ebm‑papst presents energy-saving AI cooling tech at IPAI Heilbronn launch

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the IPAI Campus in Heilbronn, Germany, ebm‑papst highlighted its contribution to energy-efficient cooling for AI data centers. The event, attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, marked a key milestone for the Innovation Park for Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), where ebm‑papst has been active for two years.

The company, a specialist in fans and motors, is developing hardware infrastructure to reduce energy use in AI-driven data centers. With global power consumption by data centers projected to more than double to 945 terawatt-hours by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency, the efficiency of supporting technologies is becoming increasingly critical.

As part of its response, ebm‑papst introduced the NEXAIRA platform. This system combines high-efficiency fans with smart data analysis and motor control. In a data center in Frankfurt, the platform reportedly reduced cooling energy use by about 50%, cutting overall data center energy consumption by approximately 15%.

“Software and hardware are two sides of the same coin,” said Klaus Geißdörfer, CEO of ebm‑papst. “The AI applications of the future are being developed at the IPAI, and we ensure that they can also run efficiently.”

Some AI components of NEXAIRA are developed by ebm‑papst staff working at the IPAI site, in collaboration with other companies through IPAI’s Affinity Circles. This local ecosystem has also led to initiatives like Next Level Mittelstand, a joint venture with companies including Schunk, StackIT, and Pepperl+Fuchs, aiming to accelerate AI adoption in medium-sized enterprises.

Jan Philippiak, representing the company’s shareholder families, said: “We are consciously investing in Germany and in our region as an AI hub because the ideal conditions are being created here.”

Research at the company’s headquarters in Mulfingen now includes development of next-generation cooling technologies, including liquid-based systems and high-performance compressors, as ebm‑papst adapts its core fan technology to emerging AI infrastructure needs.