Issue 8
Viewpoint
data centre · global
Nvidia launches DSX Ready to qualify power and cooling products for AI factories
Nvidia has launched DSX Ready, a programme that qualifies power and cooling products for AI factories. The Tesla Megapack is among the first picks, and Nvidia has approved LG's 5.1 MWh storage system; LG Energy Solution is the only Korean battery company in Nvidia's AI factory ecosystem.
Who is affected and how
- supplier
- Makers of data center power and cooling products can check whether their products qualify for DSX Ready, as it may become a reference point for customers.
- engineer
- In AI factory design, the list of qualified storage and cooling products can serve as a starting point for component selection.
- energy specialist
- On-site battery storage is becoming part of data center power supply, so operating it will require new skills.
data centre · United States
California governor signs seven bills tightening data centre energy and water rules
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven bills on Monday covering the data centre industry and setting new requirements. The package also affects the energy and water use of AI data centres.
energy specialistThe new requirements also affect grid connection and energy-use planning, so they must be built into the preparation of California projects.supplierSuppliers of energy- and water-saving cooling and power solutions can prepare offers tailored to the requirements.engineerIn California data centre designs, energy and water metrics must be documented according to the new rules.data centre · United StatesLocal groups are blocking or delaying $68 billion of US data center projects
More than 800 groups across 49 US states are reported to oppose data center projects. Meanwhile, Maryland is introducing rules for AI and the data center boom.
supplierOrders for US data centers may slip because of local opposition, so delivery plans should include a buffer.energy specialistGrid capacity planning should allow for the possibility that some announced large-load demand will be delayed or will not materialise.SME ownerConstruction and installation subcontractors can diversify their portfolios in anticipation of delays in data center orders.data centre · United StatesTexas halts new data center permits until grid audit is complete
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday barred the state environmental agency from issuing new data center permits. The ban will remain in place until the grid audit is complete.
energy specialistThe audit's outcome will determine when, and under what conditions, large-load connections in Texas can restart.supplierDelivery schedules for Texas data center projects should be renegotiated, because permitting has stopped.plant managerManufacturers planning capacity expansion in Texas should consider a backup site because permit delays are likely.data centre · globalABB's direct current portfolio and 800 V DC aim to reshape AI data center power
ABB has presented a new direct current portfolio intended to rebuild power supply for AI data centers. Industry material says 800 V direct current will redraw data center power distribution.
engineerNew data center power distribution designs should also consider a direct current architecture as an alternative.supplierMakers of conventional alternating current distribution equipment need to assess how much of their product range is affected by the shift to direct current.energy specialistOperating and protecting DC systems requires different knowledge, so staff training should be planned in advance.Hungary
factoryCATL starts trial production at its Debrecen battery cell plant on 22 SeptembersupplierFor companies operating near or supplying the Debrecen plant, procurement needs during trial production are the first concrete opportunities to bid.skilled workerThe start of cell production creates labour demand in the region, which requires aligning training and skills.energy specialistThe ramp-up of production increases regional electricity and grid demand.data centreHungarian water-scarce regions turn to water-saving cooling as local opposition to AI data centres growsengineerData centre cooling designs should prioritise water-saving solutions, especially in water-scarce Hungarian regions.energy specialistWater-rights and local-acceptance issues should be weighed in site selection on a par with power supply.SME ownerFor Hungarian companies offering water recycling and cooling technology, this is a market opportunity.investmentFoxconn-led Taiwanese firms plan AI and EV hub in PolandsupplierFor regional component and machinery suppliers, AI server and EV component production in Poland could mean a new customer base.skilled workerDemand for regional electronics and assembly labour may grow, which also affects the Hungarian labour market.logistics specialistThe planned hub could also reshape regional transport routes and warehousing needs.data centreAI data centre may be built at Paks, but power and cooling water remain open questionsenergy specialistPower and cooling water supply is the project's key question, and grid and water-rights consultations must start early.supplierData centre construction in Hungary is also an opportunity for domestic energy and mechanical engineering suppliers, if the project goes