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.

VAST Data unveils its operating system for the 'thinking machine'

VAST Data, a technology company focused on artificial intelligence and deep learning computing infrastructure, today announced the result of nearly a decade of development with the unveiling of the VAST AI Operating System (OS), a platform purpose-built for the next wave of AI breakthroughs. As AI redefines the fabric of business and society, the industry again finds itself at the dawn of a new computing paradigm – one where great numbers of intelligent agents will reason, communicate, and act across a global grid of millions of GPUs that are woven across edge deployments, AI factories and cloud data centres. To make this world accessible, programmable, and operational at extreme scale, a new generation of intelligent systems requires a new software foundation. The VAST AI OS is the product of nearly ten years of engineering with the aim to create an intelligent platform architecture that can harness the new generation of AI supercomputing machinery and unlock the potential of AI at scale. The platform is built on VAST’s Disaggregated Shared-Everything (DASE) architecture, a parallel distributed system architecture – making it possible to parallelise AI and analytics workloads, federate clusters into a unified computing and data cloud, and then feed new AI workloads with high amounts of data from one tier of storage. Today, DASE clusters support over 1 million GPUs around the world in many of the world’s most data-intensive computing centres. The scope of the AI OS is broad and is intended to consolidate disparate legacy IT technologies into one modern offering. “This isn’t a product release — it’s a milestone in the evolution of computing,” says Renen Hallak, Founder & CEO of VAST Data. “We’ve spent the past decade reimagining how data and intelligence converge. Today, we’re proud to unveil the AI Operating System for a world that is no longer built around applications — but around agents.” The AI OS consists of every aspect of a distributed system to run AI at a global scale: a kernel to run platform services on from private to public cloud, a runtime to deploy AI agents with, eventing infrastructure for real-time event processing, messaging infrastructure, and a distributed file and database storage system that can be used for real-time data capture and analytics. In 2024, VAST previewed the VAST InsightEngine – a service that extracts context from unstructured data using AI embedding tools. If the VAST InsightEngine prepares data for AI using AI, VAST AgentEngine is how AI now comes to life with data – an auto-scaling AI agent deployment runtime that aims to equip users with a low-code environment to build workflows, select reasoning models, define agent tools, and operationalise reasoning. The AgentEngine features a new AI agent tool server that provides support for agents to invoke data, metadata, functions, web search, or other agents using them as MCP-compatible tools. AgentEngine allows agents to assume multiple personas with different purpose and security credentials, and provides secure, real-time access to different tools. The platform’s scheduler and fault-tolerant queuing mechanisms are also intended to ensure agent resilience against machine or service failure. Just as operating systems ship with pre-built utilities, the VAST AgentEngine will feature a set of open-source agents that VAST will release (one per month). Some personal assistants will be tailored to industry use cases, whereas others will be designed for general purpose use. Examples include: ● A reasoning chatbot, powered by all of an organisation’s VAST data ● A data engineering agent to curate data automatically ● A prompt engineer to help optimise AI workflow inputs ● An agent agent, to automate the deployment, evaluation, and improvement of agents ● A compliance agent, to enforce data and activity level regulatory compliance ● An editor agent, to create rich media content ● A life sciences researcher, to assist with bioinformatic discovery In the spirit of enabling organisations to build on the VAST AI OS, VAST Data will be hosting VAST Forward, a series of global workshops, both in-person and online, throughout the year. These workshops will include training on components of the OS and sessions on how to develop on the platform. For more from VAST, click here.

Eaton delivers energy savings in its new UPS

Eaton, an intelligent power management company, has announced the launch of its 9PX Gen2 5-11kW UPS, a new product that adds benefits to its 9PX solution through advanced technology upgrades and customer-centric enhancements. It seeks to deliver best-in-class power management and battery backup for critical equipment in data centres, distributed IT, edge networks, network closets, and server rooms. Eaton DPQ Product Line Manager Christophe Jammes comments, “Our latest UPS delivers market-leading efficiency of up to 97.2% in the 11kW unit thanks to innovative silicon carbide (SiC) components that not only use less power, and therefore cut energy bills, but also put operators one step ahead in emissions reduction. “When it comes to physical footprint,” he adds, “9PX Gen2 is the compact UPS that leads the way, delivering 11kW in just 4U. It offers an unmatched and Energy Star-qualified 11% more power in a space 33% smaller than its predecessor.” Every 9PX Gen2 UPS comes with a cybersecure Gigabit Network Card – enabling remote configuration, management, and upgrade of the entire UPS fleet, including full integration with Eaton’s Brightlayer Data Centers suite. Speaking of the product’s features, Christophe says, “In what we believe to be a UPS ’world first’, flexible ‘combo’ C39 outlets securely connect both C14 and C20 power cords – ending the guessing game of attempting to specify the required number of C13 (10A) and C19 (16A) outlets.” Predictive machine learning pinpoints timing for battery replacement by fast, convenient ‘hot swap’ – preventing unexpected downtime and the unnecessary expense of replacing batteries too soon. Optimised ABM+ charging also increases battery lifespan by up to 50%. 9PX Gen2 comes with a three-year warranty on electronic components and a two-year warranty on batteries (full three-year upon registration). There is also the option to extend coverage for the longer term to up to seven years of protection and support. For more from Eaton, click here.

