Roxtec data centre sealThe Middle East’s rapid development as a global data centre powerhouse, supercharged by artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing demand, is driving unprecedented growth in the region for Swedish safety seal manufacturer
Roxtec. Dubai-based Roxtec Middle East FZE is expanding from working on six data centre projects in 2023 to more than 20 in 2025, including programmes for major global players and AI (artificial intelligence) ‘hyperscalers’.
Roxtec has announced it is gearing up for more demand for its products over the next 18 months, following the recent development deal to allow the UAE to buy large volumes of US-made AI chips, announced during President Trump’s recent visit to the region, and deals signed by major American companies to develop the AI sector.
In a further major development, the UAE and the USA have signed an agreement for the Gulf country to build the largest AI campus outside of the USA. The 10-mile
2 AI campus in Abu Dhabi will be powered by a 5GW data centre, and will be operated by American companies and supported by Emirati firms G42 and MGX.
The initiative includes collaborations with major tech companies such as Nvidia, OpenAI, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft. These partnerships aim to position the Gulf region as a global leader in AI development. Roxtec, based in the Jebel Ali Freezone, has revealed it is currently in discussions with several companies looking to develop and build the next generation of HPC (High-Performance Computing) data centres, designed to handle intensive AI and Big Data workloads.
Roxtec is a global leader in the manufacture of innovative cable and pipe transit systems. It provides specialised seals for cable and pipe penetrations that secure data centres against fire, water ingress and air leakage and protect against electromagnetic interferences that can create outages. The sector now represents more than 25% of its infrastructure business unit sales with a potential to reach 50% in the next 18 months.
Roxtec is currently active on projects in the Gulf states of UAE, Qatar and Oman, including new build centres and refit and refurbishment work. The high energy efficiency needs of ever-larger centres which house the supercomputers that run AI systems and the climate change and environmental challenges being faced across the region are increasing the demand for resilience. A shift towards modular construction is also helping Roxtec’s growth and scale-up plans as a valuable part of the supply chain.
Two new productsTo cater to the growing needs of the market, Roxtec is launching two new products for the Middle East market, FlamePlus which offers sealing system addressing the shift toward modular and prefabricated builds, while the Roxtec Software Suite offers a digital lifecycle management platform for cable and pipe transits. In addition Roxtec has confirmed the appointment of a dedicated manager in Abu Dhabi for its data centre operation.
Mohammed Abrar (pictured right), Roxtec business unit head of infrastructure and industry, said: “We are seeing massive demand for our products, powered by the continued rise of AI, the increasing capacity that is required and the large-scale investments that are building a flourishing ecosystem.
“We are forecasting that the growth we are seeing will accelerate even further on the back of the continued development of the sector across the Middle East, driven by massive US collaboration and the focus of governments in the region to unlock the opportunities AI presents. That focus on partnerships in AI and data centres means billions of dollars being poured into their construction, putting Gulf nations at the forefront of the new technology and AI development, which is great news for the supply chain.
“We are currently working with a number of tech giants, including global hyperscalers. The speed of development is continually increasing, with new centres going from the design stage to build completion in as little as 11 months. With increasing capacity in these centres and their high energy efficiency needs, there is great demand for airtight sealing to avoid cooling loss.”
He continued: “HPC data centres require significant liquid cooling and as a result, the management of a myriad of pipes. Operators are putting special focus on seals as they work to manage cooling and recycle excess heat. As a result, our expertise and range of products are proving invaluable. We have developed industry-leading tools for managing cable and pipe transits.
“Climate change and environmental challenges including sandstorms, unprecedented rainfall, and flash floods are creating more demand for resilient sealing solutions and we are supporting a number of clients as they look to protect their infrastructure from these threats.”
He concluded: “Our expertise in the complete project life cycle, from design to supply and installation, coupled with training and inspection services is giving us an edge. As the world moves words increased reliance on data centres and AI, robust infrastructure is essential. A shift towards modular construction is also helping create demand for our services, with our specially designed solutions that support faster installations on these sites.”