AI Data Centers Drive Mandatory Adoption Of 316L Liquid Cooling Pipes: CDU Pipe Assembly And Stainless Steel Manifold Demand Surges in 2026
The power consumption of a single GPU has exceeded 700W, and the power of the new generation AI cabinet has reached 30-50kW. Traditional air cooling has reached its limit. Liquid cooling has shifted from an "optional upgrade" to the mandatory mainstream solution for AI data centers. By 2026, the global liquid cooling market for AI servers will soar from 8.9 billion US dollars to 17 billion US dollars. Vertiv CDU has an accumulated order backlog of 15 billion US dollars, and technotrans has just started its fourth CDU production line - upstream 316L stainless steel liquid cooling pipes, CDU Pipe Assembly, and Stainless Steel Manifold are simultaneously entering a period of mandatory replenishment with rising prices and quantities.
The transition from copper/EPDM to 316L is a significant barrier. Under Rubin's "no hose + rigid metal" architecture, EPDM swelling and copper potential corrosion have been eliminated; 316L contains 2–3% Mo, is resistant to chloride ions and pitting corrosion, and is suitable for deionized water/ethylene glycol/fluorinated solutions. The inner wall of the pipe is electrochemically polished with Ra ≤ 0.8 μm to prevent blockage, and the microchannel cold plate is suitable for NVL liquid cooling certification. This is a hard material for NVL liquid cooling certification.
Order structure has shifted from loose pipes to pre-assembled ones. In the GB300 stage, North American ODMs can choose their own pipe suppliers. CDU Pipe Assembly, Server Manifold, custom bends + pre-assembled pipes have become essential for integrators to shorten the project duration - selling only straight pipes is no longer enough; they need to be able to perform cut-to-length, bends, welding, helium inspection at 10⁻⁹ Pa·m³/s, dust-free packaging, and one-stop delivery according to the cabinet BOM.
Delivery time is equivalent to market share. The orders of leading liquid cooling factories are scheduled until next year. Whoever can replenish the 316L inventory within 2–3 weeks and deliver standard pipes within 1 week will secure the next round of expansion orders.
China Super Tech Co., Ltd.: Stainless steel liquid cooling pipe bases covering all scenarios
We have been deeply involved in stainless steel piping for 11 years, with ISO9001/14001/ISO3834/CE/RoHS certifications, an EU precision production line, and are a stable supplier for overseas IDCs and liquid cooling integrators:
The main product is 316L stainless steel liquid cooling pipes: ultra-low carbon + 2–3% Mo, with corrosion resistance 3–5 times higher than the conventional level, and EP electrochemical polishing version is exclusively for AI cold plates/CDU/immersion type; 304/304L liquid cooling pipes are suitable for pure water and deionized water main lines, offering the best cost performance.
Full range of specifications in stock: from Φ9.5/12.7/19mm precision small pipes to large-diameter DN15–DN200 seamless pipes with wall thicknesses of 1.0–4.0mm, dual standards of ASTM A269/GB/T12771, and standard products are dispatched within 72 hours.
Manifold and pre-assembled: Square/Server 316 Manifold, CDU Pipe Assembly, custom bends, quick-insert welding pre-assembled, according to the customer's cabinet BOM for drawing and prototyping, supporting small batch trial production to million-meter-scale mass production.
One-stop service: from degreasing to acid washing and passivation, EP, helium inspection, dust-free packaging, all internal control throughout the process, dual-track service with overseas distributors and end customers, 24-hour technical response.
In the second quarter of 2026, a certain AI IDC integrator in Southeast Asia had to rework due to EPDM leakage, and within 3 days, they requested 8 km of 316L EP small pipes and 400 sets of Server Manifold from us. In coordination with the CDU factory, they completed the online launch of 2 40kW cabinet clusters within 2 weeks; for the 304 main pipes of the North American liquid cooling ODM, due to the factory's delivery deadline of 8 weeks being urgent, we used the inventory to dispatch 12 tons of DN80 seamless pipes within 72 hours, ensuring the delivery node of the Meta cabinet.
Q1: Can 304 be used for AI liquid cooling, or must it be 316L? A German CDU factory once used 304 for the coastal fluoridation liquid. After 3 months, there were some corrosion and leakage problems. Conclusion: Pure water/distilled water for the main pipeline is sufficient and cost-effective with 304; 316L must be used for solutions containing chloride ions, fluorides, and high humidity in coastal areas. We can provide material selection suggestions for free based on the medium.
Q2: How fast can custom bent & pre-assembled CDU pipes ship? The North American customers once experienced a 6-week delay in the delivery of custom bent pipes, which affected the commissioning of the cabinets. Our standard products are dispatched within 72 hours, while for custom bent pipes plus pre-assembly, the first batch can be delivered within 7-10 working days. For mass production of tens of thousands of meters, dedicated lines can be arranged - our inventory and flexible production lines are the basis for securing orders.
Please send us your cabinet BOM and medium type. We will provide the 316L/304 selection and delivery schedule within 24 hours: sales@316liquidcooling.com | www.316liquidcooling.com
