# Smart Air, Smarter Cooling: Actasys's Innovation in Data Center Technology

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2025-02-10
- Length: 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Smart-Air--Smarter-Cooling-Actasyss-Innovation-in-Data-Center-Technology-e2umh8k

## Summary

David Menicovich, CEO and co-founder of Actasys, explains how his company pivoted from aerodynamic drag reduction for vehicles to providing piezoelectric cooling actuators for data centers. He details the technology's ability to remove heat from specific hotspots on network interface cards and DPUs with high energy efficiency, enabling higher ambient temperatures in server racks. Menicovich discusses the challenges of navigating the semiconductor supply chain, the differences in customer engagement between automotive OEMs and tech integrators, and the company's operations from the Navy Yard in Brooklyn.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=5) Introduction and Actasys Actuator Overview
- [2:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=170) From Aerospace Aerodynamics to Vehicle Drag Reduction
- [4:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=286) PhD Research on Building Sway and Active Flow Control
- [9:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=580) Pivot to Data Center Cooling via Train Manufacturer
- [11:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=676) Piezoelectric Technology: Energy Efficiency and Jet Dynamics
- [14:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=856) Targeting Networking Hardware: NICs and DPUs
- [15:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=912) IoT Integration and Distributed Control for Data Centers
- [19:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=1144) Elevating Data Center Set Points and Cooling Economics
- [24:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=1461) Navigating Semiconductor Supply Chain and Customer Engagement
- [28:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology#t=1691) Company Location and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Actasys (company)
- Polytechnic Institute (company)
- Navy Yard (other)
- Peridio (company)
- QSFPs (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S1E03 This ain’t your grandma’s cooling technology | David Binger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-01-s1e03-this-aint-your-grandmas-cooling-technology-david-binger) (Being an Engineer)
- [Episode 79: Not Your Grandfathers Data Center](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-08-14-episode-79-not-your-grandfathers-data-center) (The Circuit)
- [All Heat, No Useful Work](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-05-25-all-heat-no-useful-work) (The Amp Hour)
- [Frontier Forum: An energy-first approach to data centers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-10-22-frontier-forum-an-energy-first-approach-to-data-centers) (Catalyst)
- [Episode 58: Discussion with Ventiva CEO, Carl Schlachte on Thermals/Cooling](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-03-13-episode-58-discussion-with-ventiva-ceo-carl-schlachte-on-thermals-cooling) (The Circuit)

## Citing this page

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