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Data center growth is on the rise. In the U.S. alone, data center demand is expected to increase by 10% annually through 2030, and the global data center market is projected to be just as bullish during the next decade. The increase in the number of data centers to handle the amount of data generated and processed by artificial intelligence (AI) means the IT landscape is likely to look very different between today and 2030 — and much of this shift will center on the amount of energy required to power AI computing.

The adoption of busbar power distribution systems on a global scale has accelerated in the last few years. In fact, research estimates that the market for copper busbar power panels in North America alone will grow by nearly 7.5% annually through 2032. There are several factors that account for this growth and why manufacturers are moving fast to harness the benefits of busbar power, but safety and efficiency are two of the biggest drivers.

The importance of energy-efficient enclosure cooling cannot be overstated in today’s manufacturing environment, both in terms of enhancing sustainability efforts and reducing energy costs. According to a recent report, one of the biggest challenges manufacturers face is leveraging new technologies and processes to power their product programs more efficiently. This challenge is particularly pertinent for food & beverage manufacturers given the amount of energy required to facilitate 24/7 production to keep pace with consumer demand.

Energy costs can be a major expenditure for manufacturers, particularly in terms of creating targeted, powerful cooling outputs to optimize industrial enclosure performance. Enclosure cooling units that leverage Industry 4.0 and IIoT design principles digitalize cooling frameworks for more efficient use of energy, and this can play a large role in reducing energy usage and costs. Integrated cooling is another way manufacturers can save time and money on enclosure cooling, and this approach to enclosure climate control is quickly becoming the norm, especially as integrated cooling also helps manufacturers save time and manpower.

One of the biggest challenges panel builders face in assembling control panels is wire processing. Not only can this be an extremely precise and custom process, but it can also be mission-critical for the performance and reliability of an automation system. Panel builders that still rely on manual wire processing face a whole other set of challenges regarding labor shortages, lead times, and costly mistakes in the wiring process.