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Jane Neil Of Subzero Engineering On How We Can Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics

Normalize Female Engineers: Using social media to showcase women in engineering can normalize the presence of women in these roles and make them more relatable to young girls.

An Interview with Jane Neil by Vanessa Ogle
Originally featured on Medium, this article delves into the gender disparity in STEM and outlines effective ways to boost girls’ engagement in engineering and robotics. Read the full article here: https://www.subzeroeng.com/how-we-can-increase-girls-participation-in-engineering-and-robotics/

Despite the growing importance of engineering and robotics in shaping our future, women remain significantly underrepresented in these fields. This series aims to explore and address the barriers that discourage girls from pursuing careers in engineering and robotics. We are talking to educators, industry leaders, pioneering women engineers, and robotics experts who have made significant contributions to their fields to discuss the strategies they believe can inspire and increase the participation of young girls in engineering and robotics. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jane Neil, Subzero Engineering.

She is a positive self motivated individual with an outgoing personality who offers an analytical view to life and activities. With thirty years experience working in complex and constantly changing environments I have gained well developed organisational, networking, communication and negotiation skills and ability to prioritise and manage extensive workloads.

Through the unique experience of life and rigour within the Royal Navy, high pressure, time bound commitments on self and team was commonplace, this provided extensive travel and extended experience of numerous cultures.

Strong technical background with practice in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Supply Chain gained in heavy engineering within construction, pump equipment and automotive industry. Working knowledge of numerous quality systems and standards both from a compliance and an implementation perspective.

Her recent Supply Chain experiences have developed the ability to understand explicit and implicit customer needs while building internal and external working relationships across global regions. This has also developed Project Management competence, involving multiple stakeholders with varying needs, using influencing skills in a variety of customer and supplier situations, delivering results through people. All aspects of people management from recruitment to performance, an ability to identify support and development needs within teams.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I’ve always been drawn to engineering, It’s very much an internal feeling. But it was out of necessity as my parents separated when I was very young, so if anything broke in the house, I was the one who wanted to fix it so my mum wouldn’t worry. I would carry out many simple manual tasks, such as plastering walls or laying bathroom tiles. I remember once the washing machine broke, and I gave my mum an electric shock in my attempts to fix it!

Back then, around 35 years ago, it was rare to find females in engineering roles. Luckily for me, the British Royal Navy changed that, and for the first time in history women could go to sea. That also meant that females could be engineers. Before then, the stereotypical WREN was handbag and court shoes, all very British.

I’ve been around the world, and I’ve done a lot. Since the Royal Navy I’ve been in many different manufacturing and engineering environments, from marine engineering, automotive, and pump manufacturing. The oil, gas and nuclear industries were prominent in my earlier career path and that’s before I went into more high-tech electronics.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

When I first started, the uniform issued to me was a mix of both male and female designs, because I was only the seventh woman to go to sea as an engineer. We were pioneers, not entirely sure what to expect. My first military assignment was during the Bosnia War, where I was awarded a NATO medal for peacekeeping. That was in my first three months at sea!

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering or robotics, and how can we replicate that inspiration for young girls?

The UK Government presented the opportunity to me, but for future generations, targeted marketing and social media can be powerful tools. How can you get a female’s attention when you are competing with fashion and diet pills on Instagram, etc? Highlighting the potential for high salaries in electronics and engineering could be appealing.

We need to educate young people in digestible chunks while they’re still in that sweet spot of discovery and understanding, to show them what the future could look like! There are so many different elements to engineering and, for many, it can be quite overwhelming. Social media can play a big role in making these concepts accessible and normalizing the idea of women in engineering.

It’s also interviews such as these, where you can see that I have a normal life, kids and family, my work-life balance in check, I have a management role, and this is the salary bracket. Being here, proving to people that I’m doing the job, demonstrates to younger females that women are in management and engineering roles now, that we are supportive of those young girls coming in.

The path forward is now carved out, though it’s still narrow. When I was younger, the route wasn’t smooth — you had to climb rocks, overcome obstacles, and break through barriers. But today, that path exists.

I encourage women to walk that path, knowing there are others ready to support them along the way. As managers in engineering environments, it’s our responsibility to recognize and nurture the talent in the young.

There is a duty of care, a real sense of responsibility to guide the talent in the young females and give them stretch assignments. I’m always challenging the females in the work environment to be uncomfortable. Because being uncomfortable is good. It may not feel that way, but you must move your thinking because you only ever grow when you’re out of your comfort zone. Uncomfortableness equals growth and you will have no idea what you can achieve if you don’t learn to see it positively!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My sense of responsibility stems from the fact that I didn’t really have any work mentors or significant figures guiding me through my career. While I never felt recognized for my struggles, it taught me the importance of recognizing and nurturing talent in others. People nowadays are so concerned with themselves that they don’t have the time, space, or energy to recognize other’s talents, but that doesn’t mean that you’re less talented.

The adversity that I went through helped make me the person and the leader that I am today. It possibly makes me fiercer and more courageous. My career path may not have been a smooth ride, but that’s not real life, is it?

Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?

A coach called David Allen, and his program called Getting Things Done (GTD) made a significant impact on me. I got hold of an audio file of a seminar that he did probably 15 years ago, and I just loved it. It’s about time management & high performance. I still listen to the audio file today if I get bogged down or too busy. I’ll just play one of them and it lifts me up to where my thinking needs to be. It taught me how to mind map and how not to worry about the things I wasn’t doing so I had the energy to focus on the highest value projects. And it taught me how to extract those blockages from my brain, whether via high tech or low tech so that it wasn’t jamming my creativity.

As females we often worry about what we’re not doing, and don’t celebrate what we are doing well. Changing that mindset has made me a better mother, wife, employee, manager, everything. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I ever received came from the GTDs. I use it with my team: when we are naturally good at something, we often take that magic and put it in a zero-value bucket because we think it’s natural and therefore not special. We need to take our natural talents back out of the zero-value bucket as it’s our super power!

Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?

My favorite life lesson quote is from a Jack Canfield book. It’s ‘no blaming, no complaining, no excuses’. It leaves you nowhere to go, so you’re forced to own it. I was always taught by my mother to look in before you look out. We live in a world today where we’re so easily distracted with information bombarding us from all angles, that we’re constantly looking to the next answer and not concentrating on what we have in front of us. I believe the answers are always inside us. We just need to find the peace and quiet inside and take a minute to listen.

I use this life lesson quote in my day-to-day work and ask my team to do the same. Once you take the blame or complain out of the equation it becomes easier to look at the challenge and deal with it head on.

According to this report, only about 16% of engineering positions in the US are held by women. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from Engineering and Robotics?

As females, we can sometimes gravitate to areas and environments where there are more women around, sub-consciously avoiding those that are more male-centric. Women might have an idea of what a normal day looks like if they work in, for example, marketing, which is perhaps a more balanced role, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet on the engineering front. Again, social media can help in demystifying roles, and showing what a normal day in an engineering role is like. In addition, the availability of more equal salaries in this industry helps women to know that they are valued more equally.

This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should enter the Engineering and Robotics fields?

Women are natural problem solvers. We look at things in a different perspective from men. Our brains are wired differently, so we can look at a challenge from all the different angles, which in turn offers more innovation. It’s a beautiful thing for a female to bring to engineering environments and there is huge satisfaction that comes from problem-solving, improving things, and innovating. Your self-esteem, your happiness, your take on life, the confidence that grows; you don’t have to think or feel like a man to bring that talent into the workplace. Diversity leads to greater innovation, and having more women in engineering will only accelerate progress.

Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics?”

1. Role Models in Schools: While STEM stuff is prominent in schools right now, it’s doesn’t quite translate into jobs available for females in engineering. Middle school is a critical time for kids to discover potential career paths. Having female engineers speak at schools and share their experiences can help demystify the field and inspire young girls.

2. Clear Educational Pathways: Highlighting courses available in college and how they translate into a career for women, would be a big improvement. If I’d had that knowledge at that age, my path would have been a much easier one to take.

3. Educate in Bite-sized Chunks: Educating young people to show them what their potential can look like. If we introduce young girls to the many different elements of engineering and the many different industries that engineering is a part of, rather than just a high overview, would really help the next generation to understand the innovation and change aspect. All too many times, people just don’t understand what we do, so to break down the many various elements of it in bite-size chunks of learning would help.

4. Normalize Female Engineers: Using social media to showcase women in engineering can normalize the presence of women in these roles and make them more relatable to young girls.

5. Promote Salary Parity: Demonstrating to young people that they can earn the same salaries as their equal male counterparts is powerful. Women deserve equal parity and pay, and that was part of the attraction for me when I was younger. I don’t think we’re fully there yet, but we are moving in the right direction.

In your opinion, what are the most effective ways to introduce girls to engineering and robotics at an early age?

It would be helpful if school visits with groups of females who had shown an interest in engineering could come into the company, how often do you see the inside of an organization at that age? Introducing young people to what the manufacturing environment looks like, how it feels to be in the building and meeting the people that work there would be very effective. If local businesses could be attached to school programs, and have classes come and physically walk around the business — it could be enough to spark a light.

Educational programs at the school level, hands-on learning experiences and opportunities, and fostering inclusive and supportive environments would encourage young women into the industry. A lot of impressionable young women worry that the industry is too male dominated and that can feel quite intimidating. Seeing real women who actually work in the industry and talking with them about day-to-day life would put a lot of young women at ease.

30% of office and 25% of production are female, we are a super supportive bunch! We want the absolute best for each other, it’s a magical environment. We would love to show our next female generation just how supportive we can be.

How do you think the portrayal of women in STEM fields by media and educational materials impacts girls’ interest in engineering and robotics?

Social media can impact girls’ interests, but I don’t think there is enough positive content to be found on the platforms, or that it’s real enough. It’s still very much at a high overview perspective, and it needs to be broken down into much more real-life examples for young people to be able to digest and absorb. Our marketing video has many women in production, and it does a great job in showing the reality of the industry. We need more displays of females in their normal place of work.

What advice would you give to girls who are interested in engineering and robotics but are hesitant to take the first step?

The path has been carved now, and, as females, we should be stepping onto it. The more that we do, the wider the path will become and the smoother the journey. We are always building our way for the future of females, so we’re not only responsible for ourselves, but we’re also responsible for whoever is coming next. We don’t have to be masculine anymore. We can make a real difference in engineering, and that is very, very satisfying. It’s a role where you can look back and say, I made a change. That could be a change in technology or an office environment for other females. Feminism has evolved; it is about heart, soul and humility. Bringing your diversity to an engineering environment where you are involved in the change for the future is a nourishing and rewarding place to be.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

“Women in Clean Tech” is the movement I’d inspire!

Women Engineering a Sustainable Future. It combines two crucial elements: increasing diversity in engineering and addressing environmental challenges. This movement would promote mentorship programs, collaborative eco-tech projects, and sustainability-focused innovations.

By encouraging more women to enter engineering fields, we can tap into a wealth of undiscovered potential. This diversity brings fresh ideas and approaches to problem-solving, which is crucial when tackling complex issues like climate change and resource scarcity. Utilizing individual talents to strengthen a group, recognizing and leveraging the unique skills and perspectives that each member brings to the table.

I recently implemented a recyclables project, led by a female on my team is a small example of this potential. Imagine this amplified globally — women engineers spearheading a more sustainable world. By merging gender diversity with environmental action, we can create positive change that benefits everyone and creates a powerful synergy.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.

Data Center

Educational Article

How AI is Revolutionizing the Data Center Industry

Article by Gordon Johnson, Subzero Senior CFD Manager

The data center industry is, and will continue to be, in high demand for storage and process capabilities while at the same time facing increasing pressure to be more efficient, more secure and more scalable. This is where we see AI, the technology rapidly reshaping how we use our data, assisting us in our quest to be smarter, yet greener than ever.

While some say (perhaps correctly) that right now in 2024, AI is not as widespread as many would have us believe – AI is estimated to be in only 5% of data centers – the reality is that 20% of data centers are expected to have some kind of AI as early as 2026. The AI market is projected to reach US $407bn by 2027.

There is also much speculation on how to scale AI applications, so we’re seeing some data centers increasing their infrastructure to support future AI applications. In addition, some completed, or near-completed, designs are being revisited to support projected AI demand.

Operational Efficiency

AI’s predictive capabilities extend beyond maintenance to capacity planning, helping data centers anticipate and prepare for future demands, enabling efficient planning and scaling of operations to meet growing demand.

By providing insights into usage trends and capacity needs, AI assists in infrastructure management, planning upgrades and expansions, and ensuring data centers remain ahead of the curve.

AI helps improve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by analyzing patterns and making real-time adjustments to power usage. This leads to more sustainable operations and reduces operational costs. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software capitalizes on this analysis, enabling the validation of a design or restructure to ensure you don’t have to deal with a worst-case scenario.

Energy Management

AI applications are escalating power consumption at the time we need to become greener and more sustainable. AI has the potential to be used to assist in operating data centers in a smarter and more energy-conscious way and, if designed and deployed correctly, could help us in our goal of a net zero data center.

AI-powered systems can dynamically adjust temperatures and airflow based on real-time data, optimizing cooling processes and significantly reducing energy consumption. Facilities that are specifically designed to run AI applications will be cooled predominantly with liquid cooling going forward. This trend will also impact COLOs since they’ll need to offer HPC and AI capabilities to stay competitive.

Data center designers and managers are doing their best to separate high and regular-density equipment within the whitespace to drive future efficiency. Rack densities, chips, servers, power consumption and heat levels are expected to increase with the demand that AI requirements place on them.

Cooling

It’s safe to say that because of AI, the future of IT cooling and thermal management is likely to be a hybrid solution comprising both air and liquid cooling technologies.

While we can expect rack densities to continue to increase, not everyone plans to deploy AI and ML (Machine Learning). Data center workloads show that air will still be useful for cooling ITE, it’s typically going to be HPC servers where it will continue to get more difficult if not impossible to cool with air alone. It’s also important to emphasize that not all ITE will be at the high end of the heat scale in the foreseeable future, meaning we’ll still be cooling the majority of ITE with air. Moving forward, we’ll need to find the balance in terms of efficiency, cost, and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) when it comes to cooling options. Hybrid Cooling Infrastructure (air and liquid) is what we’ll be seeing more and more of moving forward.

The form of liquid cooling that is widely used is Direct-to-Chip (DTC)/Cold Plate liquid cooling. This technology uses a cooling fluid circulated through server CPUs and GPUs to absorb and dissipate heat. It is an effective way to cool AI ITE. DTC liquid cooling improves energy efficiency compared to traditional air cooling when deployed with high-density racks and can also reduce power utilization and overall water usage.

