In today’s digital revolution, pumps play a central role in two fundamental ways: on the one hand, they represent the evolution toward increasingly intelligent solutions equipped with advanced sensors, predictive control, and connectivity; on the other, they perform a primary operational function by ensuring the thermal efficiency of data centers—critical infrastructures that require reliable, high-performance cooling systems.
Calpeda’s entry into the data center cooling business is a response to undeniable market drivers, built on a foundation of decades hydraulic precision and quality assurance.
The technological challenges of a fast- growing market
Globally, the data center cooling market, valued at an estimated USD 18.4 billion in 2024, is projected to surge to approximately USD 49.9 billion by 2034, reflecting a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) above 10.2%.
The exponential growth of data centers—accelerated by Artificial Intelligence (AI), High Performance Computing (HPC), and global cloud infrastructure—is turning server rack cooling into one of the most critical technological challenges across the industry.
Mpdern rack power densities, now reaching up to 120 kW per rack for specialized AI applications, have highlighted the limits of air-cooling systems, making liquid cooling essential. Unsurprisingly, this market segment is projected to grow rapidly, with a CAGR ranging between 20% and 33.2% through 2032.
In this context, the reliability of pumping solutions becomes crucial to ensuring the uninterrupted operation of infrastructures that must run 24/7. High flow rates, compact design to support system scalability, low energy consumption, and corrosion resistance are among the key requirements for increasingly resilient and sustainable cooling systems.
Consequently, in the fast-evolving landscape of data centers, where absolute operational continuity is mandatory, having highly qualified technological partners is more strategic than ever.
Calpeda meets these needs not as a mere pump supplier but as a specialized partner thanks to a combination of:
• OEM expertise integrating co-design, customization, and continuous support;
• advanced know-how in stainless-steel processing, essential for critical hydronic circuits;
• a technologically advanced test facility capable of validating product performance even under extreme conditions.
This approach allows us to design customized pumping solutions for any data center cooling system.
OEM Solutions: customization, integration, and continuity
Data center applications rarely fit standard solutions. They require tailored configurations, compatibility with complex systems, stable performance even under extreme conditions, and consistent long-term technical support. Companies designing data centers look for partners capable not only of supplying products but also of ensuring technical expertise, support, and customization capability.
Calpeda’s OEM experience enables a structured response to these needs through:
• shared design with the customer, starting from the system definition phase;
• customized configurations that consider available space, modular layouts typical of data centers, and energy-efficiency requirements;
• continuous support, from material selection to predictive maintenance, up to full assistance and fast component replacement.
Calpeda pumps are used across all major configurations of liquid-cooling systems in data centers. They are ideal both for moving water from the building’s water facility and for powering primary and secondary coolant circuits within CDU (Cooling Distribution Units), where the critical thermal exchange occurs to dissipate heat generated by IT equipment.
In addition to centralized systems, we also design pumping solutions for:
• pumping systems integrated into CDUs, ensuring compactness and optimal thermal management;
• containerized edge data centers, where limited space and the need for uninterrupted operation require compact, robust solutions equipped with intelligent controls to increase reliability and simplify management and maintenance.
Stainless-steel processing know-how
The combination of pumps and stainless steel is a strategic choice to ensure efficiency and operational continuity in cooling systems.
Calpeda stands out for its consolidated expertise in stainless-steel processing. This material—especially in its AISI 316 version—offers maximum corrosion protection, high resistance to mechanical stress, and reliable performance in challenging thermal conditions. In data centers, any malfunction can lead to downtime and significant economic losses.
Thanks to its strength, chemical resistance, and durability, stainless steel is considered the safest material for applications where the tolerance for failure is zero.
Among the main stainless-steel pumping solutions offered by Calpeda are:
• NMX series stainless-steel monobloc centrifugal pumps with threaded ports;
• MXH series horizontal multistage stainless-steel monobloc pumps;
• MXV series vertical in-line multistage stainless-steel pumps.
(Read also: “The new NMX centrifugal pump: compact stainless-steel solution”)
UL Certification: an essential requirement for global presence
Calpeda’s product portfolio includes UL Certified products.
The UL certification is strategically vital to our data center global footprint. It signals Calpeda components meet the exacting safety, quality, and performance standards required for deployment across highly regulated regions. Furthermore, we offer a range of products with electrical configurations compatible with NEMA standards, including UL/CSA certified motors, ensuring seamless integration into US-standard OEM machinery.
Investment in state-of-the-art testing capabilities
To guarantee the level of reliability required for mission-critical operations, Calpeda has recently upgraded its production site with a new state-of-the-art testing facility covering over 1,000 m².
This investment allows Calpeda to perform 100% end-of-line testing on every single product using water, verifying crucial metrics like voltage, current, and power absorption.
It is a rigorous process that goes beyond industry norms, ensuring that every pump leaving our facility meets precise technical specifications and is guaranteed for longevity and peak performance. This rigorous validation process is our commitment to maximum protection and operational continuity for data centers where downtime is not an option.
(Read also: “A state-of-the-art testing room for pump validation”)
If you are planning or optimizing your data center’s cooling system, the Calpeda team is ready to support you with customized solutions.
Contact us for dedicated technical consulting.
