Gates Introduces Self-Cooling Pump for Compact AI Server Racks

Gates Industrial Corporation introduced the ThermalCool 2100SS pump on November 12, 2026, adding a stainless-steel coolant-circulation pump to its data-center portfolio. Built for rack-level units serving AI and high-density computing, it uses the coolant it circulates to cool its motor and is rated by Gates at up to 200 liters per minute at 3 bar in a 4U-compatible package.

The target is the rack-mounted coolant distribution unit, or CDU, which integrates coolant circulation inside an IT rack and supplies server cold plates. Gates’s ThermalCool engineering page describes a typical 4U enclosure as about 7 inches tall, 19 inches wide and 24 to 36 inches deep. That space must accommodate at least two pumps, a heat exchanger, flanges and control electronics, while the loop’s components create friction losses that the pump must overcome.

“We developed the ThermalCool 2100SS Pump in response to requirements from a leading CDU manufacturer, working as an engineering partner to address an emerging system need,” said Rebekah Headley, general manager of data centers at Gates. Gates turned that work into a configurable platform intended for other CDU architectures as well as the original application.

Integrated Liquid Cooling for the Motor

Integrated hoses route coolant around the 2100SS through a dedicated passage, removing motor heat without exposing the bearings to the circulating fluid. The motor remains electrically dry, and the electronics stay isolated from the coolant. Because the pump’s own working liquid handles motor cooling, the design requires no separate cooling circuit or external fan.

The aluminum ThermalCool 2100 models instead use natural convection or forced air. Gates positions those models for cost-conscious programs, while the stainless version is aimed at tight enclosures and contamination-sensitive loops where integrated motor cooling simplifies installation.

The 2100SS specification sheet says the integrated system rejects up to 95% of motor heat to the working fluid and supports ambient temperatures up to 122°F (50°C). It lists a 48 VDC electrical platform and a 2.1-kilowatt motor. The bracket-mounted pump measures 191 by 189 by 175 millimeters, weighs 21 pounds (9.4 kilograms), and supports a maximum coolant temperature of 149°F (65°C).

The specification sheet also lists IP55 protection against dust and water ingress, a rated pump life of 50,000 hours and Open Compute Project (OCP)-compliant stainless-steel wetted materials. Those materials are intended for water and PG25 secondary loops, helping protect against corrosion and contamination before coolant reaches downstream hardware.

Secondary-Loop Integration and Redundancy

Within the cooling system, the 2100 Series product page places the pump in the CDU’s secondary circuit, moving coolant toward components such as cold plates rather than serving the building’s primary water infrastructure. The hydraulic output is intended to push coolant through restrictive server circuits, fittings and other loop components. Configurable hydraulics and connections allow adaptation to different CDU layouts, while CANBUS and MODBUS interfaces link the pump to monitoring and control systems.

Parallel operation supports N+1 redundancy, an arrangement that keeps coolant circulating when one pump is taken out of service, and allows capacity to be expanded with additional pumps. For retrofits, Gates says operators can add liquid-cooling capacity rack by rack without reworking facility water infrastructure. The electrical platform and control interfaces are intended to fit CDU platforms and controls already in place.

Portfolio Expansion and Availability

For Gates, the announcement extends a data-center range that already includes hoses, universal quick disconnects, fittings and engineered assemblies. The pump adds the active component that moves coolant through that fluid path, broadening the company’s role from rack-level connection and conveyance to circulation as well.

Gates expects global availability in early 2027 and is accepting sample requests and offering engineering consultations ahead of that target. Before broader availability, the practical work is CDU-specific evaluation: matching the pump’s hydraulic curve and connections to each enclosure, pressure drop and coolant.