nVent Expands Again in Minnesota, Driving AI Infrastructure Growth

nVent Expands Again in Minnesota, Driving AI Infrastructure Growth

BLAINE, MN — nVent Electric, a global leader in electrical connection and protection solutions, has announced a second major Minnesota expansion in as many years, this time in Blaine. The move underscores growing demand for advanced hardware supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance data centers.

New Facility in Blaine

The company has leased a 117,000-square-foot facility in Blaine, where it will manufacture liquid-cooling systems for data centers and power utilities. The project is expected to create 175 new jobs and begin operations in early 2026, according to financial and industry reports.

Earlier Expansion in Anoka

This announcement follows nVent’s 145,000-square-foot expansion in Anoka, completed earlier this year. That facility is projected to add 150 jobs and has already quadrupled the company’s liquid-cooling production capacity.

Why Now?

The explosive growth of AI has sharply increased demand for data processing power, making efficient cooling systems essential. Liquid cooling is especially critical for maintaining reliable operations in high-density computing environments.

Sara Zawoyski, president of nVent Systems Protection, said the expansions reflect a “rapid surge in the data center market.” To support the growth, nVent has raised its 2025 capital spending to $110 million.

Regional Economic Impact

• Job Growth: Combined, the Anoka and Blaine expansions will create around 325 new positions, spanning production, technical, and management roles.
• Regional Benefits: The projects strengthen Anoka County’s profile as a hub for advanced manufacturing, joining major employers such as Graco, Boston Scientific, and Heliene.
• Company Footprint: With the new facilities, nVent’s Minnesota workforce—anchored by its headquarters—will approach 2,000 employees, contributing to a global headcount of roughly 12,100.

Competitive Context

nVent’s move comes amid growing competition in the liquid-cooling market, as data centers adapt to the power and thermal demands of AI.

• Supermicro has emerged as a leader in rack-scale liquid cooling, supporting large-scale GPU deployments with energy-efficient systems.
• Schneider Electric, through its recent acquisition of Motivair, is expanding its global reach in data center cooling technologies.
• Vertiv continues to invest heavily in power and thermal management solutions for hyperscale and AI-driven computing.

What distinguishes nVent is its broad portfolio of cooling technologies—from rack-level coolant distribution units to immersion cooling—and its strategic collaboration with NVIDIA, ensuring compatibility with next-generation AI server platforms. The company reports having deployed over 1 gigawatt of liquid cooling capacity since 2020, underscoring its scale in a rapidly expanding sector.

MinneapoliMedia