AI:20: A Faster Route to High-Performance Infrastructure

Few topics dominate the data centre conversation more than power. With high-performance computing demands at record highs, it remains one of the most pressing challenges we’ve explored in recent articles.

As artificial intelligence workloads intensify, the traditional model of building data centres is lengthy, complex and tied to one single location, which is no longer fit for purpose. Time is fast becoming the greatest barrier to progress.

At Durata, we believe the future of data centres lies in a different approach, one that is modular by design and powered by prefabricated infrastructure in the form of our newest offering AI:20.

AI:20, our newly launched modular, prefabricated AI factory, is designed to remove the bottlenecks that stall progress. With prefabricated modules built at our dedicated UK facilities and ready for global deployment, AI:20 can be delivered to site and operational within a fraction of the time of traditional builds.

Industry research shows that conventional data centres often take 3-5 years to complete, whereas module alternatives can reduce the timeline to as little as 12-15 months. By shifting construction away from the site, delays caused by planning, weather and supply chain disruption are dramatically reduced.

What’s more, we provide a true single-source solution bringing fabrication, build, project management and power expertise together under one roof. By consolidating every stage of delivery, we give clients a seamless experience with greater control, reduced complexity and complete accountability from start to finish.

This isn’t about standardisation for its own sake, it’s about building flexibility into a framework that accelerates deployment. Around 75% of the design is pre-engineered, leaving the final 25% open for client choice in critical areas such as power and cooling. The result is a solution that combines rapid deployment with true customisation.

AI demands density, resilience and the ability to scale. These demands are global. The organisations driving the next generation of innovation cannot afford to wait years for infrastructure to catch up.

It’s no surprise that the global modular data centre market, valued at $2.3 billion in 2020, is projected to grow at over 13% annually and reach $5.25 billion by 2026. This reflects the shift that modular is no longer niche, but instead becoming the model of choice for AI- ready infrastructure.

Durata’s expertise in mechanical, electrical and fabrication engineering allows us to bring together the disciplines needed to deliver modular at the scale needed. Fabrication is at the heart of this and our facilities in the North East of England manufacture modules to the highest standards, ready for deployment via Teesside’s Freeport strategic logistics network.

By combining precision engineering with supply chain strength, we can deliver AI infrastructure that is faster, more flexible and more resilient than traditional builds.

AI:20 is not simply another modular option. It brings together unique advantages that set it apart.

First, it is vendor-neutral, giving clients the freedom to select the technologies that best serve their business rather than locking them into a predefined model.

Second, CNC-machined precision delivers pinpoint accuracy and repeatable quality, so what’s designed is exactly what’s delivered, reducing reworks and on-site risk.

Third, it is engineered with AI workloads in mind, capable of supporting the densities and resilience required for next-generation computing.

Crucially, AI:20 is designed to be a turnkey solution. Delivered as a pre-fabricated, ready-to-use package, it enables organisations to move from planning to deployment in record time. By offering a balance between a pre-designed framework and tailored flexibility, it ensures clients don’t have to bend their operations to fit the infrastructure; the infrastructure adapts to them.

The appeal of AI:20 is not limited by geography. Its modular design means it can be deployed in diverse environments, from urban centres to remote industrial zones, providing a global-ready solution for businesses and governments alike.

The demand is clear with the modular data centre sector as a whole expected to more than double over the next five years, as analysts forecast the total market to exceed $30 billion by 2030.

What sets Durata apart is our ability to marry global ambition with local expertise. By fabricating in-house, we control quality, speed and scalability and by working closely with clients, we ensure every solution fits their needs.

With a strategic base at the Teesside Freeport for rapid, cost-effective export and an Atlanta office to support North American and global delivery, we’re positioned to design, build and deploy at pace, wherever capacity is needed.

AI:20 is our response to a changing world, where the ability to deploy at pace will define who leads and who follows. With modular prefabrication already proving to be 25–50% faster than traditional builds, the advantage of moving early is clear.

At Durata, we are proud to be at the forefront of this shift, delivering modular data centre solutions that enable our clients to unlock the full potential of artificial intelligence, without delay. To learn more about AI:20 and explore how Durata can help accelerate your infrastructure strategy, get in touch with our team today.