Energy-Efficient Data Centers

Blackstone has agreed to acquire Flow Control Holdings from Audax Private Equity, a provider of engineered flow-control components for data center liquid-cooling systems, with Audax retaining a minority stake. The Cincinnati-based company's coolant distribution units and fluid networks support hyperscalers and OEMs building next-generation AI infrastructure.

The process of liquid cooling significantly outperforms traditional air cooling in energy efficiency, helping data centers reduce CO2 emissions and improve power usage effectiveness as computing workloads become more demanding. FCH also serves the food, beverage and pharmaceutical markets and has completed 10 acquisitions under Audax's ownership to expand its capabilities across sectors.

The acquisition signals that investment is increasingly flowing toward the physical components that make data centers more energy-efficient, not just the computing hardware itself.