Motivair by Schneider Electric, a recognized innovator in liquid cooling solutions for digital infrastructure, has unveiled two new Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) designed to address the escalating thermal requirements of high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. As compute densities continue to surge, these new systems arrive at a critical moment for data center operators seeking more adaptable and efficient cooling strategies.
To begin with, the newly launched MCDU-45 and MCDU-55 represent the company’s first purpose-built CDUs optimized specifically for installation in utility corridors. This approach gives operators greater freedom in how and where they deploy liquid cooling infrastructure, moving beyond traditional white-space-only configurations. As a result, data centers can better align cooling placement with evolving architectural and operational needs.
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Moreover, both models are now available globally, with production expected to scale in early 2026. The MCDU-45 and MCDU-55 offer expanded cooling capacities and broader operating conditions, enabling operators to take advantage of a wider range of chilled water temperatures. Consequently, organizations can fine-tune deployments to improve overall efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and optimize day-to-day operations.
With these additions, Motivair by Schneider Electric further strengthens its end-to-end liquid cooling portfolio. In addition to the new utility-corridor CDUs, the company continues to offer floor-mounted and in-rack units. Together, these options support diverse environments, including hyperscale data centers, AI factories, colocation facilities, edge deployments, and retrofit projects. This comprehensive approach ensures that customers can design cooling strategies that scale alongside rapidly advancing AI workloads.
Importantly, the MCDU-45 and MCDU-55 reflect how liquid cooling deployments are evolving in the AI era. As more customers place CDUs outside the white space, having a complete range of deployment options becomes essential. This flexibility allows operators to match cooling systems precisely to infrastructure layouts and workload demands, helping maintain thermal stability and operational resilience as power densities rise.
Among the key benefits, the new CDUs deliver improved space optimization and deployment flexibility, making it easier to select the right model for specific goals. In addition, their wider operating ranges help unlock energy savings and improve power usage effectiveness (PUE). Simplified maintenance is another advantage, as alternative placement options enhance service access without interrupting AI workloads. Furthermore, seamless integration with chiller plants across the full CDU range from MCDU-25 to MCDU-60 supports advanced thermal management, real-time monitoring, and adaptive load balancing to reduce energy consumption.
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“When it comes to data center liquid cooling, flexibility is the key with customers demanding a more diverse and larger portfolio of end-to-end solutions,” said Andrew Bradner, Senior Vice President, Cooling Business at Schneider Electric. “Our new CDUs, announced, allow customers to match deployment strategies to a wider range of accelerated computing applications while leveraging decades of specialized cooling experience to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and future-readiness.”
Notably, these CDUs are the first new products introduced since Schneider Electric acquired Motivair in February 2025. Driven by the explosive growth of AI, particularly across HPC, AI factory, and advanced data center environments, the solutions are designed to deliver scalable and efficient liquid cooling for high-density computing.
“Motivair is a trusted partner for advanced liquid cooling solutions, and our new range of technologies enables data center operators to navigate the AI era with confidence,” said Rich Whitmore, CEO of Motivair. “Together with Schneider Electric, our goal is to deliver next-generation cooling solutions that adapt to any HPC, AI or advanced data center deployment to deliver seamless scalability, performance, and reliability when it matters most.”
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