One important thing to consider is that DTC cooling only removes up to 70-75% of the heat generated by the ITE rack, leaving 25-30% that still needs to be removed by traditional air-cooling systems. Right now, the industry appears to be adopting DTC quicker than other forms of liquid cooling. This may or may not change, but once again this shows that air-cooling in our data centers is still needed and is not going away. We can expect to see its infrastructure continue to grow and be around for years to come.

Conclusion

AI is profoundly impacting the data center industry in several ways, modifying how data centers are designed, managed and operated. AI brings unprecedented levels of efficiency, security and scalability and, by using this technology, data centers can meet today’s growing demands while reducing costs and environmental impact. As AI technology continues to advance, its transformative effects on data centers will herald a new era of smart, sustainable, and resilient digital infrastructure.

AI is not just a tool for incremental improvements; it addresses the challenges faced by the data industry to reduce its carbon footprint, improve sustainability and bring us closer to net zero. As data volumes continue to climb, the integration of AI will become even more critical for the data center industry.

Company

Educational Article

Harnessing the Power of Operational Scalability

Article by Shane Kilfoil, Subzero Engineering President

In today’s fast-paced business environment, scalability is not just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. Entrepreneurs often get trapped in the daily grind of running their businesses, neglecting to put in place the systems, procedures, and people needed for sustainable growth. Without this foundation, companies hit bottlenecks, suffer inefficiencies, and face the risk of stalling or failing.

To be able to adapt and expand operations as your business grows is not just about adding employees or customers. Sure, that’s the main target, but what about the processes, systems or infrastructure to successfully and sustainably manage your customer needs?

Operational scalability cuts across all aspects of the business. It’s too easy to just focus on the production line if you’re a manufacturer. Sales and financial operations, through to supply chain operations also need to be considered and scaled up to meet the customer’s needs in a timely fashion. It’s vital to ensure that as the business evolves and grows, it doesn’t compromise on quality or efficiency across any aspect of the operation.

The investment of time and energy resources

The term operational scalability is personal to your business, the growth and evolution of it and where you see yourself being in X number of years.

For profitable growth, investing time and effort into your processes, your systems and the people that drive those processes are vitally important. If you haven’t set the groundwork, then when growth opportunities come along you might end up finding that the company is scrambling. This is not sustainable. I often use the analogy of comparing ourselves to a restaurant. You know how many meals you can make and on occasion you have a rush. You may be able to hire one or two extra people temporarily because you know that during this occasional rush period, you can meet the excess demand. That’s great for the short term, but as a company in a high-growth environment, you would need to be able to support that rush every day, every week, every month. And that becomes very hard to do. Most people can do a heavy lift for perhaps a week but then employees start getting tired. People start getting sick.

The organization needs to be set up to cater for those demand spikes, and then scale up and move to where the demand is coming from. A good foundation allows you to either quickly scale or absorb spikes without too much issue and sustainably maintain that through the course of your business.

Scaling up

We recently moved Simplex from a California-based manufacturing operation to our new Salt Lake City facility. It wasn’t that the California operation was operating poorly, in fact, they were a pretty efficient operation. But as we looked at its ability to scale, we realized we had some physical constraints in that the building was not large enough or set up as we needed. We also recognized that many of the commodities used are very similar between Simplex and Subzero, so we decided to move both businesses under a single 155,000 square foot facility giving the Simplex operation, which beforehand was restricted to a 40,000 square feet facility, room to grow.

Relocating allowed us to bring both businesses under a single roof. It gave us the option to scale the business significantly and allowed our engineering teams to manage a single supply chain. As an organization, we had to bring one business culture into another and help people adjust not just to the commercial side in terms of how they go to market with their customers, but also to what the culture was in Salt Lake City. Ultimately it was the right decision because it gave us the ability to scale our business and workforce during times of high demand. As an added advantage, there’s also been a cross-pollination of knowledge sharing and we now have a more cross-trained workforce. Should we ever get hit by another pandemic, this will allow us to continue our manufacturing capability without being heavily impacted.

Scalability or sustainability

Interpreting scalability can be difficult for many organizations. Maybe some businesses have got the term ‘operational scalability’ wrong because they haven’t been quite as sustainable in their business growth. For some, operational stability is about having a robust network so if there’s a supply shortage they can pull from another solution. For others, it’s more about how I grow. For me, operational sustainability is sustained, consistent growth. If I can scale it, can I maintain the same level of service and quality that my customer expects during that growth cycle? If I can’t, I’m probably not operationally robust enough. It’s a constant learning curve to consistently improve, and as you improve, you need to keep yourself nimble enough to meet demand or even a change in direction if there is demand for a new product. The organization needs to be set up both on the front end and the back end to support changes in demand capacity or changes in the customer’s direction.

Change management

It’s not just about the customer. It’s also about your employees. How do we keep the team motivated during these periods of scalability?

Trying to rally everyone around a common goal seems simple, but not everyone listens and learns the same way. Communication is key because once people understand, they’re often able to take it on board and help drive towards it. Effective communication and clear goal setting in driving operational scalability is essential for company-wide change. Understanding the purpose of tasks is essential for motivation and performance, and the successful implementation of new systems and processes relies heavily on the acceptance and adaptation of team members. Not everyone is comfortable with growth and change, however, self-managed, self-motivated and adaptable leaders who can handle change can be empowered with the responsibility to contribute to the organization’s growth.

Industry shifts

Covid accelerated the industry’s growth, emphasizing the importance of supply chain management and the ability to respond to changing demands quickly. At Subzero, we shifted towards greater flexibility in serving customers and the potential for addressing more esoteric requests due to increased capacity.

Operational sustainability and scalability are vital for growth and profits, and investing time, effort, and resources into processes, systems, and people is essential. But all the time you’re investing in these, a close eye needs to be kept on technology changes and clients’ demands. We’re currently looking at the role of AI in the data center industry and the challenges of integrating AI into systems while maintaining our sustainability goals. We need to plan for future infrastructure to support AI and other emerging technologies.

Our industry’s shift towards liquid cooling highlights challenges in terms of cost and scalability. I predict a hybrid solution will emerge, with traditional cooling methods used alongside liquid cooling, and we need to be sure that Subzero’s products will be scalable and adaptable to future requirements. Our ongoing journey towards becoming a total solutions provider focuses on sustainability and meeting customer needs, as well as the impact of rising interest rates on customers’ spending capabilities.

Company

Team

International Women’s Day 2024

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, we applaud some of the women within Senneca and Subzero Engineering who buck the trend of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

Across the tech or manufacturing industry, many women hold the same roles as men but are never valued equally. The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. Today, we take action to drive gender parity by extolling our female engineers and operational personnel who create so much value across Senneca Holdings.

With that being said, let us meet some of the inspirational women on our team, and learn a little more about them and their role – in their own words.

Alexa McFarlane
Buyer in the Supply Chain for Subzero Engineering

This is the first organization I’ve been with where I don’t feel that being a woman is a conscious issue.

This is the first organization I’ve been with where I don’t feel that being a woman is a conscious issue. It has its moments, but I think the tech industry, in general, feels more data and performance-driven. There’s trust in the data and the systems that we use. And when our numbers are good, it doesn’t matter who you are.

