Tecnair, a Panasonic company, introduced its new high‑performance Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) at Data Centre World London 2026 in London last week. These new units address the rising thermal demands created by AI and high‑performance computing. As AI and HPC densities push traditional air‑cooling systems beyond their limits, the new CDU portfolio delivers a robust, efficient, and scalable liquid‑cooling platform that integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure, supporting data centre operators and hyperscalers in their transition to sustainable, high‑density operations.

With decades of precision cooling expertise, the CDU’s tackle one of the most urgent challenges facing data centre operators today: how to efficiently cool rack densities that now routinely exceed 50 kW and are climbing towards 100 kW and beyond. The CDU range supports both direct-to-chip and immersion cooling architectures, delivering reliable liquid cooling with the monitoring, redundancy, and scalability required for mission-critical 24/7 operations.

Liquid cooling is no longer optional for high-density environments; it is a strategic enabler. According to the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), Europe is on track for €100 billion in data‑centre investment by 2030, with power demand increasing by around 15% annually, driven by AI adoption, cloud expansion, and rising compute density[1]. The launch of the new CDU range reinforces Panasonic’s commitment to equipping data‑centre operators, engineers and partners with the advanced thermal‑management technologies required to enable the sector’s rapid transition toward high‑density, low‑carbon infrastructure.

Designed for Efficiency and Reliability

The range delivers a range of features, designed to protect sensitive IT equipment while maximising energy efficiency. Key features include:

  • Industry-leading efficiency: Achieves pPUE as low as 1.02 through advanced free‑cooling coils and micro‑channel heat‑exchanger (MCHE) technology, significantly reducing energy consumption versus traditional air‑cooled designs.
  • Flexible, scalable, and highly reliable, the CDU is available in 400 and  800 kW with modular networking to support deployments ranging from edge environments to hyperscale data centres. Designed for continuous 24/7 operation, its fully redundant architecture includes pumps, power supplies, sensors, and a failover system to ensure uninterrupted cooling during maintenance or component failure.
  • Intelligent monitoring and diagnostics: Integrated Modbus BMS control with embedded sensors provides real‑time monitoring of temperature, pressure, flow rate, water level, leak detection, and system alarms, all accessible via a wide intuitive touchscreen interface for seamless local and remote management.

A Complete System Approach with Seamless Integration

Recognising that liquid cooling extends beyond the CDU itself, Panasonic offers an integrated system solution incorporating a Panasonic free‑cooling chiller using R1234ze, a refrigerant with a low GWP of 1,37 (AR6) [2], and fast‑restart capability that further enhances suitability for edge environments.
These models feature a free‑cooling function, which generates chilled water using low outdoor temperatures (down to –10°C), delivering high energy efficiency.

Availability and Next Steps

The CDU range will be available across European markets from Autumn 2026.

Panasonic unveiled the technology at Data Centre World London, where visitors were able to explore Tecnair and Panasonic’s latest innovations and meet with technical experts to discuss specific application requirements. For more information on the CDU please visit – Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) – Panasonic – heating and cooling systems.

For more information on Panasonic’s wide range of solutions please visit – https://www.aircon.panasonic.eu.