Flex's Liquid Cooling Business Expands Portfolio with High-Performance Coolant Distribution Unit for AI and HPC Applications

Rhea-AI Summary

Flex's JetCool has launched the SmartSense Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU), a liquid cooling solution designed for AI and high-performance computing. The system can cool up to 300kW in a single rack and over 2MW at the row level, operating with inlet temperatures above 60°C.

Key features include:

• Eliminates need for chillers
• Reduces energy and water consumption
• Compatible with JetCool's SmartPlate cold plates
• Maintains full processor utilization in high ambient environments

Flex supports the CDU with comprehensive services including commissioning, system validation, rapid parts fulfillment, and ongoing maintenance with integrated telemetry. The solution is being showcased at the 2025 OCP EMEA Summit in Dublin, demonstrating Flex's commitment to addressing data center cooling challenges in the AI era.

Positive

• New SmartSense CDU product launch expands Flex's liquid cooling portfolio for high-growth AI and HPC markets
• High-performance capabilities: CDU supports up to 300kW per rack and over 2MW at row level
• Energy and cost efficiency through elimination of chillers and reduced water consumption
• Global logistics infrastructure ensures rapid spare parts fulfillment and minimal service interruptions
• Comprehensive service offering including commissioning, validation, and maintenance support

Negative

• None.

Insights

Data Center Infrastructure Analyst

Flex's new liquid cooling solution targets critical thermal management needs in AI data centers, supporting up to 300kW per rack.

JetCool's new SmartSense CDU represents significant advancement in data center thermal management technology, addressing the escalating cooling challenges created by AI and high-performance computing workloads. The technical specifications are impressive, delivering 300kW cooling capacity per rack and over 2MW at the row level, with inlet temperatures exceeding 60°C.

What makes this solution particularly valuable is its elimination of chillers while reducing both energy and water consumption. These efficiency gains address two critical constraints facing modern data centers: power usage effectiveness (PUE) and water usage effectiveness (WUE). By enabling true "free cooling," the solution helps data centers reduce operational expenses while supporting substantially higher compute densities.

The system architecture integrates with JetCool's SmartPlate cold plates, creating a comprehensive cooling ecosystem that maintains full processor utilization even in challenging thermal environments. This is crucial for AI workloads where thermal throttling can significantly impact computational performance and training times.

The complementary lifecycle services Flex is offering—including commissioning, system validation, component availability, and maintenance with integrated telemetry—address the operational complexities of deploying liquid cooling at scale. These services lower the barrier to adoption for data center operators who might otherwise be hesitant to implement liquid cooling technologies.

Financial Analyst

Flex strategically expands into the high-growth liquid cooling market, addressing critical infrastructure needs for AI computing deployments.

This product launch represents a strategic expansion for Flex into the rapidly growing liquid cooling segment of data center infrastructure. The timing is opportune as data centers worldwide are struggling with the thermal challenges posed by AI accelerators and high-density computing, creating substantial market demand for advanced cooling solutions.

Flex is leveraging its manufacturing expertise and global supply chain capabilities to address a critical bottleneck in AI infrastructure deployment. By combining JetCool's technology with Flex's manufacturing scale, the company is positioning itself as a key enabler for next-generation computing infrastructure.

The service offerings bundled with the hardware solution—commissioning, component availability, and maintenance—create potential for recurring revenue streams beyond the initial hardware sale. These value-added services align with broader industry trends toward integrated solutions rather than standalone hardware products.

The announcement doesn't provide specific revenue projections for this product line, but it clearly represents diversification into a growth market adjacent to Flex's core manufacturing business. As AI deployments continue to accelerate globally, the thermal management segment represents a potentially lucrative market opportunity with long-term growth prospects.

News summary

• JetCool's SmartSense Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) liquid-to-liquid solutions support hyperscale, enterprise, and colocation applications
• Supported by Flex's advanced manufacturing capabilities and services to enable customers to rapidly scale liquid cooling infrastructure
• Flex will highlight the CDU at the 2025 OCP EMEA Summit in booth A18

DUBLIN, April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OCP EMEA Summit -- Flex's (NASDAQ: FLEX) liquid cooling business, JetCool, today announced the introduction of its SmartSense Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU). This in-rack, liquid-to-liquid design is the first in a portfolio that delivers modular, cost-effective solutions to data centers and colocation providers, cooling up to 300kW in a single rack or across multiple high-density racks from a single CDU.