I’m consistently impressed by how many women we have on the manufacturing floor in our offices. I feel like we add an element of humanity where we don’t judge each other if we’ve had a bad day and support each other in those rough moments. And when you have a great day, it’s fantastic to have people to celebrate with. We recognize that everybody makes mistakes. It’s nice not constantly feeling on the spot or that you can’t afford to have one of those days. Just having that breathing space allows all of us here to grow and be ourselves, personally and professionally. We’ve all achieved things most of us wouldn’t have expected by being allowed that breathing room.

What advice would I give to someone wanting to come into manufacturing? First off, don’t be scared. Don’t be afraid to get dirty. But the biggest thing is learn to toot your own horn. It’s not something that comes particularly naturally. You discover very quickly that there often isn’t anybody to do it for you. Bragging about yourself is okay.

Cathy Knutson
Office Manager & Site Services Install Team Coordinator

Women’s backgrounds, their life experiences and the multifaceted jobs they have often mean they need to be very detail-oriented. I didn’t think I was a good project manager until I told my manager that in the space of two weeks, I had moved my kids into a new apartment, got everybody enrolled in school, and got myself a new job, he asked me how I got all of that done in two weeks and why I wasn’t a project manager? I had never thought of that. It’s just something that we do, and we don’t apply it to the business sector, which we should do.

I feel my role needs to be very positive. It’s about encouraging people to know they already have the solution and know what to do. You have to go out of your comfort zone and you’re going to have to problem-solve in areas that you didn’t think was your job. I’m able to see where teams can benefit from working together or see what’s going on and say, I’ve been able to do this in the past, how can I help you with that? Invariably there’s always something to do to help, a natural skill for women because of the different viewpoints we see things from.

Seeing men and women on the production floor, it’s good to see them standing next to each other, working and problem-solving together. To me, that’s really exciting.

Chelsea Traver
Vice President of Finance at Senneca Holdings

One of the key ways to empower is to give people the ability to make decisions.

I’ve been in manufacturing for a while, but it’s a very male-dominated profession. However, I like being able to hold my own, being viewed as a trusted advisor, influencing things or being sought out for how to improve processes.

The biggest strength I bring to my role is my ability to build partnerships with any area of the business, whether it be sales, marketing, operations or direct labor. I don’t speak financially even though I’m in finance. I look to find common ground in which to move forward.

As you grow as a leader, you become less task-based and more development-based. It doesn’t matter whether you are a male or female of any race if they have the drive to grow, as a leader, you have the responsibility to help them get there. As a leader, your job is to empower people and give them the opportunities to step out and take a leap, while being there to catch them if they fall or praise them if they do well.

One of the key ways to empower is to give people the ability to make decisions. Diversity leads to better innovation because you get different ideas. Not everybody has the same upbringing. It’s where they came from in life and what they bring to the conversation. Sometimes if you only surround yourself with like-minded people, you can become set in the ways that you do things.

Gloria Huegel
Vice President of Human Resources at Senneca and Subzero Engineering

Organizations need to reinforce women in the workplace and recognize those who have excelled in technology, overcoming that traditional glass ceiling or barriers to entry.

I see my role in human resources as identifying and supporting women and people from underrepresented groups. We miss out as an organization when we don’t identify and leverage that talent, it’s extremely important for our success and our differentiation in the market to have those multiple voices.

Mentorships helped me get through different levels and different industries, and I found it very important to build those relationships and trust early on in my career. Now that I have acceded to a leadership level, I see it as my role to look out for other females who may not have had the same opportunities that I did.

Organizations need to reinforce women in the workplace and recognize those who have excelled in technology, overcoming that traditional glass ceiling or barriers to entry. Women who may have had to work a little harder to get into that space is a commendable achievement. And we need to recognize that.

With women primarily being the caretakers not only of children, but of aging parents, neighbors, and patrons within the church, they need lots of different communication styles. I think women adapt to their audience very well and wear multiple hats. They change their style according to what the situation demands.

At both Senneca and Subzero, we prioritize an environment of respect for all perspectives. We miss out if we censor or shut down different voices and different opinions. Diversity keeps us all growing and progressing, and that will differentiate us for success.

Jane Neil
Supply Chain Manager at Subzero Engineering

Women in management positions and leadership positions speak volumes to the younger females.

I have an extensive background in tech, starting as an electrical engineer in the British Royal Navy. I’ve also worked in oil and gas, electronics and construction. In my younger days, I would feel that you had to give 150% to stand still, but back then, the opportunities weren’t as available as they are now.

I have seen a lot of changes over the years and have encountered some challenges. But I think that if you turn back time, I wouldn’t want to take away any of those challenges. I think they’ve made me the character that I’m to be.

A lot of women don’t believe they’ll have the same opportunities as men. But I think having women’s voices on social media helps. I’ve also worked in places where we have a women in technology mentorship program where the senior leaders that are females are paired up with the younger females that want to advance and coach them. Women in those management positions and leadership positions speak volumes to the younger females.

I feel very determined to support the women here. I make extra effort to make sure they know that I’m around and that I’m here to support them, spending time with them one-on-one and letting them trust that there’s a path there for them. Sometimes we just need to have someone believe in us.

Women bring diversity and different approaches. Sometimes females can bring a softness to harder environments. Whenever there’s diversity, there’s innovation and growth. Everyone has their unique journeys in life and their unique backgrounds and cultures, which makes them look at things from a bunch of different angles. It’s proven that the more diversity in companies, the better their innovation. Everyone brings something different.

Liz Carranza
Production Planner at Subzero Engineering

The more people you have with different backgrounds and the different approaches that you have, the more well-rounded you become.

Communication as a production planner is imperative. You can’t get anything done if you’re not constantly talking to the production manager or the engineers. I have to keep tabs on what’s coming or going.

For companies looking to attract or empower more women, they would need to look at what Senneca is doing with regard to its Diversity and Inclusion Committee. It’s progressive with people from all backgrounds, ethnicities and genders highlighting our differences and how it makes the business great.

Diversity is really important in a company because it allows companies to be more empathetic. The more people you have with different backgrounds and the different approaches that you have, the more well-rounded you become.

Makenna Deamer
Sales Application Engineer at Subzero Engineering

When you are surrounded by people who know and trust you as a good engineer, being a female engineer is no different than being a male one.

I’ve always been into engineering. My dad’s an engineer and he’s always encouraged me to kind of look into things and how and why they work. I’ve worked in various industries with different jobs, however, this is the first job that I’ve had where I actually have an engineering title.

As a female engineer, you tend to run into a lot of biases. It’s unfortunate and something that we can work to change. But the only way that we’re ever going to be able to change is by creating better environments in which those biases don’t exist.

There’s a lot of distrust but once you’ve earned that trust, it’s no longer a roadblock to breaking into a position. If you can get past the initial double-checking of your work or questioning your decisions, and get to a point where you are surrounded by people who know and trust you as a good engineer, being a female engineer is no different than being a male one.

One of the challenges as a woman in engineering is coming across as assertive, but not so much that it’s seen as emotional. One of the best ways that you can do this is by developing a good rapport with your team and encouraging a positive environment for women with the technology. This starts from the top down.

Collaborative environments that allow women to speak their piece within informal settings where it’s less likely to come across incorrectly, or teambuilding activities that help encourage women to find their voice and to encourage positive communication all help to contribute to a positive environment.

Getting women, especially young girls, interested in science, technology, engineering and math is critical. One of the best things about tech is that you can start children early getting into STEM and getting them comfortable with computers and science and asking those questions. This can make a huge difference in how comfortable they are within the environment. It can help counteract other biases that can happen as the more comfortable you are, the more you’re likely to stay within the field, even as challenges arise.

