Motivair by Schneider Electric Launches New CDUs for AI & HPC

Motivair by Schneider Electric, a liquid cooling technology provider, has unveiled two new Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) designed to meet the rising thermal demands of HPC and AI workloads. 

These new models are the company’s first purpose-built CDUs optimized for utility corridors, giving data center operators greater flexibility, performance, and integration across a broader range of deployments. 

Matching deployment strategies with specialized cooling

The new CDUs — the MCDU-45 and MCDU-55 — are now available worldwide, with production expected to ramp up in early 2026. 

Motivair says the units reflect the evolution of liquid cooling technology alongside shifting AI-era infrastructure needs, noting that customers are increasingly deploying CDUs outside the white space, away from where IT equipment is typically located.

“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 of the cooling business at Schneider Electric. 

“Our new CDUs, announced today, 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,” Bradner added.

Key benefits of the MCDU-45 and MCDU-55 include:

• Space Optimization and Flexibility: With new and existing CDU options, operators can choose the right model to meet their specific deployment goals.   
• Energy Savings: CDUs offer wider operating ranges, enabling heat-rejection systems to unlock greater energy efficiency and improve PUE.
• Simplified Maintenance and Accessibility: Diverse placement of CDUs enhances service access flexibility without disrupting AI workloads or IT operations.  
• Enhanced Integration with Chiller Plants: The full range of CDUs (MCDU-25 through MCDU-60 models) supports advanced thermal management strategies, including precise flow control, real-time monitoring, and adaptive load balancing.

Motivair adds that these units, along with its complete liquid-cooling portfolio, help operators tailor cooling strategies to their specific AI infrastructure, data center design, and workload requirements. 

This enables them to achieve optimal thermal performance, operational efficiency, and deployment outcomes as compute density continues to rise.

First products following Schneider Electric acquisition

The new CDUs from Motivair by Schneider Electric are the first products released since Schneider Electric acquired Motivair in February 2025.

According to the company, the units are designed to deliver efficient, scalable liquid cooling as demand rises for high-density computing and AI-driven workloads across HPC, AI Factory, and data center environments.

“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, chief executive officer 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.”

Beyond these CDUs, Motivair by Schneider Electric also offers floor-mounted CDUs and in-rack units, tailored to support enhanced cooling strategies for hyperscale, AI, colocation, edge, and retrofit environments.

Earlier this year, Schneider Electric debuted its liquid-cooling portfolio for AI data centers. Read more about how Schneider Electric’s liquid cooling capabilities support high-density AI chips and AI infrastructures as a whole.