New Opportunities for the Pump Industry in the AI Era

New Opportunities for the Pump Industry in the AI Era – The Liquid Cooling Pump & Valve Market Takes Off

Published: April 2026

The pump industry is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation. Driven by the explosion in global AI computing demand, data centers are shifting from air cooling to liquid cooling at an unprecedented pace, creating a massive new market for liquid cooling pumps and valves.

Why Liquid Cooling? From "Nice-to-Have" to "Must-Have"

The numbers tell the story. When single-chip power exceeds 1000W and rack density surpasses 12kW, traditional air cooling hits its physical limits . Today's AI racks push beyond 130kW – and top-tier configurations are climbing toward 200kW+. Meanwhile, hyperscale data center operators face strict PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) regulations requiring ratings below 1.2. Since air cooling typically delivers PUE values between 1.4-1.6, the industry has no choice but to adopt liquid cooling . By achieving PUE as low as 1.05, liquid cooling has become essential infrastructure for AI data centers.

Market Growth: Explosive

According to TrendForce, liquid cooling penetration in AI data centers will jump from 14% in 2024 to 33% in 2025 . NVIDIA's latest Rubin platform and high-end Blackwell racks already use 100% liquid cooling design . Looking ahead, 2026 is widely seen as the critical year for large-scale liquid cooling deployment across the industry .

The market opportunity is massive. Based on data from ZeroK and Huawei's AIDC White Paper, liquid cooling systems account for approximately $840 million per GW of data center investment. Pumps represent about 10% ($84 million/GW), while valves account for approximately 6% . Combined, the global liquid cooling pump and valve market is projected to generate tens of billions in new revenue between 2025-2030.

Pumps: The Heart of Liquid Cooling Systems

Within liquid cooling systems, pumps play the starring role alongside valves. The pump acts as the system's "heart," driving coolant circulation through the loop . It must meet stringent requirements: zero leakage, extreme reliability, low noise, and 24/7 continuous operation. Leading technologies include magnetic levitation pumps and magnetically driven canned pumps.

The market structure is evolving. International giants like Grundfos and Wilo currently dominate the high-end segment. However, Chinese manufacturers such as Dayuan Pump, Nanfang Pump, and Lingxiao Pump (002884) are rapidly entering core supply chains for NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Huawei, leveraging technological breakthroughs and manufacturing cost advantages . Lingxiao Pump has confirmed it already sells liquid cooling pumps for data center and energy storage applications.

Customization is critical. Dayuan Pump, for example, has developed specialized canned motor pumps that eliminate leakage risks while enabling intelligent energy optimization . The company's liquid cooling business surged over 80% year-over-year in 2024, securing partnerships with major cooling solution providers.

Valves: The Joints of the System

Valves play an equally crucial role in regulating flow, direction, and pressure within liquid cooling loops. The valve family includes ball valves, solenoid valves, control valves, check valves, and more than ten other types, all requiring exceptional sealing and material compatibility.

The valve market shows even stronger concentration. Foreign brands such as BELIMO and Parker Hannifin currently hold approximately 80% market share . But the landscape is shifting. Chinese valve manufacturers like Neway Valve, Sanhua Holding Group, and Dun'an Environment are expanding their capabilities and business lines . According to QYResearch, the global AI data center valve market reached $352 million in 2025 and is projected to hit $1.9 billion by 2032, representing a 23.7% CAGR.

What This Means for Pump Professionals

For established pump manufacturers and new entrants alike, the message is unmistakable: the liquid cooling era for pumps has arrived. AI infrastructure is opening a high-value market for precision cooling solutions. The central question is no longer whether to enter this space, but how quickly you can secure your position.

Key strategies for success include:

• Developing leak-proof, high-reliability pump designs suited for 7×24 operation

• Integrating smart controls for dynamic flow adjustment

• Building partnerships with cooling system integrators and data center operators

• Pursuing relevant certifications for global market access

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The window of opportunity is open. As one industry executive put it, when liquid cooling becomes the global standard for data centers, pump manufacturers must position themselves as "the irreplaceable heart" of these systems . The time to act is now.