3C, the liquid-cooling-led data centre infrastructure services company founded by former CoolIT Systems CEO Steve Walton, has merged with Datalec Precision Installations, the London-based data centre engineering specialist founded in 2012, to create 3C Datalec, a global platform that designs, builds, and operates critical infrastructure for AI data centres.

The merger was announced on 14 October 2026.

A Single Partner from Design to Operation

The combination brings together expertise in liquid cooling, mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering, ODM manufacturing, connectivity, and facilities management (FM), giving data centre operators worldwide a single partner from design through to operation.

The company organises these capabilities into three pillars: Create, covering design and engineering; Construct, covering liquid cooling, M&E, ODM manufacturing, and connectivity installation; and Care, covering commissioning, operations, maintenance, and facilities management.

Scale, Customers, and Global Footprint

The combined business has approximately 1,000 team members and forecasts 2026 revenue to be over USD 400 million, with offices and manufacturing facilities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and North America.

It works with four of the five largest hyperscalers and over 25 colocation providers, alongside neoclouds and enterprise customers, with active projects in 16 countries totalling hundreds of megawatts.

Datalec's headquarters will remain in London, and its founding leadership team will continue in their executive roles within the enlarged group. Financial terms were not disclosed.

New Investment Backing Growth Plans

The new platform is backed by investment from Longbow Capital, S2G Investments, Apogem Capital, and QIC.

With that support, 3C Datalec will accelerate its international growth, invest in specialist talent, and expand its technical capabilities as AI demand grows. Over the next 12 months, the company will hire 200 engineers and open new facilities in Warsaw, Poland; Calgary, Alberta; and Austin, Texas.

Matthew Cunning, Director at Longbow Capital, said AI is rewriting the requirements for data centre infrastructure and that liquid cooling sits at the centre of that shift.

He noted that Steve Walton helped build a category leader in liquid cooling and that Datalec brings a proven delivery business with a loyal customer base, adding that the investors are backing 3C Datalec to become the partner of choice for AI-ready infrastructure.

Bala Nagarajan, Managing Director at S2G Investments, said the next phase of data centre investment will be shaped by both new development and the need to upgrade existing facilities for higher-density workloads.

He said Datalec has built deep trust delivering complex projects in that environment, and 3C brings the experience and capabilities to extend those relationships into a broader set of services across the life of a facility.

Liquid Cooling Moves Beyond Optional

Steve Walton, CEO of 3C Datalec, said rack densities have outgrown air and liquid cooling is no longer optional. He recalled that at CoolIT, the team spent years preparing for this moment and became a global leader in liquid cooling.

The hard part now, he said, is making cooling, power, construction, and operations work as one system while running at scale. By combining 3C's liquid cooling expertise with Datalec's engineering, manufacturing, and FM capabilities, the company aims to give customers one partner from design to operation.

Building the Next Generation of Specialists

With the industry running short of skilled data centre engineers, 3C Datalec is training its own.

Team members have access to apprenticeships, technical training, and career development programs through the company's internal university and will share in the company's success through the Leadership & Employee Equity Program (LEEP).

The stated goal is to build the next generation of liquid cooling and critical infrastructure specialists.

Datalec Leadership on Continuity and Culture

Danny Keeper, Group Director & Co-Founder of Datalec, said Datalec has always been a people-first business that has grown by building strong relationships, delivering for customers, and creating a culture that people want to be part of.

He said finding a partner in 3C that genuinely shares those values was extremely important, and that the partnership allows Datalec to grow globally while protecting the culture and identity that have been at the heart of the business since day one.

Stuart Richmond, Group Director & Co-Founder of Datalec, said customers have trusted Datalec with their most critical sites for more than a decade and that the company earns that trust on every project.

He said joining 3C means Datalec can now offer liquid cooling at a global scale, but the commitment does not change: the same teams, the same contacts, and the same focus on getting it right for every customer.

About the Combined Company

3C Datalec designs, builds, and operates critical infrastructure for AI and high-density data centres.

Formed in 2026 through the combination of the two companies, it brings liquid cooling, M&E engineering, ODM manufacturing, connectivity, and facilities management together under the Create, Construct, and Care framework.

With approximately 1,000 team members and active projects in 16 countries, 3C Datalec serves hyperscalers, colocation providers, neoclouds, and enterprises across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and North America, backed by Longbow Capital, S2G Investments, Apogem Capital, and QIC.

From Site Selection to Switch-On: Never Miss a Data Center Opportunity Again

Data center pipelines are moving faster than ever; hyperscale campuses, edge facilities, and colocation expansions are being announced, tendered, and built across markets worldwide. The question is, are you seeing these opportunities before your competitors do, or after the contracts are already signed?

The Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research gives developers, contractors, equipment suppliers, and investors a live, structured view of the entire data center project lifecycle. From early-stage announcements to final commissioning, every milestone is captured, verified, and delivered to your dashboard, so your business development team can act on intelligence, not guesswork.

Stop relying on scattered news alerts and outdated reports. Consolidate your entire market view in one place and track the projects that matter to your growth strategy.

• Upcoming Projects

• Tender Notices

• Contract Awards

• Projects Under Construction

• Completed Projects

Book a Free Demo today and see how the Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research can help you win your share of the booming global data center market.