Why is Lennox Data Centre Solutions Investing in Lyon?

The Lennox-branded Data Centre Solutions (DCS) division of LFB Group has expanded its European presence with a multi-million euro investment in its two Lyon sites in Genas and Mions. 

The division marks almost 12 months of operation as demand for data centre cooling rises across Europe and operators plan hundreds of new facilities to support artificial intelligence growth.

Expanded Lyon operations support rising cooling demand

The Genas and Mions sites now operate as a combined hub for data centre R&D and manufacturing. This expansion aligns with wider market growth as more than 100 new data centres are planned for the UK and investment across Europe is projected to exceed €94bn (US$110.02bn) by 2030. 

The business confirms that the operational growth places greater production capacity inside Europe to support operators across the EMEA region as rack densities increase and cooling requirements escalate.

The Genas factory, originally built in 1968 and home to more than three hundred specialists, spans 18,000sqm and manufactures evaporators, condensers and racks. 

It also produces the ApX Series of products, which includes the Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH) and Fan Wall Units (FWU). 

The new investment brings automated helium leak testing to maintain quality, induction brazing for precise component joining, a new punching machine for improved sheet metal production and wheel lock safety improvements. 

The site will also install more than one thousand solar panels in its parking area into 2026 as part of LFB Group’s sustainability targets aligned with the United Nation's Global Compact initiative.

The nearby Mions laboratory now serves as the division’s central research and development site. 

It is Eurovent-accredited, meaning it is independently assessed for performance standards for rooftops, chillers and heat pumps. 

The laboratory includes full ambient and climatic test chambers with humidity control, allowing validation under a broad range of environmental conditions. 

Together, the two Lyon facilities position the business as one of the few European manufacturers with a fully integrated multi-site production network dedicated to data centre cooling systems.

Leadership outlines impact of the investment

“These two advancements represent a pivotal investment in both innovation and capacity here at the LFB Group’s Data Centre Solutions division – exactly what this evolving data centre market demands today,” says Matt Evans, CEO of LFB Group’s Data Centre Solutions division. 

“With significant growth in rack densities and AI-driven workloads only increasing, our enhanced offering in both R&D and manufacturing in Lyon mean we can design and co-engineer, validate and deliver next-generation cooling systems faster and more effectively than ever before.

“After launching this standalone data centre division just over a year ago now, and rolling out our first two products earlier this year, things have been moving at full pace. The Lyon investment is another step in that journey; it’s us dialling up our capacity and technical capabilities to be able to meet that soaring demand now and in the future. Our evolution doesn’t just stop at Lyon, though. We’ve got more announcements to come, so stay tuned.”

The Lennox-branded Data Centre Solutions division sits within the broader LFB Group, which includes Redge, formerly Lennox HVAC and Friga-Bohn. These brands share the Lyon sites and operate further facilities in Longvic, France and Burgos, Spain.

Laurent Segneri, R&D Executive Director at LFB Group, adds: “We understand the challenges operators are facing in today’s demanding data centre market – whether higher rack densities, concentrated AI workloads or the need for precise environmental control. 

“With our advanced R&D and manufacturing sites in Lyon, we can continue to work closely with customers to co-engineer systems to their exacting specifications, testing and refining designs in real-time, so they can meet those pressures.

“It’s an exciting time to be working here, particularly with so much change afoot in the industry. No-one can predict what’s around the corner, however having access to technology that allows us to develop at pace, stress-test and fine-tune products to real-world environments, across the business, means we can deliver solutions that help operators meet evolving performance and capacity demands with confidence.”

Strengthened European footprint and new workforce opportunities

The expanded production and testing capacity also supports future workforce growth. 

Lennox DCS plans to increase its team to around forty positions by 2027 across France, Germany and the Netherlands. 

Roles will cover project management, operations, controls, commissioning and sales support. 

The investment in its European footprint and wider technical capability forms part of a long-term plan to support operators as cooling loads rise and as AI workloads continue to shape the design of new facilities.