Yvette “Shorty” Garcia
Lead on Manufacturing Line at Subzero Engineering

We get more women into the industry by asking their opinions. Women are going to see that. They’re going to read this.

I’m the only lead woman out of six men. I can be more humble than the guys. I pay attention to my workers, I care about their opinions and what we’re doing. I take their advice and they always give me feedback. I like having women on my line because they can be more detail-oriented. I love working with women because they’re easy to train. Women want to be challenged and to learn and build.

We get more women into the industry by asking their opinions. Women are going to see that. They’re going to read this. They’re going to see somebody working in manufacturing or tech and that gives other young women the incentive to do the same.

Forging equality

When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.

And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

#InspireInclusion

Company

Press Release

Subzero Engineering Relocates Headquarters to New State-of-the-Art Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah

Subzero Engineering, the global leader in turnkey engineering solutions for data centers, industrial cleanrooms and mission-critical environments, is delighted to announce a new 155,000-square-foot facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The extensive premises enables the company to expand its capabilities while enabling the company to relocate its Simplex manufacturing facility into the same premises.

The new headquarters is set to transform the industry with its cutting-edge amenities. The new facility comprises 95,000 square feet of dedicated manufacturing space, 25,000 square feet for shipping, receiving and storage, and an additional 35,000 square feet of office space.

This strategic move, coupled with recent expansions in the sales, engineering, manufacturing, and installation teams, positions Subzero Engineering for remarkable growth in the coming years.

The new facility, located at 805 South 3600 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, represents a significant milestone for the company and the industry as a whole. This new facility will provide the space needed to support the combined teams of Subzero Engineering and Simplex Modular Cleanrooms, one of the most prominent names in modular cleanrooms, softwall curtains, strip doors, separation and process isolation, and their growing customer base. It will also encourage and develop the collaboration and teamwork of both teams to assist customers with custom projects, product enhancements, and new products while delivering support for all cleanroom and separation needs.

With an entire area dedicated to research and development, the company will be in a pivotal position to progress innovation, design and productivity. This is expected to become a prominent resource, establishing the company as a key partner in the evolution of the industry.

Take a Video Tour OF THE FACILITY

Notable highlights of the relocation include:

Expansive Product Demo Room
The product demo room showcases the full range of the organization’s data center and cleanroom products, allowing customers to comprehensively explore their options. The new product demonstration room is a testament to the company’s commitment to showcasing its cutting-edge offerings.
Cross-Product Knowledge Sharing
The new facility fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing between the data center and cleanroom product lines.
Research and Development
The dedicated Research and Development area will be the company’s epicenter of innovation, driving the development of cutting-edge solutions.
Enhanced Inventory and Materials Storage
The larger space allows for expanded inventory stock and improved materials storage capabilities, ensuring timely deliveries and better service.
Improved Customer Support
With the additional personnel and facilities, Subzero Engineering is committed to providing even better customer support and assistance.
Central Shipping Hub
Salt Lake City’s strategic location as a central shipping hub will expedite shipping and receiving processes, benefiting customers nationwide.

Shane Kilfoil, President of Mission Critical Environments, covering both Subzero Engineering and Simplex product lines said: “We’ve gone from starting in a garage, to now having a 155,000 square foot facility and seven different production lines. We’ve also tripled our workforce to help keep up with demand over the past 18 months. We foresee that continuing — but we also recognize that not everything can be done just with people. So, we’re making active investments in machinery and automation that will help us to further keep up with demand and take the strain off our employees to allow them to focus on other more value-added offerings and solutions that we can give to the customers and end users.”

Schedule an in-Person tour of the facility

Data Center

Video

Data Center Sustainability and CFDs

Video Overview

In the first episode of “The Data Center Expert Series”, we’re joined by Gordon Johnson, Senior CFD Manager. Gordon talks us through his career and role at Subzero Engineering, before sharing insights into his latest white paper, titled The Future of Containment – Has Air Cooling Reached Its Limits? which looks into the cooling options available to cope with today’s rising demands on data centers.

Further highlights include:

Subzero Engineering’s company history and its key differentiators
Data center containment’s role in sustainability and cost savings
Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD), and why is it vital to help operators drive data center performance and efficiency
Insight from 15 years in the data center industry and the challenges facing the sector

Download the Whitepaper

Cleanrooms

Video

Simplex Cleanrooms Overview

Video Overview

In this latest installment of “The Cleanroom Expert Series”, we’re joined by Jerry Cross, Simplex Cleanroom Regional Sales Manager at Subzero Engineering. Jerry talks us through why Simplex cleanrooms by Subzero Engineering is the right choice for its customers and how, with a 40-year industry heritage, customers directly benefit from its industry knowledge and experience.

Other key discussion points and takeaways from this episode include:

Simplex product line history
Custom cleanroom solutions
The advantages of a modular cleanroom solution

Learn more about Simplex Cleanrooms by Subzero Engineering

Company

Video

Video Tour of Subzero Engineering’s Massive Industry-Leading Facility

Video Overview

Welcome to Subzero Engineering’s groundbreaking facility in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah—an impressive 155,000 square-foot powerhouse of progress that’s set to redefine the industry. Join us on a journey through our state-of-the-art facility, where innovation meets immersion in our expansive product demo room showcasing cutting-edge data center and cleanroom solutions. Focused on collaboration, our cross-product knowledge-sharing approach brings together teams for comprehensive support on custom projects and new innovations. With a dedicated research and development area, we’re pushing the boundaries of engineering solutions. Our enhanced inventory and materials storage, coupled with a larger workforce, ensure efficient operations and improved customer support. Positioned strategically in Salt Lake City, a central shipping hub expedites deliveries nationwide. Hear from Shane Kilfoil, our President, as he reflects on our journey from a garage startup to this impressive facility, underscoring our commitment to value-added solutions. Join us in pioneering the future of turn-key engineering solutions for critical environments. Visit our website and schedule a tour to witness the Subzero Engineering difference firsthand.

Further highlights include:

Tour our expansive product demo room featuring our complete Data Center and Cleanroom product line
Learn how cross-product knowledge sharing contributes to the turn key solutions we provide for critical environments
Learn about the value of our dedicated Research and Development area
See our robust material and inventory storage capabilities
Gain confidence in our improved customer support department, ensuring your needs are met promptly and efficiently
Details about our centralized shipping hub which guarantees faster delivery times and smoother logistics

Read the Press Release

How does Simplex Cleanrooms Benefit from the New Facility?

Data Center

Team

Deep Dive: Gordon Johnson, Senior CFD Manager, Subzero Engineering

Interview with Gordon Johnson for www.intelligentdatacentres.com

Data Center Industry Interview

What would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the data center industry?

It’s hard to settle on just one memorable event, but I fondly recall working on a project for a large data center customer that was still in the design phase. My modeling showed that with some simple design changes, the customer could increase supply temperatures and lower airflow, resulting in an annual savings of approximately US$400,000. The customer made the recommended changes from the modeling and about two years later after the facility was up and operating, I received a call, claiming my energy savings and annual operating costs were on the conservative side.

They estimated they had saved closer to US$500,000 in operating costs in just one year and had simultaneously made a major impact in reducing their CO2 footprint. This is not a one-time event either. I’ve been in the industry for over 30 years, and I can honestly say that anytime I can help data center operators and managers understand and save on their TCO by operating their data center as efficiently as possible is always a memorable moment for me.

What first made you think of a career in technology/data centers?