ahead.surveyHungarian business AI-use survey: logistics at 6.1%, ICT security at 13.3%logistics specialistGiven the low level of AI use in Hungarian logistics, early adopters can gain a competitive edge.SME ownerThe survey gives a benchmark for how a company's own AI adoption compares with the Hungarian average.data centreAI data centres set to trigger a new wave of e-waste, with Hungarian processing also in focusSME ownerBusinesses offering domestic e-waste processing can approach new customers through data centre server replacements.logistics specialistCollecting and transporting used IT equipment creates a new logistics task.caseAI boom lifts one company ahead of all Hungarian carmakersplant managerAutomotive suppliers should consider diversifying towards products linked to AI infrastructure.SME ownerThe market tied to the AI data centre supply chain can be an alternative for domestic suppliers alongside automotive orders.roboticsRobots and AI: can they replace guest workers in Hungary?plant managerPlants that depend on guest workers should compare the cost of automation with that of hiring labour.SME ownerMapping robotics grant opportunities can help address labour shortages.energyRab Árpád says energy use should be restricted in the current critical situationenergy specialistThe energy-restriction debate also raises the question of priority between data centre and industrial consumers, which needs preparation.data centrePoland scales up AI data centers as energy demand could rise tenfoldenergy specialistRising load on the Polish grid could affect electricity supply planning across the whole region.supplierFor regional energy and electrical suppliers, Polish data center investment could open a new market.investmentBulgarian PM Radev calls for US investment in AI, robotics and semiconductorsplant managerInvestment incentives in competing regional countries could affect how well Hungarian sites attract foreign capital.
More key stories of the week
energy · global
World Energy Council: AI power demand and grid constraints are reshaping the global energy system
The World Energy Council says AI's electricity demand and grid bottlenecks are reshaping the global energy system. Other reports examine how much power AI will need and whether data centers could…
energy specialistGrid development and capacity plans need to be recalibrated to the expected demand from AI data centers.plant managerIndustrial consumers should expect to compete with data centers for grid capacity.case · globalSiemens and P&G AI quality inspection cuts scrap by up to 20%
Using Siemens industrial AI and edge solutions, P&G has cut scrap by up to 20%, inspecting several thousand products per minute. The two companies are extending AI-based quality inspection worldwide.
plant managerOn high-speed production lines, the scrap reduction from visual AI inspection provides a measurable business case for adoption.engineerWhen deploying edge-based visual inspection, the integration of the camera system with production-line data must be planned.data centre · European UnionAlibaba to build new data centers in Europe and the Middle East
Alibaba is accelerating its data center build-out in Europe and the Middle East, which Bloomberg says is part of its 20-gigawatt global infrastructure expansion. At its annual event, the company…
supplierEuropean data center construction is gaining a new group of customers, so energy and cooling suppliers can bid for work.energy specialistNew European data center connection requests could further strain local grid capacity.survey · globalDHL Logistics Trend Radar: AI moves from assistance to action, people stay central to logistics
According to the 24 September edition of the DHL Logistics Trend Radar, AI is moving from supporting tasks towards taking action. People remain at the center of logistics.
logistics specialistAlongside tasks carried out by AI agents, decision-making and oversight roles should stay with people.SME ownerThe trend report indicates where logistics automation investment is heading, which can inform a company's own development plan.energy · globalAI-driven nuclear push runs into cost and regulatory hurdles
Analyses published in late September say nuclear investments built on AI data center power demand may slow because of costs and regulatory hurdles. The Hungarian press has also raised the question of…
energy specialistData center power plans should not rely solely on nuclear capacity deadlines; backup sources must also be planned.supplierSuppliers to nuclear projects need to manage their exposure to the possibility of a slower schedule.energy · globalSamsung and Kairos Power to build nuclear reactor for Google
Samsung and Kairos Power are to build a nuclear reactor for Google, as AI development drives a sharp rise in data center power demand. The news appeared on 21 September 2026.
energy specialistDedicating nuclear capacity to data centers is a new kind of supply model that grid planning must also take into account.engineerManufacturing and construction work tied to modular reactors will create demand for new skills.automation · AsiaST Logistics trains workers for new roles as it ramps up warehouse automation
ST Logistics is retraining its employees for new roles as it increases warehouse automation. The news was reported on 23 September.
