In its 48th year, PTC' 26 proved to be another outstanding week. With an estimated 10,000 attendees, it's likely to be a record-breaking edition of the annual conference.
It was also a standout week for the Salute team – reconnecting with valued customers and partners, building new relationships, and introducing our newest leadership members to the market. The energy and momentum reflected just how much has changed in the past 12 months. In fact, this year, we hosted more than twice as many meetings compared to PTC25, highlighting the extraordinary level of interest in Salute. One customer remarked, “Salute is one of the few vendors everyone wants to meet with!” – a powerful testament to the value we deliver and the growth we have experienced.
Since PTC 2025, Salute’s growth has exceeded the expectations of our visionary investor, New Mountain Capital. We returned to PTC 2026 with a stronger leadership team, a broader global and customer footprint, and expanded capabilities – progress made possible by the trust and partnership of our customers and allies across the industry. That support was reflected in the exciting conversations we had throughout the week, including members of the Salute leadership team taking part in media interviews, offering a market temperature check, from the risks of AI infrastructure operational models to the challenges around procurement, as well as sharing perspectives on Salute’s priorities over the next 12–24 months.
For those who know PTC well, the annual conference represents the singular moment in the data center calendar where industry leaders openly forge the partnerships that will define the next cycle—across telco, data centers, and all of the industries supporting their growth. Throughout the week, this was more than apparent. Salute engaged with many emerging industry leaders and future customers from the newest in neocloud and hyperscale operators to AI infrastructure pioneers, and the design-build firms shaping the industry’s future.
Reflecting on the week, Erich Sanchack, CEO of Salute, shared:”Two years ago, we came to PTC aiming to build on Salute as a global leader in data center lifecycle services. This year, that vision was validated by the support of our customers and partners across the industry.”
Erich continued: “Attending with our newly expanded leadership team and seeing the progress we have made was truly inspiring. This is one of the most formidable teams I’ve had the privilege to lead, and this week was a clear reminder of how far we have come. 2026 is shaping up to be another defining year.”
There were three highlights that defined this year’s conference.
- First, Salute’s AI offering for direct-to-chip liquid cooling infrastructures is now firmly established and unlocking major opportunities with both new market entrants and leading hyperscale providers.
- Second, our first appearance with the newly integrated Northshore engineering team. The combination of their Seastack technology and design capabilities with Salute’s AI expertise is resonating with operators navigating high-density deployments and opening broader conversations around full lifecycle services – from design optimization to long-term facilities management and operations within complex environments.
- Third, the iMasons Armed Forces event stood out as one of the week’s most meaningful moments. Lee Kirby (Salute Co-Founder and Chair of the Customer Advisory Board) led a panel of veterans, joined by CEO Erich Sanchack, in a discussion that highlighted the ongoing need for veteran integration across the industry. As a founding champion of the iMasons Job Matching Platform (Oplign), Salute continues to advance the transition from military service to digital infrastructure careers. The most profound moment came when Mike Jones (President, Global Operations) and Erich Sanchack extended on-the-spot job offers to active duty military members who were engaging in their transition. This was an emotional and powerful demonstration of Salute’s commitment to the military and veteran community. The session also led to conversations with major operators exploring how to strengthen their own veteran inclusion programs through Salute’s FM&O service.
Lee Kirby, Salute Co-Founder and Chair of the Customer Advisory Board, added:
“We are proud to stand alongside partners who recognize the unique value veterans and military spouses bring to our industry. From technicians to CEOs, their success stories continue to demonstrate that a post-military career in digital infrastructure is not only viable—it’s a path to meaningful, long-term impact.”
For the industry, the trajectory is clear, and the momentum is strong. For Salute, we are looking forward to another year of partnering with those who are building the future of mission-critical infrastructure – not just meeting expectations but delivering excellence for our customers and addressing the challenges they face before they experience them.
Mike Jones, President of Global Operations, reflected on the experience:
“This year, PTC was a strong reminder of the trust our partners place in Salute. We are proud to be recognized not just for meeting expectations, but for helping set a higher standard in data center operations, through consistent performance, technical expertise, and a focus on long-term partnership. This will continue to be our core focus for 2026 and beyond.”
In short, a very successful event, and that leaves us to say thank you to the PTC team who work tirelessly to make it a success for all who visited!