Vertiv buys BMarko to boost AI data centre capacity

Vertiv has acquired BMarko Structures, a US structural fabrication company, and will bring it into its Infrastructure Solutions business in North America.

The deal adds custom-engineered structural fabrication to Vertiv's in-house operations as demand for data centre infrastructure rises, particularly for AI-related deployments. It is intended to expand engineering and manufacturing capacity and give Vertiv tighter control over the production of manufactured, prefabricated and converged infrastructure.

BMarko, based in Williamston, South Carolina, specialises in custom-engineered builds, including steel and wood frames. Founded in 2014, the company recently expanded its engineering and fabrication site to about 560,000 square feet.

The facility is close to Vertiv's existing Infrastructure Solutions manufacturing operations in the region, which could simplify production and logistics during integration. BMarko has also worked with Vertiv on projects over an extended period, giving the buyer prior experience of its fabrication work and engineering approach.

AI Demand

The purchase reflects growing pressure on data centre suppliers as operators race to bring new capacity online. Infrastructure vendors face rising demand for shorter build times, more tailored designs and closer oversight of key parts of the supply chain as computing requirements evolve.

Vertiv said the transaction would strengthen supply capability and improve control over materials and processes. Bringing fabrication work in-house should also support projects that require a high degree of customisation.

"AI is reshaping infrastructure requirements, with customers placing greater demands on time-to-capacity, flexibility, and efficiency across the infrastructure layer," said Gio Albertazzi, chief executive officer of Vertiv.

"This acquisition strengthens Vertiv's ability to help customers move faster, with better systems-level performance and control, as infrastructure demands continue to grow in complexity," Albertazzi said.

Manufacturing Base

For Vertiv, the deal deepens its manufacturing footprint in North America by adding a specialist structural fabrication business rather than relying solely on external suppliers for that part of the process. This kind of vertical integration can provide more direct oversight of scheduling, design changes and quality control, especially on projects where delivery timing is closely tied to customer expansion plans.

Vertiv is active in power, cooling and IT infrastructure for data centres, communications networks, and industrial and commercial sites. Adding BMarko brings more of the physical construction element of those deployments into Vertiv's own operations.

Demand for prefabricated and modular data centre infrastructure has risen as operators seek repeatable designs and faster deployment. Structural fabrication is a core part of those systems because it underpins the assembly of modules and enclosed infrastructure used on site.

BMarko's focus on custom work may also help Vertiv address projects that do not fit standard layouts. That is becoming more relevant as data centre owners adapt designs for denser computing environments and changing power and cooling requirements.

Sector Pressure

The broader backdrop is a surge in AI-related investment, which has changed expectations around how quickly data centre capacity must be built. Suppliers across the sector are under pressure to shorten lead times while maintaining consistency in design and execution.

In that environment, owning fabrication assets can offer a more direct route to scaling output than depending entirely on third-party manufacturing partners. It can also reduce exposure to bottlenecks in parts of the supply chain where specialist engineering capacity is limited.

Vertiv operates in more than 130 countries and is headquartered in Westerville, Ohio. BMarko's South Carolina base adds production capacity in a region where Vertiv already has related operations, with the acquired facility measuring about 560,000 square feet.