteam Energietechnik GmBH, will support delivery of ZincFive batteries and spare parts across the EMEA region and beyond. This certified customs warehouse enables transit of batteries and components through Europe, streamlining exports to non-EU countries such as those in the Middle East. It also aims to advance ZincFive’s sustainability goals by reducing shipping-related emissions and improving logistics efficiency. The move comes in response to accelerating international demand for ZincFive’s nickel-zinc technology. With many European installations still relying on legacy lead-acid systems, there is a growing appetite for safer, more sustainable, and high-performance alternatives. “This is more than a logistical move – it’s a signal of our long-term commitment to the EMEA market,” says ZincFive CEO Tim Hysell. “Our values of innovation, sustainability, and reliability are mirrored in this new partnership. With a facility designed for efficient, environmentally responsible battery logistics, we’re not just expanding our footprint – we’re doing it the right way. We’re investing where demand is real and growing – this isn’t speculative; it’s a response to the strong pull we’re seeing from European and Middle Eastern markets.” Akkuteam, a family-run company with a 25-year history in backup power solutions, brings expertise in battery storage and handling, operating with a focus on quality and environmental stewardship. Power demand is rising across sectors – and especially in data centres, including the fast-emerging AI segment. ZincFive's patented nickel-zinc chemistry seeks to deliver safe, sustainable, and high-performance energy storage and to challenge the dominance of lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. The ZincFive BC Series UPS Battery Cabinets – including the latest BC 2–500 and BC 2–300X models – were developed with the aim to offer an industry-leading footprint while delivering greater power to meet the escalating demands of modern infrastructure. For more from ZincFive, click here.

Duos Edge AI to launch new data centre

Duos Technologies Group, through its operating subsidiary Duos Edge AI, a provider of Edge Data Center (EDC) solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Region 3 Education Service Center (ESC) to deploy a new EDC in Victoria, Texas. This marks the latest execution in Duos Edge AI’s United States rollout strategy, reflecting continued traction in rural markets and reinforcing the company’s presence in the education sector. The Victoria-based EDC will serve as a scalable, local computing hub supporting 37 school districts in the Region 3 footprint. Built on Duos Edge AI's modular architecture - engineered to SOC 2 Type II compliance and backed by N+1 power redundancy and dual generators - the facility will enable low-latency access to mission-critical workloads including AI-based learning platforms, telemedicine, and EHR systems. Dr. Morris Lyon, Executive Director of Region 3 ESC, comments, “We are proud to partner with Duos Edge AI to bring secure, innovative data solutions to the greater Victoria area. The commitment to community-based technology aligns with our mission to support the 37 districts we serve across Region 3. Together, we’re creating a safer, smarter foundation that helps schools and the community focus on what matters most: educating students.” Doug Recker, President and Founder of Duos Edge AI, adds, “This installation strengthens our position in the education vertical while demonstrating our ability to deliver digital infrastructure in underserved regions. Our partnership with Region 3 ESC accelerates digital equity, expands our market footprint, and contributes to sustainable long-term revenue. We’re also proud to bring new job opportunities to the area and look forward to collaborating with local businesses as we continue investing in the economic and technological future of the Victoria region.” This deployment is part of Duos Edge AI’s 2025 roadmap, which targets 15 contracted EDCs by year-end. With nine sites commercially identified and additional real estate and contractual negotiations underway, the company is on track to deliver scalable edge solutions across Texas, the US Southeast, and US Midwest - meeting the increasing demand for localised, low-latency compute infrastructure. For more from Duos, click here.

