Cambridge brainpower fires global expansion for AI data centre tech
The company says production capacity is planned to increase at least fivefold over the next two years.
POLATIS® optical circuit switches are designed, developed and prototyped by HUBER+SUHNER’s POLATIS® business unit, based on the Cambridge Science Park.
Reflecting a huge surge in demand for OCS solutions, the new manufacturing site will enable HUBER+SUHNER to capitalise on the growing opportunities and volume potential presented by the thriving AI data centremarket.
Increasing the speed of manufacturing of the POLATIS® OCS portfolio will ensure hyperscale operators have the leading-edge technology required to enhance performance and energy efficiency of data centre architectures and AI compute clusters.
“The opening of our new Pisary facility is a major milestone that aligns with our commitment to innovation and operational excellence in optical networking,” says Jürgen Walter, Chief Operating Officer Communication segment at HUBER+SUHNER.
“Our POLATIS® OCS solutions deliver transparent, software-defined dynamic optical connectivity within energy-efficient hyperscale data centres to meet the low loss and latency demands of high-performance AI workloads.”
Rising demand for OCS solutions stems from the rapid growth of hyperscale data centre infrastructure across the globe, driven by cloud computing and the increased use of AI.
AI workloads are hosted on clusters of thousands of graphical processor units (GPUs) interconnected by optical fibres carrying data at hundreds of gigabits per second. An OCS enables on-demand reconfiguration of optical-layer connectivity and can route large volumes of high-speed traffic with minimal latency – essential for AI hyperscale operations.
By maintaining data in the optical domain and eliminating the need for optical-electrical-optical conversions, POLATIS® OCS solutions significantly reduce power consumption and operating expenditure for hyperscale data centres. This enables new data centre architectures and allows AI workloads to run more efficiently and at lower cost.
With approximately 3000 sq m, the Pisary site will complement the existing Krzeszowice facility nearby, which is currently being operated at its full capacity.
Robert Smith, Managing Director, POLATIS at HUBER+SUHNER said: “The Pisary site will enhance our supply of OCS solutions while reflecting our mission for sustainable operations. The facilities include a photovoltaic installation with a capacity of 150 kilowatt peak (kWp), a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and a biological waste treatment plant. A new building management system has also been implemented to support a low carbon footprint."