Airedale International - Experts & Thought Leaders

Modine, a diversified pioneer in thermal management technology and solutions, announced $180 million in orders for Airedale by Modine™ data center cooling systems from a new customer that is a pioneering AI infrastructure developer. The high-capacity equipment is purpose-built to meet the customer’s objectives to provide scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for AI applications by building large-scale, building-optimized data centers. Modine data center solutions Airedale by Modine data center solutions are designed to lower the total cost of ownership by delivering superior Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) through free-cooling technology and advanced control systems. The products will be manufactured at Modine’s state-of-the-art facilities in Rockbridge, Virginia, and Grenada, Mississippi, with delivery expected throughout 2025 and the first half of 2026. Modine data center cooling products Airedale by Modine data center solutions are designed to lower the total cost of ownership “These initial orders from an important new customer demonstrate the value provided by Airedale by Modine data center cooling products, underscoring our strategic advantage in this market,” said Eric McGinnis, President, Climate Solutions. “We expect this to be a long-term partnership as we support their significant growth objectives to develop some of the largest, high-performance computing clusters in the world.” Aggressive growth targets for business “Building relationships and delivering on promises are key to meeting and exceeding our aggressive growth targets for this business,” added Neil D. Brinker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our current order intake, significant development funnel and this new business win provide us with confidence in our ability to drive organic growth, and support our expectation of delivering organic growth in excess of 30% in our next fiscal year.” Modine’s precision-engineering capabilities “We are excited to leverage our engineering expertise to provide a fit-for-purpose solution that helps this important customer achieve their objectives,” said Art Laszlo, Group Vice President, Data Centers at Modine. “Airedale by Modine partners with our customers’ to solve their most complex challenges through customized solutions that are meticulously engineered by our global Data Centers team to deliver superior operating performance, efficiency, and reliability.” These substantial orders underscore Modine’s precision-engineering capabilities and commitment to providing innovative and efficient thermal management solutions that meet the rigorous demands of modern data centers.

When Harry Lau, Administrator for Facilities and Operations for the Livonia Public Schools, joined the district in 2013, he identified a significant need to improve the HVAC equipment throughout the entire school system. All 25 buildings, including schools and administration offices, had significant inefficiencies with their HVAC systems. The infrastructure was outdated and the horizontal unit ventilators that were in use were from the 1950s and 60s and were well beyond their life expectancy. The old units were prone to freezing, and there were control issues that further exacerbated the problem. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and inefficient temperature controls led to discomfort among staff and students, impacting the overall learning environment. His primary goal was to reduce the number of environmental air quality concerns, reduce district utility and maintenance costs, and improve the overall comfort and air quality throughout the system. The Solution To address these issues, Livonia Public Schools secured funds via a successful bond measure To address these issues, Livonia Public Schools secured funds through a successful bond measure. There were multiple contractors and manufacturers involved for the entire system upgrade, but for the classrooms specifically, the district chose to upgrade to Airedale by Modine Classmate® vertical units. Looking at the specifications of these units, Harry was certain the Classmate® would meet their needs.  The previous units had structural and design issues that led to multiple repairs, and Harry knew that they would have fewer maintenance issues with the Classmate® because of the way they are designed. They also chose to modernize control of the system by implementing a building management system allowing for real-time monitoring and centralized management of the HVAC systems across all buildings. The Results The HVAC system upgrades have resulted in dramatic improvements in IAQ and energy efficiency. The new systems have provided better temperature control, faster cooling, and heating, and have reduced energy consumption by 20%. The upgraded systems also led to a quieter environment, enhancing the learning experience. The ability to monitor and manage the HVAC systems in real time has allowed for proactive maintenance and further cost savings. Harry said he wanted the classroom instructors to have some anonymity with temperature control. While the set points follow ASHRAE recommendations, the units are equipped to give the teachers some control to bump the temperature up or down a few degrees to suit their comfort level and those of the students.  "With partners like Modine, they opened our eyes on ways of doing things," said Harry Lau, adding "It has been refreshing to actually be heard by the professionals." Implementation of HVAC upgrades Livonia Public Schools has been recognized by the U.S. DOE’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Program Because of their commitment to improving IAQ and energy efficiency, Livonia Public Schools has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Program. This program recognizes and assists school districts seeking to implement high-impact indoor air quality and efficiency improvements. They were honored for optimizing their operations to improve building performance. The district was also recognized by the city as a green energy partner. Harry said that the classroom learning environments have been dramatically updated and they have seen a significant improvement. The consistent modulation of the fresh air has been greatly noticed. Livonia Public Schools’ proactive approach to HVAC upgrades A huge point of pride for the district was being able to confidently inform their staff and parents that they were ahead of the curve in ensuring quality indoor air once students and staff were able to return to indoor classroom learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Livonia Public Schools’ proactive approach and successful implementation of HVAC upgrades have set a benchmark for other districts aiming to improve their learning environments through better air quality and energy efficiency.

