The Data Center Frontier Show Data Centers, Cooling Trends & What’s Coming in 2026
Mar 19, 2026
Tom Carroll, Director of Data Center at EBM Pabst Americas, is an HVAC and air-movement expert focused on data centers and supply chains. He explores liquid cooling and hybrid approaches alongside persistent air-cooling roles. He covers high-voltage DC readiness, localized manufacturing to shorten lead times, and digital tools like BMS protocols and digital twins to optimize systems.
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Local Manufacturing Cuts Tariffs And Lead Times
- Do localize manufacturing to reduce tariffs, cut lead times, and create redundant supply chains.
- EBM Pabst runs three regional factories (U.S., Germany, China) producing the same products so production can pivot if one location is disrupted.
Give Suppliers Multiyear Forecasts To Prevent Shortages
- Do share long-range forecasts with suppliers so they can pre-order critical components and expand capacity ahead of demand.
- EBM Pabst asks customers for 2–3 year forecasts (sometimes to 2030) and plans to boost motor capacity 50–60% and double US footprint by 2027.
Hybrid Cooling Is The Practical Future
- Hybrid cooling will dominate as racks move to liquid while room-level and outdoor heat rejection remain air-cooled.
- EBM Pabst expects all racks to become liquid cooled over time, but chillers and drycoolers with fans will still reject heat to the environment.