Datalec Precision Installations and 3C Form 3C Datalec, a $400 Million AI Data Center Services Platform

A group of investors, including Longbow Capital, S2G Investments, Apogem Capital, and QIC, is behind 3C Datalec, the new global platform formed through the merger of liquid-cooling-led infrastructure services company 3C and London-based data centre engineering specialist Datalec Precision Installations, announced on 14 October 2026.

Strategic Insights on 3C Datalec's Future and Market Positioning

The combined business forecasts 2026 revenue of over USD 400 million and employs approximately 1,000 team members. Financial terms of the merger were not disclosed.

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 pointed to Steve Walton's record helping build a category leader in liquid cooling and Datalec's proven delivery business with a loyal customer base, saying 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 both by new development and by the need to upgrade existing facilities for higher-density workloads.

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

Hiring Spree and New Sites Planned in Warsaw, Calgary, and Austin

With the new investment in place, 3C Datalec plans to accelerate international growth, invest in specialist talent, and expand its technical capabilities as AI demand grows.

Over the next 12 months the company intends to hire 200 engineers and open new facilities in Warsaw, Poland; Calgary, Alberta; and Austin, Texas.

One Partner From Design to Operation

The merger combines 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 groups 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.

Steve Walton, CEO of 3C Datalec, said rack densities have outgrown air and liquid cooling is no longer optional. He recalled that during his time at CoolIT Systems, which he formerly led as CEO, 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.

Customers and Reach Across Four Continents

The combined company serves four of the five largest hyperscalers and more than 25 colocation providers, alongside neoclouds and enterprise customers.

It has active projects in 16 countries totalling hundreds of megawatts, with offices and manufacturing facilities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and North America.

Datalec's headquarters will remain in London, and its founding leadership team will continue in their executive roles within the enlarged group.

Datalec Founders Stress Continuity for Customers

Danny Keeper, Group Director & Co-Founder of Datalec, said the company 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.

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

Internal University and Equity Program Aim to Grow Talent

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

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.