Rotork is selling electric actuators into AI data centres: its collaboration with monitoring specialist Parameter pairs real-time leak detection with fast fluid isolation for liquid-cooled facilities, using UL-certified Hanbay compact electric actuators to close valves at rack, row or system level the moment a coolant leak is detected. Announced on 22 June 2026, the partnership targets the biggest operational risk in liquid-cooled AI data centres — coolant leaks, where even a minor one can cost millions of dollars per rack.
AI compute is pushing data centres to unprecedented power density: AI racks now commonly exceed 100 kW each, far beyond traditional air cooling, making liquid cooling effectively non-negotiable — analysts estimate some 40% of AI data centres globally will adopt liquid cooling this year. But liquid cooling pipes coolant straight into the white space, and leaks follow. Power demand is expanding too: global data-centre electricity consumption is on track to more than double by 2030, and US data centres used about 176 TWh in 2023, forecast to reach 325–580 TWh by 2028.
The two companies have integrated their technologies into a unified system: Parameter supplies the real-time leak detection and monitoring platform, while Rotork provides the compact, fast, UL-certified Hanbay electric actuators for valve action. On detection, a Hanbay actuator quickly closes valves to isolate fluid at rack, row or system level, and combined with Parameter’s sensing and control platforms supports early detection, rapid response and centralised oversight — containing an incident before it cascades.
Hanbay actuators with the Parameter monitoring platform (source: Rotork news)
Mike Blazes, CEO at Parameter: "Liquid cooling is a non-negotiable for AI infrastructure, but it also introduces new operational hazards — integrating high-sensitivity leak detection with fast, automated fluid isolation can mean the difference between a contained incident and a cascading failure." Tony Vangasse, Head of Strategy, CPI, Rotork: "Protecting uptime, assets and safety is a critical priority in liquid-cooled data-centre environments; our collaboration brings together real-time leak detection and fast-acting electric valve actuation to support rapid isolation when issues arise."
| Component | Provider | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time leak detection & monitoring platform | Parameter (an RLE company) | High-sensitivity sensing, centralised oversight and alerts |
| Hanbay electric actuators | Rotork | Compact, lightweight, fast-acting, UL-certified; valve isolation |
| Isolation levels | Joint system integration | Rack / row / system three-level fluid isolation |
| Target customers | — | Hyperscalers, colocation operators and enterprise data centres |
Actuators traditionally serve power, petrochemical and water plants; this news shows AI data centres becoming a new source of valve-automation demand — not heavy high-torque units but small, fast, fully certified (Hanbay is UL-certified) light-duty products bundled with monitoring systems. The same path is open to Chinese manufacturers: liquid-cooling fast-closing valves tied to leak detection are essentially "sensor + compact actuator + control logic" combinations, worth tracking.
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Source: Rotork news (22 June 2026), "Rotork and Parameter Collaborate to Showcase Leak Detection and Fluid Isolation for AI-Driven, Liquid-Cooled Data Centres"; compiled by actuators.cn.
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