Shane Kilfoil, Subzero Engineering President, is interviewed at Data Center World London 2025

Sustainability Meets Performance in the Era of AI Computing

At Data Center World London 2025, Subzero Engineering unveiled our groundbreaking Composite Aisle Frame (CAF) system, a revolutionary solution designed to address the evolving challenges of modern data centers. This innovative system represents a significant leap forward in our mission to become the greenest containment provider in the industry.

Why We Developed the Composite Aisle Frame

For the past two years, our engineering team has been working diligently to develop an alternative to traditional steel aisle frames that could handle the increasingly demanding requirements of modern data centers, particularly with the rapid growth of AI workloads.

As our customers embrace more stringent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements, we recognized the need for a more sustainable infrastructure solution that doesn’t compromise on performance or reliability. The result is our Composite Aisle Frame system—an environmentally friendly alternative that maintains the structural integrity needed for today’s high-density computing environments.

Key Features of the Composite Aisle Frame System

Environmentally Superior

  • Significantly Lower Carbon Footprint: The CAF system features substantially lower CO₂ per kilogram content compared to traditional steel structures
  • Lightweight Design: Weighs only 50%+ of a comparable steel frame, further reducing the embodied carbon footprint
  • No Powder Coating Required: Unlike steel frames, our composite frames don’t require carbon-intensive finishing processes
  • Sustainable Materials: Composed of 80-85% glass with recycled resin components

Enhanced Performance for Modern Demands

  • High Load Capacity: Engineered to support the increasing weight requirements of modern AI infrastructure and liquid cooling solutions
  • Liquid Cooling Compatible: Designed with mounting points for liquid cooling infrastructure
  • Liquid Containment: Integrated features to contain potential fluid leaks
  • Corrosion Resistant: Naturally resistant to rust and degradation from liquid cooling leaks

Operational Efficiency

  • Rapid Installation: A full aisle frame can be assembled in 3-4 hours, compared to 1-1.5 days for traditional frames
  • Flat-Pack Shipping: Pre-assembled components ship in compact flat packs for efficient transportation
  • Reduced Transportation Impact: Lighter weight means less fuel consumption during shipping
  • Fewer Installation Resources: Lighter components require fewer personnel for installation

Meeting the Challenges of AI Computing

With the exponential growth of AI applications, data centers face unprecedented power density and cooling challenges. Our Composite Aisle Frame system was developed with these evolving requirements in mind.

“As we’ve been developing this, the weight loading that we put on these aisle frames has increased exponentially and will continue to do so,” notes our company president. “If the target is X today, we designed it for Y to anticipate future states.”

Commitment to Sustainability

While AI computing has dominated recent industry conversations, sustainability remains a core focus for data center operators. Our Composite Aisle Frame system represents the next step in our ongoing commitment to providing the most environmentally responsible containment solutions in the industry.

This innovation follows our previous sustainability initiatives, including the use of recycled aluminum and twin wall materials in our containment products. We’re also exploring additional eco-friendly materials that could further reduce our carbon footprint across our product line.

See the Innovation in Action

Watch our full interview from Data Center World London to learn more about our Composite Aisle Frame system and how Subzero Engineering continues to lead the industry in sustainable data center infrastructure solutions.

Learn More About the AisleFrame System Here