I started doing Disaster Recovery work in data centers, but soon found my passion was in the design and operating of energy efficiency data centers. This led me to reach out and obtain various certifications to help with the goal of helping our industry become as sustainable and green as possible.

What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?

I believe that a successful manager needs to possess effective communication and listening skills, and I try to apply these skills whether I’m managing or being managed. In addition, I strongly believe in the importance of showing respect to others, which includes valuing others’ beliefs, contributions and ideas. I’ve seen firsthand that this results in increased productivity, improved employee and team morale, and helps reduce turnover. Well respected employees are happier, more productive and tend to work harder with a greater sense of pride in their work. You can never go wrong when it comes to listening, communicating and showing respect to others.

What do you think is the current hot talking point within the data center space?

One hot topic is AI (Artificial Intelligence), and that some form of liquid cooling will be needed to cool our next generation data centers. While AI requires significant computing power, the reality is that it currently represents a small fraction of ITE’s global energy consumption, although that’s expected to change and increase in the next five years. Therefore, to offset the environmental impact of AI, greater control over data center energy consumption will increasingly become a top priority. We’re also going to want to look at our data center designs and especially our cooling from a holistic approach as opposed to the current one size fits all perspective.

How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office?

Volunteer work has always been an important part of my life, and I find any opportunity to work with and help others to be one of the greatest stress relievers available. I also believe that exercise on a regular basis is a big stress reliever, so I try to stay as active as possible during down time. I love to play tennis, run a few local 5K events each year, and nothing helps me unwind more than daily long walks with my dog.

What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry?

We’re going to need to get serious and give more attention to sustainability in our industry. This includes avoiding the ‘rip and replace’ mentality where we’re constantly replacing our cooling and ITE every few years. Smart investing and positive sustainability practices include properly specifying our hardware and cooling to last at least 10 years. In addition, if we’re planning on moving towards some form of liquid cooling during that time period, we’ll want to focus on what type of technology works best for our business case, both now and in the future.

What are the region-specific challenges you encounter in your role?

Since our industry is constantly looking towards reducing energy usage, which includes free cooling and the use of renewable power, one region-specific challenge I encounter is where to build new data centers. While many factors are involved in this decision including the availability of land, power and water, the challenge exists to find and maximize the use of colder climates for new buildings. These colder climates are naturally favorable since they reduce or sometimes even eliminate the reliance on conventional cooling systems which are energy intensive. With cooler climates we may be able to just run naturally available cold air or chilled water in the data center to reduce temperatures at the ITE, saving significantly on capital costs and reduce operational expenses.

What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the coming months?

Data centers are increasingly adopting greener practices to be more sustainable and energy efficient, and now we’re starting to see more products inside the white space being made from greener and more environmentally friendly materials. One of my roles recently has been to research and determine the GWP (Global Warming Potential) benefits of using recyclable and composite materials for both cold and hot aisle containment products. Besides further lowering the GWP and carbon footprint in the white space, these products will assist data centers to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification which proves they have reduced environmental impact, comply with regulations and are operating with enhanced efficiency.

Read the interview at Intelligent Data Centers website

Cleanrooms

Video

From Concept to Completion: The Five Phases of Cleanroom Excellence

Your Guide to Critical Environment Protection

Do you have a critical environment that demands protection through a cleanroom solution, but don’t know where to begin? Subzero Engineering has developed an educational whitepaper that walks you through the entire process of designing and building a Simplex modular cleanroom.

Unraveling the Cleanroom Construction Process

Our comprehensive whitepaper breaks down the complex journey into five manageable phases, giving you clarity and confidence at every step:

“From the initial consultation and solution concepting to manufacturing and final installation, we’re right there with you every step of the way. Subzero Engineering is committed to delivering the highest quality solutions, installation and service.”

The Five Phases of Cleanroom Construction

1. Consulting Phase

Our engineers collaborate with you to identify and understand your critical environment’s unique needs, work processes, and goals. This initial consultation sets the foundation for everything that follows.

2. Design and Layout Phase

Our experienced engineers create detailed design drawings of your cleanroom, focusing not just on a sterile environment but on a space that integrates seamlessly with your equipment and unique workflow requirements.

3. Client Review, Modification, and Approval Phase

You’ll review the plans, provide feedback, and ultimately approve the design. We believe collaboration is fundamental to ensuring our custom modular cleanrooms perfectly address your specific needs.

4. Manufacturing Phase

At our state-of-the-art 155,000 square foot facility, our skilled team meticulously builds every customized component of your cleanroom solution to exacting standards.

5. Installation Phase

You have options: our skilled site services team can manage all aspects of installation, or you can take charge. This is where your cleanroom becomes fully operational and equipped to meet your specific requirements.

Why Choose Subzero Engineering for Your Cleanroom Needs

Custom Solutions: Tailored to your unique critical environment requirements
Expert Guidance: Support at every step from consultation to installation
State-of-the-Art Manufacturing: Built in our 155,000 square foot facility
Flexible Installation Options: Choose our installation team or manage it yourself
Collaborative Approach: Your input shapes the final product

Ready to Protect Your Critical Environment?

Whether you’re a seasoned industry professional or just exploring your options, our educational whitepaper offers valuable insights into the intricacies of each phase of cleanroom construction.

Take the Next Step

Download the whitepaper today!

Cleanrooms

Educational ArticleVideo

The Five-Phase Guide to Designing Perfect Cleanrooms

Simplifying Cleanroom Design and Implementation

Designing and building a top-notch cleanroom doesn’t have to be complicated. Subzero Engineering has distilled the entire process into five straightforward yet crucial phases in our latest whitepaper.

Your All-Access Guide to Cleanroom Excellence

Our educational whitepaper breaks down the complex world of cleanroom engineering into accessible knowledge that helps you:

Understand the complete cleanroom development process
Identify the critical requirements for your specific needs
Navigate the journey from concept to completion
Ensure quality at every step of implementation

“Subzero Engineering is committed to the highest quality of product, installation and service to all of our customers. Throughout the five-phase start-to-finish process, we continuously consult with you to ensure that your cleanroom is precisely engineered to your specific needs and requirements.”

The Five-Phase Approach to Cleanroom Success

Our whitepaper details each phase of creating the perfect cleanroom environment:

Assessment & Planning: Determining your specific requirements and constraints
Design & Engineering: Creating the optimal solution for your unique needs
Manufacturing & Quality Control: Building components to exacting standards
Installation & Integration: Expert implementation with minimal disruption
Testing & Verification: Ensuring all specifications are met or exceeded

Modular Solutions for Critical Environments

Learn how our modular approach delivers advantages that traditional construction simply can’t match:

Faster implementation timeline
Superior quality control
Enhanced flexibility for future modifications
Consistent performance across installations
Reduced on-site disruption during construction

Building a Partnership You Can Trust

This whitepaper represents the first step in demonstrating our commitment to your success. At Subzero Engineering, we believe in building partnerships based on trust, transparency, and continuous consultation.

Download The Educational Whitepaper Today

Take the first step toward your perfectly engineered cleanroom solution.

Download the Whitepaper!

Data Center

Video

Unlocking Data Center Sustainability: Financial Gains Meet Environmental Responsibility

The Hidden Environmental Impact of Data Centers

In our digital-first world, data centers have become critical infrastructure—but at what cost to our environment?