Data centre industry faces dire skills shortage

As part of its campaign to address the ongoing skills shortage in the data centre and IT industry, HireHigher surveyed sixth-form students at its most recent Student Showcase. The event brought together leading data centre developers and operators with 90 sixth-form students from three London schools, making it the UK's largest student-facing digital infrastructure conference. The initiative is a part of HireHigher's mission to improve careers advice in schools and partner with organisations to create real action within the industry to attract new talent. The students were asked to write down their biggest concerns about leaving the sixth form. The research reveals significant worries about university acceptance, career choices, financial stability, and the fear of making wrong decisions. One in five of the students recorded being unsure about their career path as their chief concern, underscoring the need for stronger and perhaps broader career and employability guidance. Interestingly, 14% of the students' leading fear is that they will regret their decisions, with many writing about the fear of not making the most of their potential. Addressing the findings, Adelle Desouza, founder of HireHigher, comments, "The transition from school to adult life is a huge step that many students find difficult, which is reflected in their shared concerns. To see fear rank so highly is a huge worry. "I would like to see more working professionals mentoring young adults, going into schools and youth centres, talking to them about their options, and sharing their stories - warts and all, of how they got to where they are and what they do in their jobs. Most people don't have a smooth transition from school to adult life. Understanding this and knowing there are many options and ways into different industries will hopefully work to eradicate the fear gripping young people, at a time that should be premised on excitement for their future.” For more from HireHigher, click here.

RETN brings Remote IX services to Japan

RETN, a leading independent global network services provider, has announced a strategic partnership with JPNAP, one of Japan’s leading high-capacity Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), becoming an official reseller of JPNAP services. This agreement marks a significant step in RETN’s broader expansion of its Remote IX offering across Asia. This partnership unlocks streamlined access to JPNAP's extensive network for RETN customers, enabling direct peering with key Japanese and international networks. As demand for Japanese content and services grows globally, international telecom companies are increasingly looking to enter the Japanese market without having to invest in infrastructure locally. JPNAP's strategic location and high concentration of network operators make it a critical interconnection point for Asia. RETN’s Remote IX services will open the key Asian markets, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Korea, connecting customers to JPNAP and enabling them to capitalise on Japan’s digital economy. At the same time, Japanese networks benefit from RETN’s extensive Eurasian infrastructure, creating a two-way bridge between Japan and the rest of the world. William Manzione, Product Manager at RETN, says, "RETN is recognised as a top-tier premium reseller at major IXPs in Europe - including LINX, AMS-IX, and DE-CIX - and is now applying the same successful approach in Asia. The Asia-Pacific region is a key growth market for our customers, with Japan playing a major role in that opportunity. Partnering with JPNAP allows us to deliver superior connectivity and provide a cost-effective gateway to the Japanese market." Hidekazu Yokouchi, Vice President at JPNAP, adds, "We are delighted to welcome RETN as a trusted partner. Together, we are expanding access to JPNAP and strengthening the Japanese internet ecosystem, making it easier for international companies to engage with Japan and its growing digital opportunities. RETN's global network and expertise in delivering connectivity solutions make them an ideal partner to help us connect more networks to JPNAP." For more from RETN, click here.

