Liebert is a major manufacturer of cooling and power systems for data centers and other critical applications. The company has a long history going back over 60 years and is now a part of Vertiv, a global leader in critical infrastructure technologies.
History of Liebert
Liebert was founded in 1965 by Ralph Liebert as a manufacturer of environmental systems for the emerging computer technology industry. The company was originally called Liebert Air Conditioning and Sales Corporation and was based in Columbus, Ohio.
In the 1960s and 1970s, mainframe computers generated massive amounts of heat that needed specialized cooling systems to maintain stable operating temperatures. Liebert was one of the early innovators in developing air conditioning systems specifically for mainframe computer rooms and data centers.
Some key milestones in Liebert’s early history include:
- 1965 – Founded as Liebert Air Conditioning and Sales Corporation in Columbus, Ohio
- 1971 – Introduced the DS cooling system, one of the first systems designed specifically for computer room applications
- 1978 – Expanded manufacturing capabilities by acquiring Columbus Coated Fabrics Corporation
- 1984 – Opened a new manufacturing facility in O’Fallon, Missouri to increase production capacity
- 1986 – Introduced the Deluxe System/3, a self-contained computer room air conditioning (CRAC) system
- 1993 – Developed the Liebert XD high-density cooling system for mainframe computers
In the 1980s and 1990s, Liebert continued to grow both organically and through acquisitions. The company acquired Knürr AG, a German manufacturer of racks and cabinets for data centers, in 1986. In 1991, Liebert was acquired by Emerson Electric and operated as part of Emerson Network Power.
Under Emerson, Liebert significantly expanded its product portfolio beyond just cooling systems. Key product introductions included uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units (PDU), remote monitoring systems, and aisle containment technologies.
Liebert grew to become Emerson Network Power’s largest division. By 2010, Liebert accounted for 61% of Emerson Network Power’s revenue.
Acquisition by Vertiv
In 2016, Emerson Network Power was acquired by Platinum Equity and re-branded as Vertiv. The Liebert division became part of Vertiv.
Vertiv has continued to invest in the Liebert product portfolio, including next-generation cooling systems, modular data center designs, and integrated racks and power distribution products. Major recent Liebert product introductions include:
- Liebert AFC – adiabatic free-cooling chiller introduced in 2014
- Liebert Trinergy Cube – prefabricated modular data center launched in 2017
- Liebert EXL S1 – monolithic uninterruptible power supply introduced in 2019
- Liebert RDU – rack distribution unit for integrated power distribution launched in 2020
Vertiv leverages the Liebert brand for data center thermal management and power systems. Meanwhile, the Knürr brand from the 1986 acquisition is used for racks and other data center infrastructure solutions.
Together, Liebert and Knürr give Vertiv an extensive data center product portfolio covering power, cooling, IT, and infrastructure. Leveraging the strong Liebert brand has been a key part of Vertiv’s strategy in the data center market.
Liebert Manufacturing and Production
Liebert products are designed by Vertiv engineering teams around the world, including in the United States, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. Manufacturing and production takes place in a number of Vertiv plants and facilities.
Some of the major Liebert manufacturing sites include:
- O’Fallon, Missouri, USA – Large manufacturing campus producing Liebert DS and Liebert Deluxe System/3 air conditioners for computer rooms and data centers.
- Lewisburg, Ohio, USA – Manufacturing site for Liebert precision cooling equipment.
- Plano, Texas, USA – Manufactures Liebert uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
- Umbertide, Italy – European manufacturing for Liebert UPS systems and power distribution units.
- Istanbul, Turkey – Manufacturing facility producing Liebert UPS systems for EMEA market.
Vertiv uses lean manufacturing principles focused on quality, efficiency and continuous improvement across the Liebert production facilities. There is also significant focus on supply chain optimization to deliver Liebert products in a timely and cost-effective manner.
In addition to company-owned facilities, Vertiv partners with a global network of suppliers and contract manufacturers that provide components, sub-assemblies and finished goods supporting the Liebert product lines.
Liebert Sales, Distribution and Support
Vertiv sells Liebert products directly to end-user customers and through an extensive network of channel partners including resellers, integrators, and distributors. The company has direct sales personnel and field application engineers supporting Liebert across 90 countries.
Liebert products are distributed through regional warehouse facilities and shipping hubs in strategic locations worldwide. This enables rapid order fulfillment and quick delivery to customers.
Post-sales support for Liebert is delivered by a team of field service engineers, remote monitoring experts, and customer support specialists. Vertiv provides preventative maintenance, emergency service, repair, and training services to ensure optimal performance of deployed Liebert equipment.
Liebert Research and Development
Vertiv continuously invests in research and development (R&D) to enhance the Liebert product lines and bring new innovations to market.
Some of Vertiv’s R&D centers supporting Liebert include:
- Columbus, Ohio, USA – Focused on data center infrastructure technologies, including cooling systems and IT racks.
- Romeoville, Illinois, USA – Develops power systems including UPS’s and power distribution equipment.
- Mannheim, Germany – R&D for European power and thermal management products.
- Beijing, China – Asian R&D center developing new products tailored for China and Asia-Pacific market.
Recent Liebert R&D initiatives include developing more energy-efficient cooling designs, higher-density cooling systems for high-performance computing applications, and data center infrastructure management software.
Vertiv holds over 2000 active patents worldwide associated with Liebert and other product brands. Continued investment in R&D will enable Liebert to maintain its market leadership through ongoing innovation.
Liebert’s Competitive Position
Liebert has a leading position in the global data center cooling market. According to Omdia, Liebert captured 25.4% market share in data center cooling solutions as of 2021. This makes it the #2 provider globally behind Schneider Electric.
Other major competitors in the data center thermal management space include:
- Eaton
- Johnson Controls
- Stulz
- Delta Electronics
- Daikin Applied
- nVent
- Airedale
However, Liebert stands apart from competitors based on its long history and reputation for innovation, quality, and reliability. The Liebert brand is well-established and widely recognized as a leader in data center cooling and power technologies.
Being part of Vertiv gives Liebert significant scale, manufacturing capacity, and access to an extensive sales channel. The company is investing heavily to expand production of Liebert products to meet fast-growing demand for data center infrastructure solutions.
Conclusion
In summary, Liebert is a pioneering and trusted brand in data center thermal management and power systems. Originally founded in 1965, Liebert is today manufactured by Vertiv after a series of acquisitions.
Liebert products are designed and engineered by Vertiv’s R&D centers worldwide. Manufacturing and production takes place in Vertiv factories across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia to support global sales and distribution.
With continued investment in R&D and manufacturing expansion, Liebert is well-positioned to maintain market leadership in cooling, UPS, and other critical infrastructure technologies for modern data centers.