Data centers account for nearly 2% of global energy consumption
Modern facilities offer untapped potential for significant sustainability improvements
Businesses face increasing pressure to meet environmental compliance standards

“Did you know data centers account for nearly 2% of global energy consumption in our industry? We have an opportunity to align financial gains with environmental responsibility.”

Actionable Sustainability Strategies

Our comprehensive whitepaper reveals how your data center—especially if built in the last five years—can become a powerful leverage point for sustainability initiatives that benefit both the planet and your bottom line.

What You’ll Learn:

Practical steps to reduce your data center’s carbon footprint
How to unlock substantial operational cost savings through green initiatives
Ways to align your facility with evolving environmental compliance requirements
Strategic approaches to green building standards for data centers
Methods for measuring and reporting your environmental impact

The Business Case for Green Data Centers

Going green isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for business. Our whitepaper demonstrates how sustainability initiatives create a powerful dual impact:

Reduced operational costs through energy efficiency
Enhanced brand reputation with environmentally conscious stakeholders
Improved compliance with evolving regulations
Future-proofing against rising energy costs
Competitive advantage in the marketplace

Revolutionize Your Approach to Sustainability

Your data center can play a critical role in building a sustainable digital future. Our whitepaper provides the insights and strategies you need to transform your facility into an environmental and financial asset.

Download the Whitepaper Today

Ready to seize the green opportunity? Get immediate access to our comprehensive guide on data center sustainability.

Read the whitepaper

Data Center

Video

Q&A About Data Center Liquid Cooling

Understanding Modern Cooling Solutions

The data center industry faces constant evolution in cooling technology. At Subzero Engineering, we recognize that no single cooling solution fits all scenarios. Our approach focuses on helping you implement the right cooling strategy for your specific business requirements.

Air vs. Liquid Cooling: It Depends

Different cooling methods serve different purposes:

Immersion Cooling:
Single and two-phase immersion systems are closed-loop, eliminating the need for containment
Direct-to-Chip Cooling:
Typically removes up to 75% of heat via liquid, but requires traditional air cooling for the remaining components
Traditional Air Cooling:
Remains essential for most business cases and standard-density equipment

“We always say, no one can predict the future, therefore good planning makes all the difference, and that’s what’s really going to set us up for long-term success. The choice really depends on each data center facility.”

Embracing a Holistic Approach

Future-proof your data center by avoiding the “one-size-fits-all” mentality.
Subzero Engineering helps you:

Evaluate the unique needs of your facility
Understand the trade-offs between cooling technologies
Plan for both high-density and standard-density equipment
Make decisions based on total cost of ownership (TCO)

The Hybrid Cooling Future

Industry experts agree that tomorrow’s data centers will feature a mix of cooling solutions:

Segregated zones for high-density and low-density equipment
Strategic implementation of both air and liquid cooling technologies
TCO-driven decision making
Continued importance of containment systems

The Role of Containment

Even as liquid cooling grows in popularity, containment remains essential:

Fundamental starting point for maximizing cooling capacity
Critical for energy efficiency improvements
Essential for supporting high-density deployments
Necessary component in hybrid cooling environments

Partner with Subzero Engineering

Let our experts help you navigate the cooling landscape with solutions tailored to your specific needs. We’ll help you implement the right mix of technologies to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and prepare for future growth.

Read our whitepaper: The Data Center Roadmap to Net Zero Carbon

Data Center

Video

Data Center Containment 101

The Power of Containment

Containment is the smallest action with the greatest outcome in data center management. By preventing cold supply air from mixing with hot exhaust air, Subzero Engineering’s containment solutions create immediate efficiency improvements across your entire facility.

Why Containment Matters:

Energy Efficiency:
Instead of consuming energy, containment saves it by allowing for higher supply temperatures
Operational Cost Reduction:
Lower fan speeds, higher chilled water temperatures, and fewer cooling units
Environmental Impact:
Significant carbon footprint reduction through optimized airflow management
High-Density Computing:
Essential for supporting HPC and high-density rack deployments

“Containment always makes the data center greener and always also makes it a more environmentally conscious place. If you’re not planning on containment in your data center, don’t even consider HPC or high density racks.”

Introducing the Essential Micro Data Center

As demand at the edge increases dramatically, Subzero Engineering’s Essential Micro Data Center provides the perfect solution for scalable edge deployments.

Essential Micro Data Center Advantages:

Customer-Defined: You define the solution instead of the provider
Complete Package: Includes everything needed except the IT stack and outside power
Energy Efficient: Features full containment to maximize efficiency and reduce costs
Quick Installation: Built on-site in days, not weeks
Flexible Infrastructure: Ground-supported or ceiling-hung options that support all your essential components
Vendor Independence: Choose your own power and cooling vendors

Who Benefits from Essential Micro Data Center:

Co-location companies and hyperscale data centers needing on-site edge solutions
Large-scale e-commerce operations without dedicated IT infrastructure
Companies wanting their own small on-site data center

Take Action Today

Experience the power of containment with Subzero Engineering. Contact our team to learn how our solutions can maximize your data center’s efficiency while reducing your environmental impact.

Learn more about the Micro Edge Data Center

Cleanrooms

Video

Questions and Answers about Cleanrooms

Creating Optimal Controlled Environments

Simplex Cleanrooms by Subzero Engineering provides the perfect contamination-controlled environment for your most sensitive processes. Whether you require positive or negative pressure systems, our expertly designed cleanrooms maintain the precise conditions needed for flawless manufacturing and research outcomes.

Understanding Cleanroom Technology

Our comprehensive video explains the essential components that make our cleanrooms exceptional:

HEPA Filtration Systems
High Efficiency Particulate Air filters trap particles from entering or exiting the cleanroom
Fan Filter Units (FFUs)
Supply clean, filtered air in a constant, unidirectional laminar flow
Pressure Control Systems
Maintain either positive pressure (preventing contaminants from entering) or negative pressure (preventing contaminants from escaping)
Access Control
Specialized entry systems including air showers and gowning rooms
Modular, Expandable Design
Flexible solutions that grow with your needs

The Subzero Engineering Advantage

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Validation

“CFD predicts air flow patterns and the clean room’s ability to remove airborne particles. In addition, CFD is a quick and non-disruptive way to validate your clean room design.”

Our exclusive CFD modeling process:

Creates a digital model of your cleanroom including dimensions, FFU locations, doors, and vents
Simulates airflow patterns throughout the entire space
Identifies potential turbulence or recirculation issues before construction
Verifies proper air changes per hour (ACPH) to meet specific ISO classifications
Allows for design optimization before installation begins

ISO Classification Expertise

We design and build cleanrooms to meet all ISO standards (classes 1-9), with particular expertise in:

ISO Class 5-6: Pharmaceutical, medical device manufacturing
ISO Class 7-8: Electronics, semiconductor production
Custom solutions for specialized applications

Industries We Serve

Semiconductor Manufacturing
Electronics Production
Aerospace Components
Automotive Systems
Medical Device Assembly
Pharmaceutical Processing
Research Laboratories

The Complete Solution

When you choose Subzero Engineering for your cleanroom needs, you receive:

Expert consultation and requirements analysis
Custom design with CFD validation
Professional installation and commissioning
Comprehensive documentation and training
Ongoing support and maintenance options

Download the ultimate guide to modern cleanroom design

Why Choose Subzero Engineering?

“It’s important to choose the right company to design and manufacture the clean room of choice, so that it’s robust, modular and expandable.”

