Ecolab Korea, led by CEO Ryu Yang-gwon, participated in DATA CENTER KOREA 2026, held at the aT Center in Yangjae, Seoul, from November 4 to November 6, and introduced integrated liquid cooling solutions and operating strategies for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers (AIDCs). DATA CENTER KOREA 2026 was a specialist data center industry exhibition jointly organized by the Korea Association of Integrated Building Systems and Messe Esang. It was designed to showcase the latest technologies and solutions across the data center industry, including cooling systems, networks and infrastructure, electrical equipment, energy management solutions and data center infrastructure management (DCIM). Under its core exhibition message, “Liquid Cooling. All In.™,” Ecolab Korea introduced the technology and service capabilities expanded through its acquisition of CoolIT Systems, a specialist in liquid cooling for AI data centers. In particular, it showcased an end-to-end solution combining its existing water treatment, coolant quality management and digital monitoring capabilities with direct-to-chip (D2C) technology, supporting cooling from individual chips through the operation of cooling infrastructure across data center facilities. According to Ecolab Korea, data center operations and facilities professionals visiting its booth expressed interest in the impact of coolant contamination and quality changes on system stability, as well as ways to manage the resulting operational risks. Visitors also asked about operating methods linking cooling equipment with coolant quality management technology, maintenance efficiency and applicability in actual data center environments. Ecolab Korea also used the DC Tech Session and Global Conference held during the exhibition to share cooling infrastructure operating strategies for hyperscale AI data centers and the development direction of liquid cooling technology for high-density environments. At the DC Tech Session on November 5, Yoo Gi-chul, executive director of Ecolab Korea’s High-Tech (HT) division, and managing director Kwak Min-jun presented “A Paradigm Shift in AIDC Cooling: Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) and Responding to New Regulations.” The speakers introduced a CaaS model intended to address the growing operational complexity and management risks of cooling infrastructure as hyperscale AI data centers expand. They explained how providing cooling infrastructure design, construction, operation and maintenance within a single service framework could optimize total cost of ownership and improve operating cost predictability. At the Global Conference on November 6, Son Jun-seok, a department manager on Ecolab Korea’s data center team, presented “The Evolution of AIDC Liquid Cooling: From Cold Plates to Cooling Loop Optimization.” Son introduced the development direction of D2C liquid cooling technology in response to increasing AI data center density and heat output from graphics processing units (GPUs). Son also explained the roles of cold plates and coolant distribution units (CDUs), along with connections between components in the technology cooling system (TCS) loop, and shared ways to improve cooling system operational stability and efficiency through coolant quality management and digital monitoring. Ryu, Ecolab Korea’s CEO, said, “As AI data centers become denser and deliver higher performance at an accelerating pace, ensuring cooling system stability and operational efficiency is becoming increasingly important. Ecolab Korea provides integrated solutions encompassing liquid cooling hardware, coolant quality management, digital monitoring and maintenance. Building on these capabilities, we will actively support stable operations and improved cooling efficiency at AI data centers in Korea.” Ecolab completed its acquisition of AI data center liquid cooling specialist CoolIT Systems in July. By adding liquid cooling hardware technology to its existing water management and digital monitoring capabilities, it expanded its business capabilities in data center cooling. According to the company, Ecolab currently serves more than 800 data centers worldwide and works with 9 of the world’s top 10 hyperscale data center operators. In particular, it has collaborated with NVIDIA across various liquid cooling fields, including coolant validation and condition monitoring, cooling infrastructure development and next-generation AI factory technology.
Original Korean article: elec4.co.kr
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
