Vertiv acquires STL to boost liquid cooling capabilities

Vertiv has announced the acquisition of Strategic Thermal Labs LLC (STL), a firm known for its expertise in advanced liquid-cooling solutions

The move enhances Vertiv’s thermal chain strategy by reinforcing engineering capabilities at the critical interface between server-level liquid cooling and the supporting infrastructure, an area that is becoming increasingly important in high-density environments driven by AI and high-performance computing workloads.

As computing demands continue to rise, the relationship between server-side liquid cooling and broader infrastructure plays a growing role in overall system performance. Factors such as flow management, system balance, control dynamics, serviceability and long-term reliability are all influenced by this interaction. By integrating STL’s expertise in cold plate design, server-level cooling and high-density thermal validation, Vertiv aims to strengthen its ability to replicate real-world high-density conditions, refine the interaction between thermal and power systems and support customers throughout the full lifecycle, from design and integration to commissioning and operations.

“As AI and high-performance computing push power densities to unprecedented levels, understanding and solving heat challenges at the chip level becomes critical to system design, performance and reliability,” said Scott Armul, chief product and technology officer at Vertiv.

“STL brings deep expertise and proven capability in addressing some of the industry’s most demanding chip-level density and thermal problems, strengthening Vertiv’s ability to emulate and validate system-level solutions and enabling customers to improve performance and lifecycle outcomes in liquid-cooled environments.”

Vertiv confirmed that the acquisition will not alter its commitment to maintaining an open ecosystem. The company will continue to deliver interoperable infrastructure solutions that remain independent of specific server or silicon technologies, ensuring improved system-level performance across a wide range of computing environments.

The addition of Strategic Thermal Labs aligns with Vertiv’s broader strategy to help customers manage rising infrastructure complexity by combining power, thermal, control and lifecycle service capabilities into integrated solutions.