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Client story

3 min read

Legrand and NorthC enable AI & HPC

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When a customer needed capacity for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) at our Münchenstein (Basel) data center, the room was still designed for lower densities. The first step was to find the right partner. NorthC and Legrand set a six-month target to achieve high-density on the existing infrastructure while the site remained in operation.

 

The challenge

At our Münchenstein (Basel) site, a customer request required enabling high-density computing for AI and HPC within six months. Starting from a low-density room, we needed to increase available power and cooling and prepare for sustained loads with peaks. AI servers consume several hundred watts per unit, and training peaks raise overall demand. Air-only cooling would not be enough for this profile, and the shift also required updates to our operating procedures.

The approach

We began by finding the right partner. As Wolfgang Voigt (Site Manager, NorthC Switzerland) puts it: “The traditional concept of separating cooling and power and keeping water out of the data hall is no longer valid today. The new cooling approach also changes how we operate, so processes and staff behaviour have to adapt. We needed a supplier who could deliver innovative systems in a tight, six-month window. That is how our partnership with Legrand began.“

Cooling approach: USystems ColdLogik RDHx

With Legrand on board, we deployed USystems (a Legrand brand) ColdLogik rear door heat exchangers (RDHx). This approach met the six-month timeline and used our existing hall, allowing us to increase rack density without a complete redesign.

An RDHx mounts to the back of the rack and routes server exhaust through a water-cooled coil. Water absorbs about 3,000 times more heat than air, so the system delivers substantial efficiency gains and enables high-density AI and HPC.

In parallel, we prepared the power and water backbones for a phased rollout and updated our operating procedures to a liquid-assisted model. The result is a tailored, scalable solution.

“Installing the basic infrastructure of our cooling solutions in a data center, whether for the entire facility or just part of it, makes upgrading straightforward. The joint solution, which we are very proud of, provides NorthC with a future-proof and flexible infrastructure.”
Colin Rowlands
European Technical Support, USystems

Implementation during live operations

All work was carried out while the site remained in operation. It was, as Voigt put it, “open-heart surgery.” Activities were planned in phased change windows and closely coordinated with Legrand to keep the schedule. “We managed to juggle everything on their behalf. That is part of our partnership,” said Colin Rowlands, European Technical Support, USystems. The retrofit concluded smoothly, without significant issues.

Results

  • Cooling energy reduced by around 80 percent
  • Improved PUE and a smaller carbon footprint
  • Reuse of existing infrastructure for a faster rollout
  • Scales with demand, so additional racks and rows can be added over time
  • Ready for GPU clusters, hybrid cloud and low-latency connectivity aligned with Swiss data laws
“New requirements from our customers are coming very quickly, almost ad hoc. We are ready for new customer needs whenever a client asks.”
Wolfgang Voigt
Site Manager, NorthC Switzerland

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