Stäubli expands Duncan cleanroom for AI data center cooling

As AI workloads continue to accelerate power density in data centers, Stäubli is expanding its Upstate operations for manufacturing capabilities and setting new quality standards for quick-disconnect connector assembly.

The company expanded its U.S. operation with the opening of a new cleanroom facility in Duncan, according to a news release. The cost of the expansion was not disclosed.

Stäubli was the first company in the data center industry to assemble quick-disconnect connectors in a certified cleanroom environment, a practice that has since become the industry standard, the company said. This cleanroom process eliminates the risk of debris contamination that can lead to leaks or performance degradation in high-pressure liquid cooling circuits.

Today, the company’s new cleanroom facility in Duncan supports North American production for multiple connector families, including the UQD, the release stated. By assembling these precision components in a controlled environment close to major OEM and hyperscaler operations, Stäubli helps customers achieve shorter lead times, reduced logistics costs, and enhanced quality assurance across their supply chains.

“When we introduced cleanroom assembly to the data center industry, it was a commitment to reliability,” Nicolas Monnier, head of IT Cooling at Stäubli, said in the release. “That same mindset drives our expansion in the U.S. today. We’re giving customers local access to the same Swiss-engineered precision, zero-leak performance, and always-on support that define Stäubli globally.”

The demand for liquid-cooling components has grown rapidly as AI systems become more power-intensive. Industry forecasts project the global liquid cooling market to grow more than 20% annually through 2030, with AI deployments driving the steepest increases in demand.

Localized production at Stäubli’s South Carolina site allows the company to respond swiftly to market surges while maintaining standards of cleanliness and precision, the release stated.

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