Durata acquires Tolley Fabrications

Durata, a leading provider of critical power and modular data centre infrastructure solutions, is accelerating its growth and strengthening its position in the rapidly expanding global critical power and data centre market with the strategic acquisition of Tolley Fabrications, a fabrication specialist based in County Durham, UK. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Durata, bringing its fabrication process in-house for the first time. By integrating critical manufacturing processes, Durata seeks to enhance quality control, streamline operations, and deliver scalable data centre solutions at speed to its international client base. The move forms part of a broader growth strategy that aims to enable the company to deliver on the growing global demand for critical power and data centre solutions. John McGee, Managing Director of Durata, says, “We are thrilled to welcome Alan Tolley and his highly skilled team to Durata. Their expertise in precision fabrication perfectly complements our vision of delivering integrated data centre infrastructure solutions. “This acquisition is not simply about achieving greater efficiency and operational control, it represents a strategic investment in our long-term capability and significantly strengthens how we deliver for our valued clients worldwide.” Alan Tolley, the founder of Tolley Fabrications, concurs, “Joining forces with Durata marks an exciting new chapter for us. “We have worked hard to build a strong reputation for quality, precision, and reliability, and now we have the opportunity to take that expertise even further as an integral part of a forward-thinking company that is committed to long-term investment and growth. “This move brings real potential – not just for our combined teams, but for the customers we support. “Becoming part of the Durata team gives us the opportunity to expand our reach globally, evolve our capabilities, and offer enhanced solutions to a rapidly evolving market.” With this acquisition, Durata desires to capitalise on the unprecedented global demand for scalable, innovative, and efficient data centre solutions, as well as to position the company to meet the complex and evolving needs of businesses across the globe. Several key factors are highlighting the critical importance of robust data centre infrastructure. The exponential rise in cloud services, the explosion of data generated by the proliferation of smart devices, the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI), and the ever-increasing demand for faster internet speeds, such as 5G, have made data centres more critical than ever before. John says, “With our fabrication capabilities now integrated in-house, we have complete control over the entire design, build, delivery, and ongoing maintenance process – enabling us to move faster, work smarter, and remain agile and responsive to adapt to our customers' evolving needs. "As AI, cloud technologies, and smart devices reshape industries worldwide, we’re leading the way in providing the critical infrastructure that powers this transformation. “Durata is at the forefront, delivering innovative infrastructure solutions that empower businesses to scale rapidly and operate with greater resilience. “Our integrated fabrication capability ensures we remain agile and responsive to global market dynamics, setting new standards for quality and speed in data centre delivery.”

House of Lords AI summit highlights cyber threats

Technology industry leaders gathered in the House of Lords yesterday for a high-profile debate on the transformative role artificial intelligence (AI) will play in the UK jobs market. The discussion, chaired by Steven George-Hilley of Centropy PR, brought together experts to address key industry challenges, including the digital skills shortage and AI’s potential to enhance compliance and accelerate digital transformation across key areas of the UK economy. The debate highlighted the growing role of AI in reshaping traditional job roles and powering a new wave of relentless cyber threats which could damage British businesses. Key speakers, including Richard Cuda of Kasha, discussed the role AI and digital technology can play in helping entrepreneurs launch their own business. Leigh Allen, Strategic Advisor, Cellebrite, says, "In a world where police forces are under increasing strain to combat crime and national security threats, AI technology represents a key enabler in unlocking digital evidence and significantly reducing investigation times. Cellebrite delivers secure, ethical access to digital evidence, using AI to accelerate investigations while closing the digital skills gap for modern law enforcement. We don’t just respond to digital threats—we equip agencies to lead with confidence in a complex, tech-driven world." Dr Janet Bastiman, Chief Data Scientist, Napier AI, comments, "Financial crime is one of the biggest threats facing the UK economy right now, and in AI we have the answer. AI-driven anti-money laundering solutions have the capacity to save UK financial institutions £2.2 billion each year, helping to bolster compliance processes, improve the accuracy of transaction screening, and monitor transaction behaviour to more effectively identify criminal networks." Linda Loader, Software Development Director, Resonate, suggests, "AI has the potential to significantly enhance operations in the rail industry by enabling faster and more efficient services. But this must be underpinned by quality data to drive innovative solutions that prioritise security and robust protection for our critical national infrastructure. By exploring smaller AI use cases now, we can build a solid foundation and understanding for more extensive, secure transport applications in future." Chris Davison, CEO, NavLive, mentions, "By using cutting edge AI and robotics technology to create automated 2D and 3D models of buildings in real time, we can make retrofits, brownfield developments more efficient and contribute to sustainable building practices. NavLive saves architects, engineers and construction professionals time and money, by providing accurate real time spatial data across the lifecycle of a building." Richard Bovey, Chief for Data, AND Digital, states, "The AI winners are the businesses that have invested the most in AI experimentation, underpinned by years of strong data foundations, meanwhile, SMEs are quickly watching a widening AI gap. But all isn’t lost, investing in data and modern tooling can stop the slide, helping businesses to keep pace and preventing a significant competitive disadvantage from taking over." Arkadiy Ukolov, Co-Founder and CEO, Ulla Technology, says, "As AI adoption continues to skyrocket, we must ensure that privacy and data security remain a critical component of development. Most of the popular AI tools send data to third-party AI providers, which may use client data to train models. This is unacceptable for sensitive meeting discussions and confidential documents, as it opens them up to data leaks. Placing safety and ethics at the centre of the discussion is the only route that we can take forward as AI evolves." For more on cyber security, click here.

