Today at NVIDIA GTC Washington DC, Salute introduces the industry’s first full-service solution for Direct-to-Chip (DTC) liquid cooling. Industry leaders Applied Digital, Compass Datacenters, and SDC have already partnered with Salute to scale their AI and HPC environments with confidence.
The next generation of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads is reshaping the physical and operational demands of data centers. As power densities surge and traditional cooling methods reach their limits, operators are turning to advanced solutions like Direct-to-Chip (DTC) liquid cooling to keep pace. Yet, the transition to DTC introduces new risks and complexities that require a purpose-built operational approach. Today, Salute announces the industry’s first dedicated DTC liquid cooling operations service – designed to help leading data center operators scale AI and HPC infrastructure safely, efficiently, and at speed.
“By successfully mitigating the risks of DTC liquid cooling, Salute is enabling companies to rapidly expand their AI/HPC operations to meet customer demand. These companies will rely on this service from Salute to support an estimated 250 MW of data center capacity in the coming months and will expand that to an estimated 3100 MW of additional data center capacity by the end of 2027. This is an enormous validation of the impact of our service on their ability to scale. Now other companies can benefit from this service to protect their investments in AI.”
John Shultz, Chief Product Officer AI and Learning Officer for Salute
Setting the standard for Direct to Chip Liquid Cooling
Direct-to-Chip (DTC) liquid cooling introduces elevated risks that put significant AI infrastructure investments at stake for data center operators and their customers.
- Interruptions – Even brief disruptions in cooling can trigger temperature spikes, causing catastrophic damage to AI/HPC equipment.
- Leaks – Fluid leaks can lead to rapid downtime, equipment failure, and safety hazards.
- Downtime – Any unplanned outage carries significant revenue impact and SLA penalties.
To address these risks head-on, Salute has developed its operational model in real-world AI/HPC environments alongside some of the industry’s most forward-thinking operators.
“Salute has achieved a long list of industry firsts that have made us an indispensable partner for 80% of companies in the data center industry. This first-of-its-kind DTC liquid cooling service is a major new milestone for our industry that solves complex operational challenges for every company making major investments in AI/HPC,”
Erich Sanchack, CEO at Salute
With the launch of our new service, here’s how we help to mitigate the risks of DTC liquid cooling and drive operational excellence in your AI/HPC facilities:
Design and operational assessment – We create a customized operational model based on the design and demarcation points of each facility.
Commissioning support – We ensure all as-built systems are optimized to support AI/HPC operations reliably and efficiently.
Best-practices library – A continuously updated knowledge base informed by Salute’s work with NVIDIA, CDU and chemistry manufacturers, chemistry distributors, OEMs, leak management vendors, hyperscalers, and over 20 companies deploying AI workloads.
A proven operational model – Field-tested EOPs, MOPs, and SOPs covering every aspect of DTC operations – including chemistry management, leak detection, safety protocols, systems oversight, and risk mitigation. Developed by experts who’ve operated some of the world’s largest supercomputers.
World class training program – On-site classroom instruction, e-learning modules, and lab-based certifications that equip your team to manage DTC systems with precision.
Staffing solutions – Rapid deployment of skilled personnel to help you expand your operations team and scale AI/HPC environments quickly.
“For more than a decade, Salute has proven to be a solutions-driven partner, consistently evolving to meet the changing demands of data center operations. Salute’s new services for direct-to-chip liquid cooling operations are another powerful example of how they translate innovation into action.”
Sudhir Kalra, Chief Data Center Operations Officer at Compass Datacenters
“High-density environments that utilize liquid cooling require an entirely new operational model, which is why we partnered with Salute to implement operational methodologies customized for our facilities and our customers’ needs”
Laura Laltrello, COO of Operations at Applied Digital
“Salute is making it possible for SDC’s customers to accelerate AI deployments with zero downtime, thanks to the proven operational model, real-world training and other best practices. Salute’s ability to perform this at scale under rapid timelines is critical to our customers, who are expanding their AI/HPC operations across multiple sites globally.”
Walter Wang, Founder at SDC
