From September 22 to 25, Dunham-Bush will participate in MARVEX 2026 held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Focusing on the comprehensive demands of data centers for high-efficiency cooling, operational reliability, and energy efficiency, Dunham-Bush will present the WCM Water-Cooled Magnetic Bearing Chiller, DB Aire Precision Air Conditioner, and DBV Pro 6 Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System. Among them, the WCM Water-Cooled Magnetic Bearing Chiller will make its debut at MARVEX and further demonstrate its operational capability under high-load and continuous operation scenarios through live technical demonstrations.
Yu Baoshuang, Managing Director of Dunham-Bush Malaysia, stated that with the continuous expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and digital infrastructure, computing density continues to rise, thereby leading to increases in data center per-rack power and overall thermal load. Cooling systems are no longer merely traditional supporting facilities, but are gradually becoming critical infrastructure that impacts data center energy efficiency, equipment reliability, and operational costs.
According to the report Key Questions on Energy and AI released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in April 2026, global data center electricity consumption is projected to increase from approximately 485 TWh in 2025 to around 950 TWh in 2030. Against the backdrop of continuously increasing server power density, data center cooling technology faces higher demands: it must not only satisfy heat dissipation needs in high-density computing environments, but also maintain high energy efficiency under varying load conditions, while balancing system stability, operational resilience, and lifecycle costs.
For Dunham-Bush, which possesses over 130 years of engineering legacy, this trend also signifies that traditional HVAC technology is entering new application scenarios. From environmental comfort control in commercial buildings to thermal management in critical infrastructure such as industrial facilities and data centers, the value of cooling technology is extending beyond "providing cooling capacity" to enhancing energy efficiency, ensuring continuous operation, and optimizing lifecycle operations.
From Comfortable Environments to Critical Infrastructure
Dunham-Bush originated in 1894. For over a century, its technology development path has gradually extended from early heating and air conditioning equipment to large commercial chillers, industrial and process cooling, and system solutions tailored for demanding application scenarios.
In the 1960s, Dunham-Bush pioneered the application of screw compressor technology in the air conditioning field, and subsequently developed centrifugal chillers, variable frequency technology, and magnetic bearing chillers. Its continuous accumulation of technology has enabled the application scope of its products and solutions to expand steadily.
The significance of this technological evolution lies in the fact that the application scenarios faced by HVAC are no longer limited to "making buildings more comfortable," but are gradually entering critical scenarios with higher requirements for operational continuity, such as hospitals, laboratories, industrial facilities, and data centers.
Yu Baoshuang introduced that in data centers, high-density servers generate continuous and concentrated thermal loads. Cooling systems must not only possess high efficiency, but must also be able to maintain stable operation and respond rapidly during load fluctuations, equipment failures, or sudden power outages.
Therefore, when traditional HVAC enterprises enter the data center market, what is tested is not merely the cooling capacity of a single unit of equipment, but the ability to simultaneously address multiple requirements, including efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
Data Center Cooling: From Efficiency to Operational Resilience
For data centers, the cooling system represents a significant energy consumption component during long-term operations. Whether equipment can perform efficient adjustments based on load fluctuations directly impacts electricity costs; whether mechanical structures and operating methods can reduce losses and maintenance demands relates to equipment reliability and overall lifecycle operational costs.
Magnetic bearing chillers utilize oil-free magnetic bearings and variable frequency compression technology, reducing mechanical contact as well as the losses and maintenance requirements associated with traditional lubrication systems, while adjusting operating states according to actual loads. This makes them better aligned with the long-term operational demands of data centers in terms of part-load efficiency, operational stability, and maintenance costs.
For data centers, in addition to daily operational efficiency, another critical capability is the speed of equipment recovery following a failure or power outage.
According to public information, Dunham-Bush's "Rapid Recovery" function can restart in as fast as 10 seconds after power restoration and restore to full-load operation in as fast as 2.5 minutes, with specific timing varying depending on the unit model.
Compared to merely emphasizing the peak performance of equipment, this rapid recovery capability corresponds more directly to actual operational needs in data centers-namely, restoring cooling capacity as quickly as possible during sudden power outages to minimize temperature fluctuations and reduce potential business disruption risks.
Beyond chillers, Dunham-Bush's product portfolio also covers precision air conditioners for computer rooms, air-side equipment, chiller plant management, and cloud-based operational monitoring.
This means that its data center business is not built upon a single product, but relies on long-accumulated cooling, air handling, and control technologies to extend further into more systematic critical cooling scenarios.
Leveraging Malaysia as a Fulcrum to Expand the Data Center Market
As the global digital economy continues to develop, Malaysia's data center industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, opening up new market space for HVAC and critical cooling technologies.
According to data from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), approved investments in data centers and cloud-related projects reached MYR 144.4 billion from 2021 to June 2025. Simultaneously, Malaysia has progressively incorporated Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) into its data center sustainability framework.
This indicates that the focus of Malaysia's data center industry is shifting from "whether it can be built" to "whether it can operate sustainably, efficiently, and responsibly over the long term." Consequently, the importance of energy efficiency, operational stability, maintenance capability, and lifecycle costs has increased for cooling system suppliers.
In this context, HVAC companies possessing local manufacturing, testing, and service capabilities have gained broader opportunities for development.
Dunham-Bush currently maintains its global headquarters in Malaysia, with manufacturing bases located in Malaysia, Yantai (China), and Miami (USA), operating 15 sales offices globally and employing over 3,000 staff members.
For data center clients, local manufacturing and technical services relate not only to equipment delivery efficiency, but also to spare parts supply, on-site maintenance, and equipment lifecycle management. Particularly for data centers that demand extremely high operational continuity, localized capabilities are becoming a crucial factor in evaluating the overall competitiveness of cooling system suppliers.
In October 2025, Dunham-Bush co-hosted the "Keep Your DC Cool" Data Center Seminar with MIDA, attracting more than 60 representatives from government agencies and industry value chains. The event revolved around precision cooling, operational resilience, and energy efficiency, featuring a live demonstration of the magnetic bearing chiller's rapid recovery capability. Such technical exchanges and industry dialogues demonstrate that data center cooling is becoming an important business direction for Dunham-Bush to expand further in Malaysia.
Recent public reports also indicate that Dunham-Bush plans to further expand its manufacturing capacity in the Seremban region of Negeri Sembilan, with an initial investment estimated at approximately MYR 172 million. If these plans progress according to schedule, they will further strengthen its local production and supply capabilities to serve Malaysian and international markets.
From Refrigeration Equipment to Digital Infrastructure Capability
As Yu Baoshuang noted, what Dunham-Bush showcases through MARVEX 2026 is not merely the technology, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities accumulated in data center cooling, but comprehensive solutions spanning from refrigeration equipment to intelligent control.
For an HVAC enterprise with over 130 years of engineering heritage, entering data centers is not simply entering a new niche market, but applying long-accumulated refrigeration, air handling, and system control capabilities to new infrastructure scenarios that demand higher efficiency, reliability, and operational resilience.
More than 130 years ago, HVAC technology primarily addressed indoor environmental comfort in buildings; today, with the rapid growth of AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure, cooling technology is further undertaking the critical mission of ensuring the stable operation of high-density computing power. The value of cooling systems has extended from providing basic cooling capacity to energy efficiency, operational continuity, and lifecycle management.
As the data center industry in Malaysia and Southeast Asia continues to grow, cooling technology will serve as a vital link supporting the efficient and stable operation of computing infrastructure. Dunham-Bush's long-accumulated engineering capabilities, local manufacturing footprint, and service ecosystem will also embrace broader application prospects in this rapidly growing market.