logistics specialistAlongside the introduction of warehouse automation, a reskilling and upskilling programme should be launched for workers.skilled workerNew roles operating automated systems are opening up for those who do manual warehouse work.robotics · globalIFR: about 7,000 humanoid robots sold in 2025, mostly for research and data collection
According to IFR data, roughly 7,000 humanoid robots were sold in 2025, largely for research and AI training data rather than factory work. Meanwhile, a Hungarian-language report says five million…
plant managerFactory deployment of humanoid robots is still at an early stage, so investment decisions should be grounded in pilot projects.engineerWhen evaluating humanoid platforms, research readiness and industrial readiness levels should be treated separately.investment · European UnionEuropean Commission seeks faster industrial AI uptake as Netherlands commits €120M to IPCEI-AI
The European Commission aims to speed up the industrial use of AI and to coordinate internationally the pace of development of advanced models. The Netherlands is committing €120 million to the…
plant managerIPCEI-AI and EU industrial AI funding may offer manufacturers grant opportunities, so it is worth tracking the programme conditions.SME ownerBy linking up with large EU framework programmes, SMEs can take part as consortium partners.datacentre · United KingdomPower supply problems delay launch of UK's largest AI supercomputer
According to The Guardian, the data centre announced by the government is due to open next year but could slip to the mid-2030s because of power supply problems. The delay shows the grid constraints…
energy specialistGrid connection determines the schedule of large data centre projects, so power supply planning must be settled at the start of the investment.supplierThe delay may require suppliers to renegotiate delivery schedules.energy · United StatesUS Energy Department to spend nearly $2 billion to squeeze more electricity from ageing grid
The US Department of Energy will spend nearly $2 billion to draw more electricity from the ageing power grid. The announcement came amid warnings that AI demand could overload the power supply.
energy specialistGrid funding supports better use of existing lines, so grid modernisation projects can apply for it.supplierSuppliers of equipment and software for grid modernisation can expect new demand.survey · globalGartner: trust is the main hurdle for industrial AI agents
Gartner says industrial AI agents face a trust hurdle as autonomous operations approach. The excerpt gives no further details.
plant managerWhen introducing autonomous manufacturing processes, defining approval and verification points should be part of the rollout.engineerTraceability and auditability of AI agents' decisions must be ensured at the design stage.In brief
factoryIdle EV battery production lines find buyers in data centre grid storageplant managerConverting unused battery production capacity to making data centre storage is an option worth considering.supplierSuppliers of battery cells and components gain a new customer base in the storage industry alongside automotive orders.caseBlue-collar AI job market booms, but data center backlash could cut it shortskilled workerBuilding and operating data centers provides work for electricians, mechanical fitters and installers, but permitting delays could make orders fluctuate.SME ownerSmall businesses relying on data center subcontracting should also spread their risk across other clients.data centreIndia faces power and water strain from AI data centres, plans for 26.3 GW loadenergy specialistIndian data centre demand creates demand for renewable power contracts, which can be the basis for bids.supplierFor suppliers of water- and energy-efficient cooling, the Indian market signals growing demand.automationLocus Robotics uses AI to control warehouse robot fleetslogistics specialistCentral control of warehouse robot fleets affects task allocation and resource planning, so integration with the existing WMS should be examined.plant managerIn intralogistics automation, fleet-level control capability deserves to be treated as a separate evaluation criterion.data centreSchneider Electric raises power supply for AI data centers to a new levelengineerIn AI data center power design, it is worth comparing the new Schneider solutions with current reference designs.supplierSuppliers of electrical components can expect requirements aligned with the ecosystems of the large manufacturers.caseUS utilities increasingly use AI in grid managementenergy specialistUtility AI applications such as demand management and weather forecasting offer a model that can be adopted for your own grid management projects.engineerGrid data quality and integration are preconditions for deploying AI, so work should start by organising data flows.factoryTCS opens India's first lights-out factory lab as Rockwell's Singapore plant leans on AIplant managerOperating models at lighthouse factories offer a reference