New Continental Hoses for Data Center Cooling

Our main partner, Continental, is expanding its portfolio with hoses for high-performance server liquid cooling – specifically for single-phase Direct-to-Chip applications. And further additions to the range are already in development.

• Vascular System of AI: DATAGUARD and FLEXCOOL
• No Circulation, No Life. No Cooling, No PERFORMANCE
• Anatomy of the Circulatory System
• Dimensions and Parameters

Vascular System of AI: DATAGUARD and FLEXCOOL

Artificial intelligence infrastructure and systems designed to handle extremely demanding computational tasks are changing data center cooling requirements to such an extent that conventional air cooling can simply no longer dissipate such high heat densities.

Continental is currently focusing on single-phase Direct-to-Chip cooling using a 1:3 liquid mixture of propylene glycol and water, with the medium delivered directly to the hottest components without ever coming into contact with the electronics. The coolant remains in the liquid phase throughout the system – unlike in two-phase cooling, which, according to the manufacturer’s preliminary plans, is currently being developed for market launch next year.

No Circulation, No Life. No Cooling, No PERFORMANCE

System failures, hardware damage, and data loss caused by overheating, fire, or coolant contamination are major threats to today’s data centers. The increasing complexity of their architecture is another challenge. Hoses in these systems really are not just pipes that carry something from A to B – they are mission-critical components whose reliability the entire operation and its continuity depend on.

Efficient cooling also means a smaller carbon footprint for the entire operation – no less important given the pace of current development. Demand for computing power is growing faster than data center capacity, and energy is the currency of growth. While a typical data center rack consumed around 8.2 kW five years ago, today’s top-tier AI racks, such as the NVIDIA GB200, draw up to 132 kW – sixteen times as much. Cooling alone can account for 30 to 40% of that consumption.

It’s therefore no surprise that the global data center liquid cooling market is expanding rapidly – according to Grand View Research, it was valued at USD 6.7 billion in 2025 and is expected to increase by 20.1% annually through 2033.

A server in a data center can, of course, be cooled in several ways – from hybrid solutions combining air and liquid cooling (RDHx), through direct liquid cooling of the chip (Direct-to-Chip) in both single-phase and two-phase variants, all the way to complete immersion of servers in a non-conductive liquid (immersion cooling). Each approach has its place and differs in installation complexity, operating costs, and in how close the coolant actually gets to the chip.

And because Direct-to-Chip liquid cooling is a genuine circulatory system – with its own heart, arteries, and capillaries – let’s return to the analogy from the heading.

Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling: Anatomy of the Circulatory System

At the center of the entire system beats its heart – the Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU), which pumps coolant through the loop so that it flows wherever it’s needed. From there, the arteries branch out – the main supply hoses carrying the medium all the way to the server racks. Inside the rack, the arteries divide into smaller vessels that distribute the coolant from the manifold to the individual server units (blades). Within the blades, the coolant flows through the thinnest capillaries to the tissue cells: the cold plates on the chip (CPU or GPU).

This is exactly the anatomy Continental now covers with its DATAGUARD and FLEXCOOL hose ranges. Let’s take a closer look.

DATAGUARD – Arteries of the System

They feature a tube of peroxide-cured EPDM, which significantly reduces the risk of coolant contamination compared with conventional sulfur-cured hoses. They are available in two construction variants:

• EXTREMEFLEX DATAGUARD – with spiral wire reinforcement, the largest diameters in the range, and an exceptionally small bend radius matching the hose diameter (1:1).

• DATAGUARD – with braided textile reinforcement, a higher working pressure, and versions available according to the required flammability classification (UL 94 HB or the more stringent UL 94 V-0).

FLEXCOOL JUMPER – Vessels in the Rack

Like the other hoses in the system, they feature a tube of peroxide-cured EPDM. The cover is made of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) meeting the more stringent UL 94 V-0 flammability classification. Unsurprisingly, fire safety requirements become even more important in the confined space of a server rack.

FLEXCOOL BLADE – Capillaries to the Chip

Their construction mirrors the same concept as the JUMPER range: peroxide-cured EPDM on the inside, reinforcement with a single layer of braided synthetic yarn, and a black CPE outer cover resistant to burning per UL 94 V-0.

Data Center Hoses in the TYMA CZ Online Store

Continental Data Cooling Solutions: Dimensions and Parameters

A practical overview to finish with. These are the ranges of selected hose parameters across the current production program.

Selected Parameters of Continental Data Center Hoses

All hose ranges can operate from −40 °C, while the upper temperature limit varies between +82 °C and +99 °C depending on the hose type and connection method.

Flammability Classification According to UL 94

UL 94 is a US standard describing the flammability behavior of materials. Hoses with a UL 94 HB classification pass if, in the horizontal test, they burn at a rate of less than 76 mm per minute or stop burning before reaching the 100 mm reference mark, while the more stringent UL 94 V-0 classification requires a vertically positioned specimen to self-extinguish within 10 seconds after removal of the test flame, without dripping flaming particles.

Data Center Hoses in the TYMA CZ Online Store