Stäubli is pushing a tighter coupling between power distribution and liquid cooling connectivity for OCP Open Rack v3 (ORv3) deployments, targeting the higher rack densities driven by AI infrastructure. The company is highlighting two building blocks aimed at that convergence: its ORv3 bus bar electrical connector and its universal quick disconnect (UQD) non-spill quick couplings for liquid cooling.
The ORv3-focused connector is positioned for high-current applications in rack-level power distribution, with the company calling out compatibility with OCP Open Rack v3 architectures. In the facility-to-rack chain, Stäubli ties that connector approach to the broader power path that typically spans switchgear, UPS systems, and PDUs before landing at the rack.
On the thermal side, Stäubli points to its UQD range of non-spill quick couplings, developed in line with OCP specifications, as a way to support liquid-cooled AI environments while simplifying maintenance. The company describes its liquid cooling portfolio as covering “the entire cooling loop,” including high-flow connectors used on facility infrastructure, CDUs (coolant distribution units), and manifold connections, plus compact quick couplings for servers, blades, and optical modules where space and thermal performance constraints are tighter.
For operators, the practical appeal of “power and fluid convergence” is serviceability and repeatability: standardized, rack-level interfaces can reduce the number of one-off adaptations required when scaling liquid-cooled rows. But the engineering bar is high—connector choices directly affect uptime risk, maintenance workflow, and how confidently teams can swap hardware without turning routine work into a leak or arc-flash event.
“As AI infrastructures continue to evolve, the industry’s challenge is no longer simply delivering more power or more cooling. The priority is to ensure both systems work together efficiently, reliably, and at scale,” said Jean Christophe DUISIT, High potential for Data centers at Stäubli.
Stäubli says it works with data center ecosystem partners and contributes to industry initiatives including the Open Compute Project.
Source: Stäubli