Modine, a diversified global pioneer in innovative thermal management and ventilation solutions, announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Scott Springfield Manufacturing, a pioneering manufacturer of air handling units (AHU). With this transaction, Modine will gain immediate access to a highly complementary product portfolio and a blue-chip customer base in several strategic end markets, including hyperscale and colocation data centers, telecommunications, healthcare, and aerospace. air handling unit capabilities “We are excited to welcome the Scott Springfield team to the Modine family and continue to advance our complete suite of products in the data center area, as well as expand our indoor air quality offerings,” said Neil D. Brinker, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Modine, adding “The acquisition is right in line with our transformation and will bring Modine a product line and customer base in high-growth markets that fully complement and expand our current reach, including to hyperscale data center operators." Neil D. Brinker continues,"Further, the addition of custom air handling unit capabilities demonstrates our continued commitment to focus on innovative, engineered solutions that help us achieve our long-term growth targets. Coming on the heels of our acquisition of Napps Technology last year and the purchase of liquid immersion cooling assets last month, Modine is in a very strong position to provide customers a full range of technology solutions in critical cooling and ventilation applications.” Range of commercial and industrial applications The company employs approximately 500 people at two manufacturing facilities in Calgary Based in Calgary, Canada, Scott Springfield Manufacturing is known for premier design and engineering expertise in the manufacture of AHUs for a broad range of commercial and industrial applications. The company employs approximately 500 people at two manufacturing facilities in Calgary that serve different end markets. The facility producing AHUs for blue-chip hyperscale and colocation data center customers is equipped with automated manufacturing equipment and is optimized for higher-volume production.  Specially engineered AHUs The other facility manufactures custom-built AHUs chiefly for the healthcare sector. Specially engineered AHUs are imperative in meeting the stringent HVAC, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency requirements of hospitals, clean rooms, and laboratories. With the purchase, Modine will also gain a sales representative network in the indoor air quality market covering additional areas in the U.S. and Canada, creating cross-selling opportunities for Modine’s existing chiller portfolio. Acquisition of Scott Springfield “Technology solutions that address real-world concerns – such as delivering healthy environments for people and stable environments for the IT infrastructure that supports our digital lifestyles – are more important than ever,” said Eric McGinnis, President - Climate Solutions, Modine. Eric McGinnis adds, “Modine’s data center and IAQ businesses deliver these world-class HVAC solutions to markets where efficient and effective thermal management and ventilation are vital. The acquisition of Scott Springfield will expand our portfolio and manufacturing footprint, enabling us to meet a complete range of client needs in our targeted data center and IAQ markets, positioning us as a one-stop shop for mission-critical HVAC solutions.” First calendar quarter of 2024 Scott Springfield Manufacturing expects to report final revenue for their fiscal 2023 of more than $100 million (USD). Total consideration for the transaction is based on an enterprise value of approximately $190 million (USD) and is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2024. The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash and debt and consideration will be paid in Canadian dollars. Management expects this acquisition to be immediately accretive to earnings and anticipates generating incremental growth and future cost savings through the deployment of Modine’s 80/20 operating model. Barclays served as an advisor to Modine for the transaction, and Angle Advisors served as an advisor to Scott Springfield Manufacturing.