The continuous charge of AI powers record data centre growth for Roxtec
Posted by: electime 4th February 2026
The increasing demand for data centres, supercharged by the relentless rise of AI, is driving major growth for safety seal manufacturer Roxtec.
The company has recorded its busiest 12 months to date in the sector and is currently working on more than 40 data centre projects across the UK and Europe.
New figures reveal the group’s global sales in the data centre sector increased by 89 per cent in 2025.
Roxtec, whose UK and Ireland operation is based in Bury, Greater Manchester, is now gearing up for even more demand for its specialist products as the need for AI, cloud computing, and digital services continues to accelerate.
The company is the global leader in the manufacture of innovative cable and pipe transit systems. It provides specialised seals for cable and pipe penetrations that secure data centres against fire, water entry and air leakage and protect against electromagnetic interferences that can create outages.
Ever-larger data centres, which house the supercomputers powering AI systems, have increasingly high energy efficiency needs. At the same time, climate change and environmental challenges in the UK and Europe are intensifying. Together, these factors are making resilience more important than ever for the sector.
The number of data centres in the UK has been predicted to increase by almost a fifth in the next five years. And the European Commission set a target of tripling data centre capacity in the EU in five to seven years.
As that unprecedented growth continues, data centre developers are putting increasing emphasis on asset protection, carbon reduction and making multi-million-pound energy cost savings.
To meet those challenges Roxtec is rolling out new products specifically designed for the sector. It is also looking to develop new ways to support those growth ambitions – including the use of carbon data to drive more efficiencies.
It is working closely with the industry on energy saving measures, an increasing challenge to the sector globally. Within energy-hungry data centres the cooling infrastructure may use more power than the IT equipment itself.
Based on a pilot scheme and modelling estimated savings of approximately £2million could be achieved by utilising Roxtec seals to improve energy efficiencies.
George Light, Roxtec specification manager for data centres, said: “We’re seeing great demand for our products on both new build and extension projects, which is being powered by the continued rise of AI. We’re forecasting that demand will continue to rise steeply in 2026.
“With this continued growth there is a real focus on asset protection and energy savings. With increasing capacity in these centres and their high energy efficiency needs, operators are putting special focus on seals as they work to manage cooling and recycle excess heat.
“As a result, our expertise and growing range of products are proving invaluable. We have developed industry leading tools for managing cable and pipe transits.
“Data centre developers are also gaining more knowledge and understanding around their needs and the products available to them – much of it driven by past lessons learned and the impact of getting things wrong when it comes to protecting their assets, which can and has proved very costly.
“As the world moves towards increased reliance on data centres and AI, robust infrastructure is vital. Centres require robust and versatile solutions which protect against multiple hazards, including effects of lightning strikes, gas, fire, dust, flood, humidity, rodents, electro-magnetic disturbances and the risk of explosion.”
The threats are very real. Underground power distribution and fibre networks must be protected against the constant threat of water – even more important in a time of rising extreme weather events.
Securing power supply and power distribution is also critical to prevent the disruption of costly outages. In addition to sealing against water, there is also the important need to meet fire requirements around maintaining the integrity of the structure.
Working in partnership with the major players in the sector, Roxtec continues to deliver innovative solutions to meet the multiple sealing challenges it faces.
Its new Roxtec FlamePlus transit system has been designed especially for data centres to meet the need for speed, simplicity, flexibility, and reliable protection. It offers a lightweight, fire rated solution for multiple cables and pipes.
The company has also extended its product range to make it easier to seal underground entries for large cables, pipes, and conduits, helping avoid the risk of costly downtime and power outages.
Roxtec will be showcasing its products, including Roxtec FlamePlus and the Roxtec Software Suite digital toolkit, at the world’s largest data centre event in March.
Its team can be found on stand B135 at Data Centre World at Excel London, which takes place on March 4-5.
