LFB boosts Lyon R&D sites to meet data centre cooling demand

LFB Group's Lennox-branded Data Centre Solutions division is expanding its research and development and manufacturing operations in Lyon with a multi-million euro investment, as demand for data centre cooling increases across Europe.

The division is upgrading its two sites in Genas and Mions, near Lyon. The move comes as the business approaches its first full year of operation and targets growing requirements from operators facing higher rack densities and AI-driven workloads.

Industry forecasts point to more than 100 new data centres planned in the UK and projected investment across Europe expected to exceed €94 billion by 2030. Operators are under pressure to manage rising energy use and thermal loads as facilities scale up.

The division will use the expanded Lyon sites to grow its presence in the European data centre market. It plans to supply cooling systems for operators across the EMEA region as facilities become more intensive and complex to run.

Factory upgrades

The Genas factory dates back to 1968 and employs over 300 specialists. The 18,000 square metre site manufactures evaporators, condensers and racks. It also produces the recently launched ApX Series, which includes Computer Room Air Handler units and Fan Wall Units.

The latest investment brings new automation and quality control processes into the plant. The factory will introduce automated helium leak testing and induction brazing. These steps aim to standardise production and maintain consistent performance across units.

Genas will also gain a new punching machine. The company expects this to improve sheet metal fabrication throughput and flexibility in product design. Wheel lock safety enhancements are planned on the site as part of a wider focus on operational safety.

The site will also host new on-site solar generation. The parking area is due to receive more than 1,000 solar panels as part of LFB Group's broader sustainability programme and its alignment with the United Nations Global Compact initiative.

R&D focus

The Mions site will concentrate on research and development for data centre products. The laboratory holds Eurovent accreditation for rooftops, chillers and heat pumps. It sits a few kilometres from Genas, which allows closer links between design and production teams.

Mions includes full ambient and climatic test chambers with humidity control. Engineers can validate performance under a range of simulated real-world conditions. This covers temperature extremes and varying humidity levels that data centres encounter in different regions.

The company said the two Lyon sites now form a fully integrated, multi-location network that focuses on data centre cooling systems. It sees this network as a differentiator in a market where many suppliers rely on more fragmented production models or imports from outside Europe.

Matt Evans, CEO of LFB Group's Data Centre Solutions division, said the investment aligns with rapid shifts in data centre design.

"These two advancements represent a pivotal investment in both innovation and capacity here at the LFB Group's Data Centre Solutions division - exactly what this evolving data centre market demands today. With significant growth in rack densities and AI-driven workloads only increasing, our enhanced offering in both R&D and manufacturing in Lyon mean we can design and co-engineer, validate and deliver next-generation cooling systems faster and more effectively than ever before.

"After launching this standalone data centre division just over a year ago now, and rolling out our first two products earlier this year, things have been moving at full pace. The Lyon investment is another step in that journey; it's us dialling up our capacity and technical capabilities to be able to meet that soaring demand now and in the future. Our evolution doesn't just stop at Lyon, though. We've got more announcements to come, so stay tuned."

Group backing

The Data Centre Solutions division sits within LFB Group, which has more than six decades of mechanical engineering experience. The wider group includes HVAC business Redge, formerly Lennox HVAC, and refrigeration specialist Friga-Bohn. These brands share sites in Lyon and also operate in Longvic in France and Burgos in Spain.

The group structure allows shared use of facilities and technical expertise. It also provides a broader base for supply chains and component sourcing across different climate and refrigeration segments.

Laurent Segneri, R&D Executive Director at LFB Group, said the Lyon sites would play a central role in work with data centre customers.

"We understand the challenges operators are facing in today's demanding data centre market - whether higher rack densities, concentrated AI workloads or the need for precise environmental control. With our advanced R&D and manufacturing sites in Lyon, we can continue to work closely with customers to co-engineer systems to their exacting specifications, testing and refining designs in real-time, so they can meet those pressures.

"It's an exciting time to be working here, particularly with so much change afoot in the industry. No-one can predict what's around the corner, however having access to technology that allows us to develop at pace, stress-test and fine-tune products to real-world environments, across the business, means we can deliver solutions that help operators meet evolving performance and capacity demands with confidence."

Jobs and growth

The expansion brings recruitment plans across several European markets. The division expects its team to reach about 40 positions by 2027. New roles will include Project Management, Operations, Controls, Commissioning and Sales Support, with hiring planned in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The company said the Lyon investment marks one stage in a broader growth agenda for the data centre division. It plans further announcements on network and product developments as it builds out its presence in the European digital infrastructure market.