R&M launches latest inteliPhy software suite

R&M, the Swiss developer and provider of high-end infrastructure solutions for data and communications networks, has launched the sixth generation of the inteliPhy software suite on the market. The scope of application has been significantly expanded, and according to R&M, inteliPhy 6.0 thinks beyond the infrastructure of an individual data centre. This makes it easier to plan the expansion of fibre optic infrastructures between several data centres or at a larger site, the company states. To this end, R&M has equipped the software with geoinformation system (GIS) functions for geolocalisation in longitude and latitude. In particular, the software also offers a unique height service, which leads to significantly more precise values when calculating underground cable lengths. inteliPhy 6.0 can visualise telecom, provider and campus networks, as well as underground cable runs. The software from R&M also supports the local and remote management of the infrastructure of external sites such as edge data centres, for example. With inteliPhy, users can plan the infrastructure of a gray space and now also the cages in colocation data centres three-dimensionally. Components such as racks, patch panels, flexible enclosures, cable ducts, trunk cables and active equipment are added from the model library using drag and drop. Components can now also be searched for using part numbers. A new feature is the ability to design customised data centre spaces instead of using fixed-size tiles, thus increasing flexibility. R&M’s ActiPower connector strips for power distribution can now also be integrated using drag and drop. This means that with inteliPhy 6.0, iPDUs can be integrated at the click of a mouse. They are assigned to the object identifiers (OIDs) and their data is scaled or named in such a way that it is easy to understand. This allows the operator to manage the power distribution in the racks without errors. R&M offers the inteliPhy trial versions here. For more from R&M, click here.

Data Centre Marketing Club formed to champion best practice

Senior leaders from the digital infrastructure sector have formed a first of its kind Data Centre Marketing Club - enabling PR, Marketing and Social Media professionals to collaborate, share knowledge, and champion branding, marketing, and storytelling best practices across the data centre community. Co-founded by Giuseppe Caltabiano, Senior Marketing Director, AVK; Andy Davis, Director, DataX Connect, and host of the Inside Data Centre Podcast; Nicola Hayes, Chief Marketing Officer, Platform Markets Group; Adam Nethersole, Vice President Marketing, Kao Data; and Rory Flashman-Wells, Managing Director, Spa Communications, the open community aims to address the negative perception of data centres by improving marketing and communications about the industry's role in technological innovation and sustainability, as well as its position as a global platform for economic growth. Further, by encouraging cross-industry learning and providing members with both the foundational tools and a forum to enhance their skillsets, the community plans to help marketers better understand their strategic value to digital infrastructure organisations, and develop the confidence to create campaigns that deliver demonstrable outcomes for leadership teams. On 22 May 2025, the Data Centre Marketing Club hosts its first, free-to-attend Masterclass event, ‘Cutting Through the Noise’, at legal firm Norton Rose Fullbright – exploring the critical role of brand in business growth, and how marketers can accelerate impact by delivering a joined-up approach to sales, marketing, and communications strategies. Open to marketing, PR, and social media professionals across the industry, key sessions will include ‘The ROI of Brand Building in B2B’, led by Prof. Charles Graham of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute; ‘Building a standout brand in the data centre sector’ featuring James Dunn, Co-Founder and Creative Director WeDoCo, and Giuseppe Caltabiano, Senior Marketing Director, AVK; and ‘The ROI of Storytelling’ by Tim Love, Founder, CFH London. Additionally, Andy Davis, Director, DataX Connect, and host of the Inside Data Centre Podcast, and Josie Hughes, Director of Marketing, Strategy, and Culture, DataX Connect, will discuss ‘The role of marketing in attracting talent’, while Adam Nethersole, VP Marketing, Kao Data, and Rory Flashman-Wells, MD, Spa Communications, will present on ‘Making Markets’, exploring the role of PR in propelling business growth. The day ends with ‘The Storytelling Panel’, featuring Georgia Lewis Anderson, Co-Founder, Lantyn, and previously Generative AI Content Strategist, Meta, Katryna Turner, Global Brand Strategist, PwC, and Duncan White, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing at AtlasEdge. This is followed by an ‘Ask the Experts’ session moderated by Kristy Harrower, Partner at Norton Rose Fullbright, featuring key insights from Sue Jones, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Digital Realty, Katryna Turner. “Feedback from the initial discussions at Data Centre Marketing Club found that brand and content strategies are often overlooked when it comes to digital infrastructure marketing,” says Nicola Hayes, CMO, Platform Markets Group. “As such, we developed the key themes for our first masterclass to meet these challenges head on - explaining the strategic role of brand, PR, and storytelling in business growth and enabling marketers to justify budget allocation directly to these areas.” “Today there’s this misconception that marketing in the digital infrastructure sector must be overly technical and driven by activation, but that’s absolutely not true. The foundations of marketing - brand building, positioning, and storytelling - don’t change just because your product is more complex,” explains Giuseppe Caltabiano, Senior Marketing Director, AVK. “Our first event brings together a host of speakers to encourage cross-industry learning, and I’d like to extend our collective thanks to Norton Rose Fullbright for hosting us.” “When I first started the Inside Data Centre Podcast I don’t think I realised the potential that building a personal brand would have on our business, or how quickly it would transform our growth trajectory,” notes Andy Davis, Director, DataX Connect. “This event will enable attendees to understand what it takes to cut through the noise and learn how different organisations approach PR, marketing and brand - the only question now is, are you in?”

