Key Takeaway
Founded in 1985 in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Great Lakes is a leading manufacturer of data racks and cabinets, offering both standard and customized solutions, including seismic cabinets and advanced cable management. With manufacturing facilities in the US and Europe, Great Lakes enhances Vertiv’s ability to serve global customers, particularly in resilient and flexible data center projects. Vertiv’s acquisition of Great Lakes aligns with its strategy to expand offerings in critical digital infrastructure, addressing the growing demand for higher rack densities and rapid deployments driven by AI workloads. This move reflects a broader industry trend towards efficient infrastructure solutions.
Great Lakes’ Track Record
Established in 1985 and based in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Great Lakes has become a leading manufacturer of data racks and cabinets.
Over the past four decades, it has developed a diverse portfolio of both standard and customized solutions, including seismic cabinets designed for high-risk areas, advanced cable management features, and integrated systems suitable for both retrofits and new constructions.
The company operates manufacturing and assembly facilities in both the US and Europe, strategically positioning itself to support Vertiv’s global customer base.
By integrating Great Lakes into its framework, Vertiv enhances its capacity to manage projects that require resilience and flexibility, which are essential attributes in today’s data centre environment.
Strategic Fit for Vertiv
This acquisition represents a significant step in Vertiv’s ongoing strategy to broaden its end-to-end offerings for critical digital infrastructure. Renowned for its extensive portfolio in power, cooling, and IT management solutions, Vertiv is now enhancing its integration capabilities in the white space sector of a data centre, where IT equipment such as servers and racks are installed.
The rise in AI workloads drives the demand for higher rack densities, while edge computing necessitates rapid, adaptable deployments. The ability to provide pre-configured, integrated systems serves as a key market differentiator. Vertiv’s expanded product suite allows for improved support for clients seeking reliable, scalable, and effective infrastructure solutions that can be deployed swiftly.
Strategic Fit for Vertiv
This acquisition also highlights a broader industry trend.
As AI adoption accelerates, data centre operators are under increasing pressure to deploy infrastructure quickly, minimizing disruptions while maximizing efficiency.