"As AI and high-density workloads push the limits of traditional thermal management, JetCool's new SmartSense CDU represents a leap forward in scalable liquid cooling for power-dense racks," said Rob Campbell, President of Communications, Enterprise, and Cloud at Flex. "By combining JetCool's liquid cooling technologies with Flex's advanced manufacturing capabilities and services, we're enabling customers to address heat challenges while accelerating the deployment of data center infrastructure at scale."

JetCool's SmartSense CDU delivers up to 300kW per rack and over 2MW at the row level, enabling true "free cooling" with inlet temperatures above 60°C — eliminating the need for chillers and reducing both energy and water consumption. When paired with JetCool's SmartPlate™ cold plates, the system provides precision cooling engineered for performance, maintaining full processor utilization even in high ambient environments.

To support the deployment and entire lifecycle of liquid cooling infrastructure, Flex provides a range of services that enable customers to scale liquid cooling solutions faster and with full confidence. With decades of experience supporting customers with liquid cooling around the world, Flex brings deep expertise in in-rack systems, deployment, and long-term operational management that will support SmartSense CDU customers:

• Commissioning and system validation – Flex will ensure all SmartSense CDU units are properly installed and integrated, with system-level validation to support operational integrity from day one.
• Component availability and rapid fulfillment – Backed by Flex's global logistics infrastructure, critical spare parts will be stocked and delivered rapidly, minimizing service interruptions.
• Ongoing maintenance with integrated telemetry – The SmartSense CDU will support proactive service strategies, using built-in telemetry and diagnostics to guide long-term system health and performance optimization.

Flex is highlighting the new CDU for the data center community during the 2025 OCP EMEA Summit in Dublin, Ireland. Attendees may visit the JetCool booth A18 for demonstrations and attend Flex's session on April 29 at 2:25 p.m. IST to learn more about how this solution is helping data centers transition to high-efficiency, rack-ready liquid cooling.

Scalable data center advanced manufacturing capabilities, products, and services

Flex provides advanced manufacturing capabilities, innovative power and cooling products, and services that solve for data center power, heat, and scale challenges in the AI era. Accelerate data center infrastructure deployment worldwide with Flex.

About Flex

Flex (Reg. No. 199002645H) is the manufacturing partner of choice that helps a diverse customer base design and build products that improve the world. Through the collective strength of a global workforce across 30 countries and responsible, sustainable operations, Flex delivers technology innovation, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions to diverse industries and end markets.

About JetCool
JetCool, a Flex company, is catalyzing breakthroughs in thermal management for compute-intensive applications. The company's liquid cooling solutions provide the essential foundation for semiconductor manufacturers, hyperscalers, and their partners to advance innovations in high-performance computing. Deployed by major chipmakers and OEMs, JetCool's state-of-the-art liquid cooling solutions ensure sustained advancements in device efficiency, performance, reliability, and sustainability. With investments from renowned entities in tech, semiconductor, and venture sectors such as Bosch and DuPont, JetCool continues to uphold its commitment to a forward-thinking mission. For additional information, please visit jetcool.com.

Media & Press:
Erin Knapp
Matter Communications for JetCool
(617) 502-6546
JetCool@matternow.com

Investors & Analysts
David A. Rubin
Vice President, Investor Relations
(408) 577-4632
David.Rubin@flex.com

 

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SOURCE Flex

FAQ

What is JetCool's SmartSense CDU cooling capacity for AI data centers?

JetCool's SmartSense CDU can cool up to 300kW in a single rack and over 2MW at the row level, with inlet temperatures above 60°C, eliminating the need for chillers and reducing energy and water consumption.

How does Flex (FLEX) support liquid cooling deployment for data centers?

Flex provides commissioning, system validation, rapid component fulfillment, and ongoing maintenance with integrated telemetry for SmartSense CDU customers, backed by their global logistics infrastructure.

What are the key features of Flex's new liquid cooling solution for AI applications?

The SmartSense CDU offers in-rack liquid-to-liquid cooling, enables true free cooling above 60°C, and when paired with SmartPlate cold plates, maintains full processor utilization in high ambient environments.

Where can investors see Flex's new SmartSense CDU demonstration in 2025?

Flex will showcase the SmartSense CDU at the 2025 OCP EMEA Summit in Dublin, Ireland, at booth A18, with a presentation scheduled for April 29 at 2:25 p.m. IST.

What markets does Flex's new liquid cooling technology target?

The SmartSense CDU targets hyperscale, enterprise, and colocation applications, specifically designed for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data centers requiring high-density cooling solutions.