Data center construction is rapidly evolving thanks to AI growth, high-density server racks, and cloud computing demands. The evolution is transforming data center cooling needs as server racks are taller and thermal loads are heavier than ever before, requiring immense cooling infrastructure.
Thankfully, manufacturers are developing new technologies and approaches to meet the need, while balancing resource and infrastructure requirements. Two key players in the future of data center cooling are MarCraft and VTS. Each has new solutions, with significantly shorter lead times than competitors – a significant advantage in data center construction.
The Lead Time Advantage
VTS and MarCraft have both structured their manufacturing and logistics to avoid traditional bottlenecks, offering market-leading lead times that are critical for fast-track projects. For example:
- MarCraft’s dedicated DataCool line is manufactured in the United States by an HVAC company founded in 1921. The company provides reliable production capacity with delivery lead times as short as 12 weeks.
- VTS Group has optimized its equipment design for rapid deployment. Their CRAH units are delivered in two compact transport packages (a heat exchanger cube and a fan cube), allowing 10 to 12 units to fit per standard truck or container.
Many Climate Technologies data center projects can benefit from either a custom MarCraft solution or a modular VTS platform. Both provide parallel production timelines where equipment is assembled in a controlled indoor facility while site-prep is underway, significantly reducing schedule risks.
Which Solution is Right For Your Application?
Knowing which option is ideal is a decision that is best supported by an experienced, engineering-based solution provider like Climate Technologies. Both of these partners represent complementary pathways that solve different site-specific constraints. The Climate Technologies team analyzes each project to identify which system aligns with specific customer and site priorities.
MarCraft DataCool
When your project demands heavy-duty structural durability, tailored physical dimensions, or customized airflow paths, MarCraft’s DataCool line delivers a robust, fully custom-engineered option. Every unit features a heavy-duty 4-inch minimum base rail, double-wall casings (available in galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or custom-painted Arctic White), and 2-inch insulated foam panels (R-13 rating) to optimize thermal performance and eliminate cabinet sweating. Ground-level access, sliding filter racks, accessible ECM fan arrays, and direct coil access points simplify ongoing service and maximize operational uptime.
To solve specific architectural and thermal constraints, MarCraft provides four targeted platforms:
- Glacier Series (Horizontal Fan Coil Wall): Built for high-capacity cooling across broad footprints, offering nominal airflows of 20,000 to 100,000 CFM, cooling capacities of 60 to 300 tons (200 kW to 1,000 kW), and scalable arrays of 2 to 8 ECM axial fans.
- Kodiak Series (Vertical Fan Coil Wall): Engineered to optimize vertical air distribution while conserving floor space, delivering airflows from 2,000 to 100,000 CFM, capacities from 5 to 250 tons (18 kW to 900 kW), and modular fan scaling from 1 to 14 ECM axial fans.
- Alpine Series (Reverse-Flow Fan Wall): Designed for reverse-flow airflow dynamics in critical environments, matching the Kodiak’s scalability with 2,000 to 100,000 CFM, 5 to 250 tons (18 kW to 900 kW) of cooling, and 1 to 14 ECM axial fans.
- Denali Series (High-Efficiency Dry Cooler): Engineered for water-free outdoor heat rejection, scaling from 20,000 to 150,000 CFM, 30 to 300 tons (100 kW to 1,000 kW) of rejection capacity, and 2 to 12 ECM axial fans.
Like VTS, MarCraft supports flexible hydronic and electrical configurations, offering Chilled Water (CW) or Direct Expansion (DX) coils, single-point 460/3 power connections, filtration from MERV 8 to hospital-grade MERV 16, and configurable piping packages where multiple coils can share a single supply/return connection. Factory control options integrate seamlessly via wired terminal strips, standalone Carel DDC controllers, or pre-mounted third-party Building Management Systems (BMS)
VTS CRAH and Fan Wall Units
For project owners and developers that need high-density cooling with rapid, modular scalability and integrated control intelligence, VTS Group offers two primary platforms:
- VTS CRAH Units: Vertical, space-saving units engineered for precise computer room climate control, offering nominal airflows of 2,875 to 36,000 CFM and 20 to 250 kW of cooling capacity with a minimal footprint.
- VTS Fan Wall Units: Highly modular systems for large data halls and hyperscale applications, scaling from 30,000 to 90,000 CFM and 200 to 600 kW of cooling capacity.
The VTS modular fan wall architecture supports seamless coordinated controls and active redundancy configurations for up to 16 integrated units.
Early Engagement Adds Value
By involving the Climate Technologies team early in your design and planning phases, we can help you evaluate the real-world trade-offs between various systems and capabilities, and recommend and implement the ideal solution. Since Climate Technologies works with a wide range of leading manufacturer partners, we are not locked into a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Contact Climate Technologies today online or call us at 248-477-2020 to discuss your next data center project.
Learn more about VTS CRAH Units and Fan Walls