Critical cooling specialist, Airedale by Modine, has announced the extension of its liquid cooling coolant distribution unit (CDU), with the introduction of a modular, skid-based design for capacities of 2MW+. The high-capacity design, introduced to deliver increased flexibility to customers, will be manufactured globally at Airedale by Modine facilities across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific.

The launch of the skid-based CDU expands the product range to three standard footprints, offering scalable capacities from 400kW up to 2MW and beyond, at a 4K approach. Engineered for longevity and performance, each unit features premium components including stainless steel pipework, 25-micron filtration, and active harmonic filtration, delivering a robust and sustainable liquid cooling solution with an expected lifecycle that could exceed 15 years, depending on application and with proper use.

A growing trend among data center operators is the strategic placement of CDUs within the facility’s ‘gray space’, including corridors and plant rooms, rather than directly adjacent to server racks. This approach offers greater spatial flexibility and opens up new possibilities for design optimization.

While in-row CDU configurations continue to attract interest, the skid-mounted design is gaining traction due to its open architecture, which allows for easier access during maintenance. Though it occupies a larger footprint, the skid design supports a higher component density, enabling enhanced redundancy and reliability across cooling systems.

"We’re seeing operators rethink traditional layouts to unlock greater efficiency and resilience," said Richard Burcher, product manager at Airedale by Modine. "By relocating CDUs to less congested areas of the data center, they’re not only improving accessibility for maintenance but also future-proofing their infrastructure with scalable, high-redundancy solutions."

Airedale by Modine CDUs are equipped with integrated intelligent controls that enable seamless networking of up to eight units, significantly boosting capacity and providing a scalable solution that adapts to growing demand. The unit controls are fully compatible with site-wide building management systems (BMS) for smooth integration. Built on the Redfish protocol, these units proactively communicate early fault signals to the BMS, enabling ‘handshake permission’ before initiating any switchover, ensuring optimal uptime and site-wide coordination.

"We’re seeing operators rethink traditional layouts to unlock greater efficiency and resilience," said Richard Burcher, product manager at Airedale by Modine. "By relocating CDUs to less congested areas of the data center, they’re not only improving accessibility for maintenance but also future-proofing their infrastructure with scalable, high-redundancy solutions."

Airedale by Modine CDUs are equipped with integrated intelligent controls that enable seamless networking of up to eight units, significantly boosting capacity and providing a scalable solution that adapts to growing demand.

The unit controls are fully compatible with site-wide building management systems (BMS) for smooth integration. Built on the Redfish protocol, these units proactively communicate early fault signals to the BMS, enabling ‘handshake permission’ before initiating any switchover, ensuring optimal uptime and site-wide coordination.

Maintenance is simplified with a dedicated ‘maintenance mode’, allowing filters to be cleaned and pumps serviced safely without interrupting operation, provided all safety protocols are correctly followed.

All Airedale by Modine CDUs are engineered for precise alignment with the evolving requirements of hyperscale, colocation, and neo-cloud environments. Customizable to suit site-specific operational demands, the CDU offers flexible options for redundancy, filtration, material selection, flow rate control, temperature management, and overall performance.

For more information about Airedale by Modine CDUs, please visit www.airedale.com