3C and Datalec Merge to Form Global AI Infrastructure Giant

The merger brings together 3C, founded by former CoolIT Systems CEO Steve Walton, and the engineering specialist Datalec to address the thermal and power challenges of modern AI workloads. Operating across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and North America, the company currently maintains active projects in 16 countries. Its service model is organized into three distinct pillars: design and engineering, construction, and ongoing facilities management.

To support its growth, 3C Datalec plans to add 200 engineers over the next 12 months. The company is establishing new operational hubs in Warsaw, Calgary, and Austin to strengthen its footprint. Despite the global shortage of specialized technical talent, leadership intends to bridge the gap through an internal university and an employee equity program designed to cultivate long-term expertise in liquid cooling and critical infrastructure.

Financial backing from Longbow Capital, S2G Investments, Apogem Capital, and QIC will facilitate this international expansion. While the group will maintain its headquarters in London under its founding leadership, it intends to leverage its combined workforce of 1,000 employees to serve four of the five largest hyperscalers. The firm aims to act as a single-source partner for operators navigating the transition from traditional air-cooled systems to high-density liquid cooling solutions.