Cloudera delivers AI-powered data visualisation in data centres

Cloudera, a hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI, today announced the latest release of Cloudera Data Visualization, extending its AI capabilities to customers operating in on-premises environments. This new AI tool is intended to democratise insights across the full data lifecycle by enabling data engineers, business analysts, and data scientists to communicate, collaborate, and share insights seamlessly, without compromising data security or governance. Enterprises often struggle to appropriately visualise data due to silos across multiple platforms, complex integrations, and data governance limitations. Without a unified view, data visualisation can be incomplete or misleading, often resulting in ineffective decision-making. Cloudera Data Visualization, now available on-premises, seeks to provide secure and integrated AI capabilities native to the Cloudera platform, as well as to empower organisations to self-service visualisation across multi-cloud and hybrid environments and the entire data lifecycle. The idea is to enable users to unlock the value of their on-prem data through out-of-the-box picturing and natural language querying. “As enterprises continue to prioritise both multi-cloud and hybrid environments, they need to see their data as a part of a bigger picture,” says Leo Brunnick, Chief Product Officer at Cloudera. “Bringing together AI-driven insights, secure infrastructure, and seamless collaboration in one unified platform, users can see the missing puzzle pieces of their data, wherever they may be. It’s not just about being able to see the data, it’s about seeing how it all fits together to deliver business-critical insights.” “As data becomes the most strategic asset for modern enterprises, Indian businesses are under growing pressure to unlock actionable insights in real time. However, fragmented architectures and evolving data governance demands impede this progress," highlights Piyush Agarwal, SE Leader, India, Cloudera. "With Cloudera Data Visualization now available in on-premises environments, we are empowering organisations to access AI-powered insights securely, while maintaining complete control over their infrastructure. This launch underscores our commitment to supporting Indian enterprises in becoming more agile, compliant, and insight-driven amid a rapidly evolving AI and data-first economy”. “By integrating directly with Cloudera’s unified platform, users benefit from a consistent experience, enhanced collaboration, and full lifecycle data exploration - all while retaining full control over their own infrastructure,” explains industry analyst, Sanjeev Mohan. “Now, Cloudera users can picture and share insights securely within their on-prem environment, allowing their teams to be more agile and informed in their decision-making.”

Eclipse Power Networks adopts major grid connection

Eclipse Power Networks, a leading Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), has secured a significant contract with Colt Data Centre Services to adopt and maintain grid connections totalling 250 megawatts (MW) for its hyperscale data centre campus at Hayes, Middlesex. The agreement follows a competitive tender process that began late 2023 and ran until the end of 2024. Eclipse offered support and guidance to Colt Data Centre Services throughout the process, and is reportedly delighted to have been contracted at its conclusion. Under the contract, Eclipse will adopt a 132 kilovolt (kV) dual-circuit connection from National Grid’s Uxbridge Moor substation, near Iver, providing 100MW of power to the campus. In addition, Eclipse will adopt a 66kV dual-circuit connection from National Grid’s North Hyde substation for a further 150MW of power. These two connections are designed to support the campus of five data halls, each individually metered via Eclipse Power Networks’ network at 11kV. David Swadling, Group Sales Director at Eclipse Power, says, "This Critical National Infrastructure project showcases our technical expertise, and our ability to develop creative, economically attractive solutions for mission-critical infrastructure. We worked collaboratively and transparently with Colt Data Centre Services to help them develop a complex commercial model that that provided an innovative and equitable economical solution never seen before in Great Britain. “By owning and operating the grid infrastructure on Colt’s behalf, we’re ensuring that they secure reliable power for the facility, while allowing them to focus on their core business of providing sustainable hyperscale data centre solutions.” Eclipse Power Networks’ selection was based on its extra-high voltage (EHV) experience and deep technical understanding of National Grid processes, along with a commitment to working transparently with all stakeholders to optimise the commercial relationship between the parties. David Knox, Global Director of Energy & Sustainability at Colt Data Centre Services, highlights, “As the UK aims to reach the next level in the global digital marketplace, customers require scale in their data centre solutions. Sustainable, hyperscale sites such as our Hayes campus not only require power supply security, but they must also have the expansion potential necessary to support growth. “As a trusted partner for our worldwide customers, Colt Data Centre Services works only with organisations that share our commitment to mission-critical infrastructure. Eclipse’s innovative and collaborative approach, together with its rich expertise in power networking, has made it the ideal partner for our expansion at the Hayes site.” With data halls across five floors and 175MW of IT power, Colt Data Centre Services’ Hayes campus represents a major investment in data centre infrastructure. Energisation of the site is scheduled for 2028, with the network infrastructure provided by Eclipse Power Networks designed to last a minimum of 40 years.

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.