NetApp builds AI infrastructure on NVIDIA AI data platform

NetApp, the intelligent data infrastructure company, has announced that it is working with NVIDIA to support the NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design in the NetApp AIPod solution to accelerate enterprise adoption of agentic AI. Powered by NetApp ONTAP, NetApp AIPod deployments built on the NVIDIA AI Data Platform aim to help businesses build secure, governed, and scalable AI data pipelines for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and inferencing. As an NVIDIA-Certified Storage partner leveraging the NVIDIA AI Data Platform, NetApp gives NetApp AIPod users data infrastructure with built-in intelligence. NetApp intends to give customers confidence that they have the enterprise data management capabilities and scalable multi-tenancy needed to eliminate data siloes so they can develop and operate high-performance AI factories and deploy agentic AI to solve real-world business problems. “A unified and comprehensive understanding of business data is the vehicle that will help companies drive competitive advantage in the era of intelligence, and AI inferencing is the key,” says Sandeep Singh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Storage at NetApp. “We have always believed that a unified approach to data storage is essential for businesses to get the most out of their data. The rise of agentic AI has only reinforced that truly unified data storage goes beyond just multi-protocol storage. Businesses need to eliminate silos throughout their entire IT environment, whether on-premises and in the cloud, and across every business function, and we are working with NVIDIA to deliver connected storage for the unique demands of AI.” The NetApp AIPod solution built on the NVIDIA AI Data Platform incorporates NVIDIA accelerated computing to run NVIDIA NeMo Retriever microservices and connects these nodes to scalable storage. Using this reference design enables customers to scan, index, classify and retrieve large stores of private and public documents in real time. The intention is to augment AI agents as they reason and plan to solve complex, multistep problems, helping enterprises turn data into knowledge and boost agentic AI accuracy across many use cases. “Agentic AI enables businesses to solve complex problems with superhuman efficiency and accuracy, but only as long as agents and reasoning models have fast access to high-quality data,” says Rob Davis, Vice President of Storage Technology at NVIDIA. “The NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design and NetApp’s high-powered storage and mature data management capabilities bring AI directly to business data and drive unprecedented productivity.” For more from NetApp, click here.