Rotating Equipment: The Key to Data Center Cooling and Uptime - HECO

As demand for cloud computing, AI systems, and digital infrastructure continues to surge, so does the need for large-scale data centers. These power-dense facilities are the backbone of modern innovation, but they rely on often-overlooked components invented almost two centuries ago to stay operational: electric motors.

From chillers and pumps to air handling systems, the rotating machines supporting thermal management are critical in supporting today’s inventions. Without consistent cooling, server racks overheat, operations are disrupted, and risk escalates fast.

Ensuring uptime in data center environments is an important requirement to stakeholders. That’s where HECO comes in.

The Impact of Rotating Equipment

Every server in a data center generates heat. As rack density increases and processors run hotter, the systems that keep them cool are working harder than ever, with motor-driven pumps circulating chilled water and motors running fans and compressors.

These components often run 24/7 and must perform at high efficiency under load. A single failure can lead to cascading issues across the facility, resulting in downtime, lost data access, or worse.

Reliable operation of this equipment is just as important as the digital assets it supports.

As data centers evolve, cooling systems must scale with them. That means motors, pumps, and compressors need to operate seamlessly. Unplanned downtime is unacceptable, and preventative strategies are a must.

The Role of Reliability

By working with a trusted, reliability-focused rotating equipment expert, data center operators gain a partner who understands not just rotating equipment but the mission behind it. From proactive maintenance to emergency response, we’re ready to support your operation 24/7.

At HECO, we specialize in maintaining and repairing the rotating equipment that powers critical infrastructure, including the systems behind advanced data center cooling.

We partner with engineering teams and facility managers to deliver:

• Electric Motor Repair & Maintenance – Fan motors, pump motors, and compressors are the heart of data center HVAC and chiller systems. When these components fail or operate below spec, cooling performance suffers along with uptime. HECO provides expert-level repair, rewinding, and performance testing to return motors to OEM or better standards. We handle both emergency repairs and proactive rebuilds to reduce risk and extend service life.
• Predictive Maintenance Services – The cost of downtime in a data center is too high to rely on reactive repairs. Our predictive maintenance solutions, including vibration analysis, infrared thermography, and remote condition monitoring via our Skyler Rotate platform, help identify wear, heat, misalignment, or imbalance before a failure occurs. This is especially critical in data centers, where equipment runs continuously and even a brief outage can cause a ripple effect across entire systems.
• On-Site Field Services – Whether your cooling loop includes centrifugal pumps, air handlers, or backup generator systems, we provide field support for rapid issue resolution. Our team can be on-site for system troubleshooting, dynamic balancing, shaft alignment, motor installation, and emergency diagnostics. For data centers operating on tight maintenance windows or remote schedules, HECO offers fast, flexible support when and where it’s needed most.
• Equipment Management with TracRat – Managing thousands of assets across multiple facilities can be overwhelming, especially when uptime depends on having the right spare motor or repair history at your fingertips. TracRat, HECO’s proprietary equipment management system, helps data center operators track motor performance, failure trends, repair timelines, and available spares from one central platform. It’s an ideal tool for data center teams focused on condition-based maintenance, asset optimization, and long-term planning.

Whether your data center is a new build, an edge facility, or part of a hyperscale expansion, HECO brings decades of experience supporting mission-critical industries—from utilities and healthcare to manufacturing and beyond.

All Systems Go

Looking to strengthen the reliability of your data center’s cooling infrastructure? Contact us today to learn how we can help manage, maintain, and monitor the equipment that keeps your servers cool and your systems online.

Posted in Equipment Management