TPT March 2022

Business & market news

SFL creates the world’s first stainless steel coolant distribution unit for high performance cooling

brass or copper. Another advantage is lower maintenance costs as the coolant fluid does not need to be filtered or changed as frequently. A further benefit is that stainless steel is resistant to both corrosion and leaks. After the unit was unveiled at the exhibition, orders flowed in from around the world and SFL was asked to manufacture 50 kits, destined for end customers located in Australia, Japan and the US. Andrew Sharp, manufacturing manager at SFL, and part of the team that worked on the CDU project, said: “As well as becoming part of our client’s design engineering team, working on the design concepts, we also helped with the ongoing manufacture and assembly of the pipework units. We even became part of their purchasing department, buying the various components we needed in order to build our stainless- steel kits. This puts us in a strong position to help other manufacturers of large data centre cooling systems who are looking to benefit from the advantages of stainless-steel pipework in their units.” Stainless Fittings Limited www.sfluk.co.uk in – aerospace, medical, oil & gas, and nuclear – are all very exciting to me, and offer significant future potential.” Prior to joining Fine Tubes, Mr Brear held various positions of responsibility at a number of manufacturing companies in the UK and US. He has a bachelor of science degree in Business Economics as well as an extensive background in metals manufacture and engineering. Tom Matway, vice-president and general manager at AMETEK engineered materials, interconnects and packaging, added: “We are very pleased towelcome Martin to the Fine Tubes and AMETEK SMP team. His extensive experience in specialty metals, international business, and commercial leadership will help grow our Fine Tubes business around

approach, the team successfully arrived at the first version of the CDU pipework that fitted perfectly into the same footprint. SFL’s next task was to manufacture the set of pipework for the prototype unit, ensuring the kit was manufactured to the highest possible standard. SFL then assisted in the assembly and successful fitting of the pipework into the initial unit. The unit was then shipped off to a major trade exhibition in the US to demonstrate the first stainless steel CDU for high performance computing and enterprise data centres. Following the initial blueprint of the prototype design, SFL helped its client fix a number of bugs and resolve a few issues in order to create the optimum design. Once everyone was happy with the final result, the team was then in a position to embark on full-scale manufacture. Switching from brass to stainless steel offers a marked increase in quality and purity that had never been available in this market before. For example, stainless steel pipework in CDUs means improved performance, as the coolant fluid flows more efficiently through stainless steel pipes, compared to

A manufacturer of data centre cooling units had received a request from one of its customers to supply its coolant distribution units (CDUs) with stainless steel pipework instead of the traditional brass or copper. Realising this was a gap in the market that needed filling, the manufacturer turned to Stainless Fittings Limited (SFL) to see if it could help. Given SFL’s extensive manufacturing knowledge of, and experience in, stainless steel pipework, it was in an excellent position to advise and guide the CDU manufacturer. So began a four-year journey during which SFL assisted its client in the design, manufacture and assembly of the world’s first stainless steel coolant distribution unit. SFL’s initial input into the project was to help in the design of the stainless-steel pipework that would be installed in the CDU. Working as an extension of its client’s engineering team, SFL helped create a series of 2D CAD drawings and 3D models. One of the challenges SFL faced was how to fit the new pipework into the existing space, given that stainless steel is not as malleable as brass or copper. Through its meticulous and methodical Mr Brear joined the business in November 2021 and now oversees the commercial strategy development and deployment, as well as growing customer relationships and accounts. He also has the remit of profitably growing business revenue for Fine Tubes in 2022 and beyond. Mr Brear said: “I am delighted to join Fine Tubes and believe I can make a real difference in my new role. Fine Tubes is an exciting business with plenty of growth opportunities. Being part of the wider AMETEK Specialty Metal Products Division (SMP) gives us the right blend of security and financial backing from a larger organisation, combined with the agility that comes with operating as a smaller entity within it.

Fine Tubes appoints new commercial director Precision metal tubing manufacturer Fine Tubes has appointed Martin Brear to the key role of commercial director. “On a personal level, I love everything that goes with working with metal, and the sectors that Fine Tubes operates

the world.” Fine Tubes www.finetubes.co.uk

Mr Brear oversees the commercial strategy development and deployment

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March 2022 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL