ARaymond Introduces Next-Generation UQDs for Data Center Liquid Cooling

Advanced polymer Universal Quick Disconnects address scalability, coolant integrity and installation demands, as AI drives rapid growth in cooling needs

Grenoble, France — September 24, 2026 — As artificial intelligence drives expansion of high-density computing and liquid-cooled data centers, ARaymond has introduced a new generation of Universal Quick Disconnects (UQDs) that is designed to help data center operators address growing demands for reliable, scalable and efficient fluid connections.

The new UQD portfolio from ARaymond — which has 40 years of fluid-handling experience and 160 years leading innovation in the fastener industry — uses advanced engineered polymer technology as an alternative to traditional metal designs, and builds upon ARaymond’s proven fluid-handling expertise, high-volume manufacturing capabilities, and the reliability required for mission-critical cooling applications.

"AI is driving a rapid expansion of liquid cooling, and data centers need to scale with no compromise on reliability," said Brian Holt, Technical Sales Engineer, ARaymond North America. "As connector volumes increase, every component matters, from weight of the rack to cleanliness of the coolant and ease of installation. ARaymond’s UQDs combine advanced polymer technology with proven dry-break expertise to help customers meet demands at scale."

Flexibility for evolving data center designs

Advanced polymer technologies give more flexibility in the geometry and configuration of fluid connections for data centers. No longer limited by conventional straight metal configurations, injection-molded designs can be adapted to specific installation requirements — including optimized geometries, angles and configurations that can help engineers manage available space and fluid-routing requirements.

The initial ARaymond UQD portfolio includes three sizes (04, 06 and 08) for manual connections between server boards and racks, as well as manual connections on the server boards. These offerings support interoperability with existing liquid-cooling ecosystems and have been developed following Open Compute Project (OCP) guidelines.

Traditional UQDs have relied on metal construction, but the scale of demand is creating new challenges around production capacity, weight, installation and coolant integrity. ARaymond's UQDs address those challenges through a combination of engineered polymers, precision injection molding and proven fluid-connection technology. These corrosion-free UQDs are engineered to be 60 to 75 percent lighter than comparable metal alternatives. In a high-density AI rack with more than 500 UQDs, weight savings can reach about 100 kilograms per rack, depending on configuration.
 

"Every kilogram matters as data center racks become increasingly dense and complex," Brian Holt said. "Reducing connector weight can make installation and maintenance easier for operators while also reducing overall structural burden on the rack. When that reduction is multiplied across hundreds or thousands of racks, the impact becomes significant."

Sustainability gains are another positive impact, as ARaymond’s UQD lineup offers significant carbon footprint reduction compared to metal solutions, and an option for bio-based materials.

From automotive precision to data center reliability

ARaymond brings to the data center world extensive experience designing and industrializing complex fluid-handling components. ARaymond also brings a long history of supporting advanced, high-volume, clean room manufacturing production facilities across the globe. 

"Every new AI rack increases both performance and complexity," Brian Holt said. "More heat, more liquid and more connections create more potential points of failure. We come from industries where fluid connections are safety-critical, and we are bringing that same engineering and manufacturing discipline to data center cooling."

ARaymond’s UQDs optimize cooling performance and allow for leak-free operation and minimal pressure loss, leading to improved coolant flow and system efficiency.  The UQDs incorporates ARaymond's dry-break technology — which has been deployed in automotive and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) applications where fluid containment, cleanliness, traceability and quality control are critical.  

"We are applying our dry-break experience to a rapidly evolving data center environment where reliability, cleanliness and the ability to industrialize at high volume are increasingly important." said Sébastien Frasse-Sombet, Senior Global Product Manager, ARaymond.

As demand for AI infrastructure and liquid cooling continues to grow, ARaymond sees opportunities to extend its fluid-handling expertise and advanced polymer technologies across additional data center applications.

"As liquid cooling evolves, we can support customers from concept development and prototyping through industrialization and high-volume production," said Sébastien Frasse-Sombet. “We provide fluid-handling solutions that can be industrialized globally while maintaining the quality and reliability expected from mission-critical infrastructure."

New UQDs on display at events in Singapore, Chicago  

ARaymond’s new UQD lineup will be showcased by ARaymond at Data Centre World Asia in Singapore from September 29–30, 2026, as part of Singapore Technology Week (Stand T25). ARaymond will also present its data center fluid-handling solutions at SC26 Supercomputing Conference in Chicago, from November 15–20, 2026 (BOOTH 2658)

ARaymond’s Sébastien Frasse-Sombet, Senior Global Product Manager, ARaymond, will be available for media interviews at Data Centre World Asia in Singapore and Brian Holt, Technical Sales Engineer, ARaymond North America, will be available for interviews at SC26 in Chicago.

More information about the ARaymond UQDs can be found at: ARaymond-industrial.com
 

About ARaymond

ARaymond designs, manufactures and markets advanced fastening, assembly and fluid handling systems for the machines and products that keep the world moving. Founded in 1865, this family‐owned company, headquartered in Grenoble and inventor of the press stud, continues to build on a long-standing tradition of customer-driven innovation. ARaymond places human values at the heart of its success through a servant leadership approach, prioritizing employee fulfilment and well‐being. The company employs over 8,000 people in 25 countries and is committed to creating sustainable value for the mobility, energy, healthcare, construction and agriculture sectors.

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