point for drawing up your own automation roadmap.engineerLights-out operations come with data, maintenance and safety requirements that must be planned in advance.automationKawasaki Robotics and Dexterity partner on AI-driven warehouse automationlogistics specialistLoading and packing robots using physical AI may affect the manual labour needs of distribution centres.supplierFor robot integrators, manufacturer partnerships create opportunities for new integration projects.supply chainMulti-agent AI systems take over supply chain execution but carry riskslogistics specialistWhen deploying AI agents, approval points and a shutdown scenario should be defined to prevent faulty decisions.supplierAgents' automated order handling will require faster data exchange and better data quality from suppliers.roboticsNvidia-backed Skild AI teaches robots new tasks from a single videoengineerVideo-based training could shorten robot programming time, so it is worth running a pilot on simple operations.plant managerMore flexible robot training could make automation more attractive for short production runs and frequent changeovers.automationSiemens merges its software and factory automation businesses into one unitplant managerA unified software–hardware offering could simplify supplier relationships, but it also raises the risk of platform dependence.engineerAs the toolchain becomes unified, it is worth assessing how the existing PLC and software environment will fit in.data centreSchneider: warmer coolant could make AI data centers more water-hungryengineerRaising the cooling temperature can save energy, but the trade-off between water and energy use has to be accounted for at the design stage.energy specialistThe cooling strategy affects a data center's electricity and water consumption alike, so both have to be optimized together.caseNew York audits utility AI use, citing risk in 'growing dependency'energy specialistResponsibilities and failure scenarios of utility AI systems must be documented, because regulators are examining them.factoryFoxconn to add 700 jobs at Wisconsin facility as AI demand growsskilled workerExpanding AI server production creates electronics assembly and manufacturing jobs.supplierFoxconn's plan to expand capacity points to higher supplier orders.roboticsOpenAI offers up to $500,000 a year for robot engineers as it steps up humanoid pushengineerAs big AI companies enter the robotics talent market, robotics engineers face pay and recruitment pressure.investmentKKR bets $3bn on South Korea's AI supply chain, targeting data centers and power demandsupplierKorean players in the data center and energy supply chain gain new capital, which also affects competitors and partners.energy specialistThe investment, aimed at power demand, signals an expansion of data center energy infrastructure.roboticsFactory access may define Korea's physical AI edge more than better modelsplant managerProviding factory data and test environments to robotics AI developers can create partnership and data-based value.engineerIn physical AI development, access to real factory data is as important as model quality.surveyAutomotive Inbound Logistics Survey 2026: AI, tariffs and cost pressures reshape supply chainslogistics specialistIn inbound logistics planning, given tariffs and cost pressures, introducing AI-based planning should also be considered.supplierAutomotive suppliers should prepare for cost pressure, according to the survey.roboticsBoston Dynamics to train its Atlas humanoid robot in Hyundai car factoryplant managerCar-factory pilots will show which tasks humanoids can take over, so it is worth following the results.skilled workerInstalling humanoid robots in factories affects the shared workspace of people and robots.energyEuropean startups look to ease AI boom's energy strain by making better use of grid capacityenergy specialistSoftware that makes better use of grid capacity can help in the short term without adding capacity.SME ownerFor small companies developing cooling-energy and waste-heat solutions, the EU startup ecosystem offers a chance to find partners.factoryPOSCO Future M to carry out AI-led overhaul of battery materials manufacturing by 2028plant managerAI transformation at battery materials makers sets a new benchmark for manufacturing efficiency in the sector.supplierPlayers in the battery supply chain will have to align with AI-based quality and data standards.factoryAI expansion and CHIPS Act drive US demand for electronic chemicalssupplierChemical suppliers to semiconductor manufacturing can expect higher demand as US capacity expands.plant managerSemiconductor makers should check the capacity of local chemical supply when sourcing.caseStellantis and Inbolt use AI and 3D vision to upgrade robotic assemblyplant managerRobots guided by 3D vision can enable more precise assembly, so it is worth launching a pilot on operations that are hard to automate.engineerWhen introducing vision-guided robotic assembly, calibration and variant management are the key tasks.