About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

ABB and Applied Digital accelerate AI-ready data centers

By: via GlobeNewswire

Richmond, Virginia, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

  • Electrical infrastructure partnership delivers innovative solution for AI’s power demands at a greenfield 400 MW data center campus in North Dakota, US

  • New medium voltage power architecture with ABB’s HiPerGuard UPS helps data centers increase efficiency and reliability

  • ABB’s supply chain scale and production capacity facilitate AI-ready data centers


Applied Digital, a builder and operator of next-generation data centers, has launched an infrastructure partnership with ABB at the company’s greenfield 400 MW campus in North Dakota, United States. The collaboration will innovate fast, reliable, energy-efficient solutions to meet the needs of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. As part of this long-term partnership, the first orders were booked in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. Further financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.

Central to the partnership is a new medium voltage power architecture using ABB’s HiPerGuard Medium Voltage Static Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), an industry first technology. HiPerGuard solutions help AI data centers increase power density while compressing electrical plant footprints and increasing energy efficiency. The partnership covers the complete design and development of the site’s electrical infrastructure, optimized to improve the efficiency and resilience of major AI facilities.

Conventional data centers use low voltage power distribution and UPS systems. Switching to medium voltage for the UPS system and power distribution enables data centers to scale more efficiently, expanding in 25 MW blocks. With fewer parts and cabling, installation is simpler and reliability is higher. Running operations with higher voltages, lower conversion losses and less heat generation supports greater energy efficiency.

"What we are building with ABB is going to completely change the way our industry designs large-scale data centers. By leveraging ABB's cutting-edge technology and global reach, we are able to redefine the electrical infrastructure landscape and meet the growing demands to support large scale AI Factories,” said Todd Gale, Chief Development Officer, from Applied Digital.

Massimiliano Cifalitti, Smart Power President, ABB Electrification, said: "Partnerships like this are accelerating the timeline for AI-ready data centers with more competitive, resilient power infrastructures. ABB’s technology is designed for peak performance with dedicated capacity across our global production network and industry-leading innovation. ABB teams are ready to deliver at scale and at speed.”

ABB’s early investment in next-generation medium voltage UPS technology is paying off. Early adopters of ABB's HiPerGuard solution include large-scale data centers and research facilities in North America and Europe that want more energy efficiency and higher power density. With AI’s power densities driving an overhaul of power architectures, ABB’s medium voltage UPS solution is unlocking a more efficient future for data centers.

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com

Applied Digital (Nasdaq: APLD) develops, builds and operates next-generation data centers and infrastructure. Different by design, Applied Digital’s purpose-built facilities are engineered to unleash the power of accelerated compute and deliver secure, scalable and sustainable digital hosting, enabling CSaaS and GPU-as-a-Service solutions. Backed by deep hyperscale expertise and a robust pipeline of available power, Applied Digital accommodates AI Factories and beyond to support AI/ML, blockchain and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.

Attachment 


Media Relations
ABB 
+41 43 317 71 11
media.relations@ch.abb.com

Investor Relations
ABB 
+41 43 317 71 11
investor.relations@ch.abb.com

More News

View More
FICO’s Big Dip Could Be the Best Buying Chance of the Year
Via MarketBeat
Tickers EFX FICO
D-Wave: Reevaluating the Short Seller’s Case After the Downgrade
Via MarketBeat
Tickers QBTS RGTI
Datavault: A Speculative AI Play, But Beware of Volatility
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers DVLT IBM SCLX
Traders Are Piling Into Suncor Call Options—Should You?
Via MarketBeat
Topics World Trade
Tickers SU
Delta Air Lines Stock Looks Ready to Fly to New Highs
Via MarketBeat
Tickers DAL
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.