Three team to take on containerised data centres
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Siemens has teamed up with two other German companies to offer an alternative to datacentres in shipping containers with a focus on power management.
The containerised modules were all the rage back at the start of the decade, where the containers could be transported on the back of a lorry and installed in a car park to add extra processing power.
Now the Siemens Smart Infrastructure division is the exclusive technology supplier to Cadolto Datacenter in Munich and Legrand Data Center Solutions in Baiersdorf on an “all-in-one” modular design with building automation and monitoring systems. This is designed for the requirements of standard data processing up to high-performance AI applications with scalable systems using recycled components.
The modular design is a fully integrated, plug-and-play datacentre that can be configured, installed, expanded, and easily relocated.
Unlike containerized datacentres, the customizable, prefabricated modules can be tailored to unique operational needs and deployed in a fraction of the time – with planning cycles from six to 12 months. The customisation is key as the power requirements are determined by the boards that are used in the racks. These are the one element that is not necessarily provided, and boards range from a power consumption of 2.8kW for four Nvidia H200 GPUs up to 5.6kW for eight, With Blackwell B200 boards now starting to ship, this increases to over 9kW for eight GPUs with two 500W Intel CPUs.
The modules include the choice of medium- and low-voltage power distribution, building automation, fire safety, and physical security systems as well as optional maintenance contracts and connection to a 24/7 emergency and service control centres.
As both product provider and integrator, Siemens ensures seamless system interaction, minimizes interface complexity, and accelerates deployment and also provides upfront financing through Siemens Financial Services.
Cadolto acts as the manufacturer and general contractor of the modular edge data centre, delivering the prefabricated modular building with integrated climate control. Legrand provides the racks and structured cabling to intelligent Power Distribution Units (PDUs) and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems.
“With digital transformation accelerating across every industry, our customers need infrastructure that moves as fast as they do,” said Ciaran Flanagan, Global Head of Data Center Solutions & Services at Siemens. “This solution offers all the performance of a traditional data center, but with the agility to scale quickly, tailored to our customers’ specific needs. When ramping up capacity, it’s just a case of plugging it in.”
The modular datacentres are suitable for both permanent operation and interim use. They can be deployed wherever needed – from secure high-performance computing to temporary applications such as test setups in the automotive sector, space-constrained office locations, or even disaster recovery scenarios. “IT-ready” rental models enable fast deployment without upfront investment for temporary IT hubs, lab environments, or other short-term infrastructure needs.
Each unit of the modular edge datacentre is factory-built and delivered ready-to-operate, minimizing on-site disruption and enabling live upgrades without downtime. The assembly cuts CO₂ emissions by 30%, and has a 90% percent recycling rate with fully reusable components.
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