The rapid growth of AI and HPC is changing the engineering profile of modern data centres. Server densities are increasing, thermal loads are rising and traditional air-cooling architectures are being stretched beyond their practical limits.
According to the International Energy Agency, cooling and environmental control for AI computing can account for around 7% of electricity demand in efficient hyperscale data centres, but more than 30% in less efficient enterprise facilities, depending on site design and equipment type. As a result, liquid cooling is moving from a specialist option to a strategic requirement for high-density computing environments.
For engineers responsible for specifying, integrating or maintaining these systems, the shift introduces a new layer of complexity. Liquid cooling systems must be controlled, monitored and maintained with the same discipline as the IT infrastructure they protect.
Coolant Distribution Units, or CDUs, are central to this process. They regulate coolant flow, temperature, pressure and system status, ensuring that high-value servers, GPUs and AI accelerators remain within safe operating parameters. If CDU performance is compromised, the consequences can quickly escalate from thermal inefficiency to unplanned downtime, loss of processing availability or equipment damage.
Rugged Computing Matters
This is where rugged industrial computing becomes essential. Data centre cooling equipment may be installed in a controlled facility, but the operating environment inside a CDU or associated industrial enclosure can be electrically demanding. Power supplies, pump motors, pump drivers, sensors, control modules and communication interfaces all create potential sources of electromagnetic interference. In these conditions, standard commercial computing hardware is rarely the right choice. Operators need embedded computers, industrial panel PCs and human-machine interfaces (HMI) that are designed for long-term stable operation in electrically noisy environments.
Reliability is particularly important because data centres are designed around continuity. Cooling infrastructure must operate 24/7, often with tight service level expectations and little tolerance for intermittent faults. A local control and monitoring platform must therefore do more than display information. It needs to process data in real time, provide operators with clear system status, connect reliably to peripheral devices and continue functioning under sustained operational stress. For CDU applications, this can include live monitoring of coolant temperature, flow rate, pressure, alarms and data logging, as well as local parameter adjustment and system control.
Compliant Computers By Design
Certification and compliance should be treated as fundamental specification criteria, not afterthoughts.
Industrial computing hardware used in data centre support systems should be assessed for electromagnetic compatibility, electrical robustness, ingress protection, thermal tolerance and integration suitability. EMC compliance is especially important where sensitive control and monitoring systems are installed close to motors, pumps and power electronics.
Standards such as IEC 61000-6-2 and IEC 61000-6-4 provide assurance around immunity and emissions in industrial environments, helping engineers reduce the risk of unstable operation caused by electrical interference.
Managing Long Life Cycles
Long product life is another critical consideration. Data centre infrastructure is not specified on the same refresh cycle as consumer or commercial IT. Cooling systems, industrial cabinets and facility-level control equipment are expected to remain serviceable for many years. This places additional importance on component availability, mechanical consistency, repeatable configuration and supplier support. When an industrial panel PC is embedded into a CDU, even minor changes to screen size, mounting arrangement, I/O layout or driver support can create integration issues later in the programme.
For this reason, obsolescence management should be planned from the outset. Engineers and procurement teams need to understand expected product lifecycle, revision control, availability of compatible alternatives and the manufacturer’s approach to long-term support. A robust obsolescence strategy reduces the risk of forced redesigns, unplanned validation work and disruption to field maintenance.
In regulated, defence, transport, industrial and mission-critical environments, this planning is even more important because any system change may trigger additional documentation, testing or compliance review.
Flexible, Modular Computing
The ability to configure and scale hardware is also valuable. CDU manufacturers and data centre infrastructure suppliers may need different display sizes, brightness levels, touch technologies, mounting approaches or I/O combinations depending on the equipment design. Modular industrial computing platforms can make this process more manageable, allowing integrators to tailor the system without starting from scratch each time. This supports faster deployment, more efficient maintenance and a clearer upgrade path as requirements evolve.
Case Study: Data Centre Cooling
A recent case study published by Cincoze demonstrates this approach in practice. A large North American manufacturer of data centre liquid cooling equipment deployed 1000 Cincoze 8.4” industrial panel PCs (CV-108C/P1201) within CDU systems as local control and real-time monitoring platforms.
The CV-108C/P1201 meets IEC 61000-6-2/4 requirements and includes industrial protections such as wide temperature operation, wide voltage input and an IP65-rated front panel.
The units provided the computing performance, touchscreen interface, native high-speed I/O and industrial I/O needed to monitor temperature, flow, pressure, alarms and data logging in real time.
As its sole UK distributor, Steatite works in partnership with Cincoze to make rugged, configurable industrial computing platforms available to UK organisations facing similar integration challenges.
For organisations designing, upgrading or supporting data centre infrastructure, we provide more than just products. We help customers specify reliable industrial computing platforms, integrate them into wider systems and plan for long-term operational support. From embedded computers and industrial panel PCs to rugged edge systems and lifecycle-managed solutions, Steatite gives engineering teams the confidence that their computing hardware is fit for the application, supported for the long term and ready for the demands of modern data centre environments.
