Quick answer
Major coolant distribution unit makers include Vertiv (Liebert XDU), CoolIT Systems (CHx and AHx ranges), Motivair by Schneider Electric (MCDU range), nVent (RackChiller CDU800) and Airedale by Modine. Compare capacity at your facility water temperature, approved coolants, redundancy and local service.
Key takeaways
- Capacities range from in-rack units to multi-megawatt row and facility CDUs.
- Compare rated capacity at the same facility water temperature and approach.
- Confirm which coolants each CDU and cold-plate maker approves.
General information. Confirm the exact fluid, equipment and qualification with your hardware or CDU supplier before specifying.
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CDU manufacturers
| Manufacturer | Example products | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vertiv | Liebert XDU family | Liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-air CDUs; publishes educational material on CDU selection. |
| CoolIT Systems | CHx (liquid-to-liquid, e.g. CHx2000, CHx500, CHx200, CHx80), AHx (liquid-to-air, e.g. AHx240) | Rack-based to high-capacity units; liquid-to-air units for rooms without facility water. |
| Motivair by Schneider Electric | MCDU range (e.g. MCDU-45, MCDU-55, MCDU-70), WCDU | Schneider Electric acquired Motivair in February 2025; MCDU-70 rated at 2.5 MW. |
| nVent | RackChiller CDU800 (800 kW) | Row-based CDU for multiple racks, alongside rear-door heat exchangers. |
| Airedale by Modine | 1 MW CDU | Rated at ASHRAE W2/W3 facility water temperatures with N+1 pump redundancy. |
Product names and ratings as published by each manufacturer; check current data sheets. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and no supplier paid to be listed.
How to compare CDUs
- Capacity at your conditions: kW at your facility water supply temperature and the approach you need.
- Form factor: in-rack, in-row or centralised; floor loading and service clearances.
- Liquid-to-liquid or liquid-to-air: depends on whether facility water is available. See what is a CDU.
- Approved fluids: PG25 or treated water; who supplies and tests them. See PG25 coolant suppliers.
- Controls and monitoring: integration with BMS/DCIM, leak detection, alarms.
- Lead times, commissioning and service in your region.
Fluid comes with the CDU decision
The CDU, the cold plates and the coolant are qualified together. Before ordering fluid, confirm the exact product or specification the CDU and server makers require, the fill volume including piping, and the top-up and testing plan.
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Who makes CDUs for data centers?
Manufacturers include Vertiv, CoolIT Systems, Motivair by Schneider Electric, nVent and Airedale by Modine, among others.
What is the largest CDU?
Ratings change quickly. Motivair by Schneider Electric lists its MCDU-70 at 2.5 MW; always compare capacity at the same facility water conditions.
How we source this page
- Facts come from manufacturer pages, datasheets, owner's manuals and standards bodies, linked under Sources.
- We do not test products, and no brand pays to be listed or ranked. Advertising and affiliate links are labelled and never change the data.
- Anything we could not find is marked "not published" rather than guessed. Spotted an error? Tell us.