ebm‑papst presented its energy-saving AI cooling tech at IPAI Heilbronn launch.
ebm‑papst presented its energy-saving AI cooling tech at IPAI Heilbronn launch. Starline | Freepik.com
The launch of the Innovation Park for Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) campus in Heilbronn served as a platform for ebm-papst to demonstrate how it is helping AI data centres operate more efficiently.
The groundbreaking event, which included an appearance by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, celebrated the next phase of development at the technology hub where the company has already been engaged for two years.
ebm-papst, known globally for its fan and motor technology, is focusing on cutting the energy demands of facilities powering artificial intelligence. The International Energy Agency warns that data centre electricity usage could surge beyond 945 terawatt-hours by 2030, placing major emphasis on the need for smarter cooling and power management.
To address this, the manufacturer presented its NEXAIRA solution – a digital platform that integrates high-performance air-moving equipment with data-driven control strategies. In a real-world deployment in Frankfurt, NEXAIRA is reported to have halved the energy required for cooling, contributing to a roughly 15% reduction in the site’s total energy consumption.
“The future of AI depends on efficient operation. Software cannot work without the right hardware,” emphasised Klaus Geißdörfer, CEO of ebm-papst. “Here at IPAI, the next generation of applications is being developed – and we are making sure they run with maximum efficiency.”
Some of the AI intelligence behind the system is being developed directly within the IPAI environment. ebm-papst teams work alongside partners in the park’s collaborative “Affinity Circles,” also helping drive cross-industry innovation through initiatives such as Next Level Mittelstand – a consortium with Schunk, StackIT and Pepperl+Fuchs aimed at supporting mid-sized firms in adopting artificial intelligence.
“We are deliberately strengthening Germany’s role as an AI centre,” noted shareholder representative Jan Philippiak, pointing to the regional investment as a long-term commitment.
ebm-papst’s R&D activities at its Mulfingen headquarters meanwhile continue to push into new frontiers of data-centre cooling, from liquid-based designs to advanced compressor technologies – an evolution of its core expertise to meet the demands of rapidly scaling AI infrastructure.
Source: RefIndustry