With Subzero Engineering, you gain a partner with the expertise and experience to deliver your cleanroom project with complete satisfaction from initial design through final installation. Our Simplex Cleanrooms provide the controlled environment you need for consistent, contamination-free operations.

Ready to Create Your Ideal Cleanroom Environment?

Transform your manufacturing and research capabilities with a custom Simplex Cleanroom solution from Subzero Engineering.

Download the ultimate guide to modern cleanroom design

Data Center

Video

Optimize Your Data Center Performance with Computational Fluid Dynamics

Unlock the Power of CFD Technology

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is revolutionizing how data centers are planned, constructed, and maintained. Our comprehensive video explains how this powerful modeling tool can transform your facility’s efficiency and reduce operational costs.

What You’ll Learn

What is CFD?
Understand how computational fluid dynamics provides detailed analysis of airflow patterns in your data center
Identify Hot Spots Before They Become Problems
Discover how CFD modeling pinpoints potential overheating areas before they impact your equipment
Optimize Cooling Systems
Learn how to fine-tune your cooling infrastructure to match server heat loads precisely
Compare Containment Solutions
See the impact of different containment strategies (cold aisle vs. hot aisle) for your specific layout
Make Data-Driven Decisions
Find out how CFD helps managers make informed choices without the need to move or add equipment

Real Business Benefits

Reduce Energy Costs – Eliminate wasted cooling and optimize your resources
Lower Carbon Footprint – Support sustainability initiatives with measurable results
Extend Equipment Life – Prevent overheating that can damage expensive IT assets
Maximize Cooling Efficiency – Determine exactly how many CRACs can be turned off or how fan speeds can be reduced
Meet Industry Standards – Confidently follow ASHRAE thermal guidelines while raising supply air temperatures

Measurable Results You Can Expect

When you implement changes based on CFD analysis, you’ll receive detailed projections of:

Updated Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
Annual energy savings and total operating cost reduction
Kilowatt-hour and kW reduction metrics
Annual CO₂ emission reduction
ROI timeline for containment deployment

Why Choose Our CFD Services?

At Subzero Engineering, we recommend CFD services to give our customers a clear picture of how containment solutions will immediately impact energy costs and reduce carbon footprints. Our video explains the complete process and benefits in just over 3 minutes.

Ready to Optimize Your Data Center?

Request a CFD Assessment

Improve efficiency, reduce costs, and meet sustainability goals with data-driven CFD analysis.

Company

TeamVideo

Accelerate Your Career with Subzero Engineering

Damonte Johnson, Subzero LEAP Associate is interviewed

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

The LEAP (Leadership Excellence Acceleration Program) Associate Program at Subzero Engineering is designed for recent college graduates who are ready to fast-track their careers in the data center industry. Through our structured rotational program, LEAP Associates gain diverse experience across multiple departments while developing the cross-functional expertise needed to thrive in our dynamic environment.

Program Highlights

Four 6-Month Rotations across different departments including Supply Chain, Engineering, Process Improvement, and more
Personalized Mentorship from senior leaders outside your facility location
Collaborative Peer Network with other LEAP Associates across Senneca Holdings facilities
End-of-Rotation Presentations to showcase your accomplishments and growth
Clear Path to Leadership with opportunities for advancement upon program completion

Meet Our LEAP Associates

“I think the LEAP program is super unique… It’s nice to have peers within the organization that are in similar positions, currently going through changes in other rotations of their own.”

— Damonte Johnson, LEAP Associate

Damonte joined Subzero Engineering with a degree in Supply Chain Management and a minor in Cybersecurity. Through the LEAP program, he’s gaining valuable experience across multiple departments while building relationships with mentors and peers that will support his development throughout his career.

Why Join Our LEAP Program?

Cross-Functional Expertise

Develop a comprehensive understanding of our business through immersive rotations in multiple departments.

Mentorship & Growth

Receive guidance from experienced leaders who are invested in your success and professional development.

Forward-Thinking Culture

Experience our innovative workplace culture that embraces new ideas and technological advancement.

Career Acceleration

Build the skills and relationships needed to quickly advance into leadership roles within Subzero Engineering.

Program Requirements

Recent college graduate (within the last 12 months)
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, etc.)
Demonstrated leadership potential and analytical capabilities
Willingness to relocate to program locations as needed
Strong communication skills and collaborative mindset

Apply Today

Take the LEAP and accelerate your career with Subzero Engineering.

Learn About Careers at Senneca Companies

Current career opportunities

Subzero Engineering is proud to be part of Senneca Holdings, offering unique growth opportunities across multiple facilities and divisions.

Data Center

Product InsightVideo

Revolutionizing Data Center Infrastructure: Subzero Engineering Introduces Innovative Composite Aisle Frame

Shane Kilfoil, Subzero Engineering President, is interviewed at Data Center World London 2025

Sustainability Meets Performance in the Era of AI Computing

At Data Center World London 2025, Subzero Engineering unveiled our groundbreaking Composite Aisle Frame (CAF) system, a revolutionary solution designed to address the evolving challenges of modern data centers. This innovative system represents a significant leap forward in our mission to become the greenest containment provider in the industry.

Why We Developed the Composite Aisle Frame

For the past two years, our engineering team has been working diligently to develop an alternative to traditional steel aisle frames that could handle the increasingly demanding requirements of modern data centers, particularly with the rapid growth of AI workloads.

As our customers embrace more stringent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements, we recognized the need for a more sustainable infrastructure solution that doesn’t compromise on performance or reliability. The result is our Composite Aisle Frame system—an environmentally friendly alternative that maintains the structural integrity needed for today’s high-density computing environments.

Key Features of the Composite Aisle Frame System

Environmentally Superior

Significantly Lower Carbon Footprint: The CAF system features substantially lower CO₂ per kilogram content compared to traditional steel structures
Lightweight Design: Weighs only 50%+ of a comparable steel frame, further reducing the embodied carbon footprint
No Powder Coating Required: Unlike steel frames, our composite frames don’t require carbon-intensive finishing processes
Sustainable Materials: Composed of 80-85% glass with recycled resin components

Enhanced Performance for Modern Demands

High Load Capacity: Engineered to support the increasing weight requirements of modern AI infrastructure and liquid cooling solutions
Liquid Cooling Compatible: Designed with mounting points for liquid cooling infrastructure
Liquid Containment: Integrated features to contain potential fluid leaks
Corrosion Resistant: Naturally resistant to rust and degradation from liquid cooling leaks

Operational Efficiency

Rapid Installation: A full aisle frame can be assembled in 3-4 hours, compared to 1-1.5 days for traditional frames
Flat-Pack Shipping: Pre-assembled components ship in compact flat packs for efficient transportation
Reduced Transportation Impact: Lighter weight means less fuel consumption during shipping
Fewer Installation Resources: Lighter components require fewer personnel for installation

Meeting the Challenges of AI Computing

With the exponential growth of AI applications, data centers face unprecedented power density and cooling challenges. Our Composite Aisle Frame system was developed with these evolving requirements in mind.

“As we’ve been developing this, the weight loading that we put on these aisle frames has increased exponentially and will continue to do so,” notes our company president. “If the target is X today, we designed it for Y to anticipate future states.”

Commitment to Sustainability

While AI computing has dominated recent industry conversations, sustainability remains a core focus for data center operators. Our Composite Aisle Frame system represents the next step in our ongoing commitment to providing the most environmentally responsible containment solutions in the industry.

This innovation follows our previous sustainability initiatives, including the use of recycled aluminum and twin wall materials in our containment products. We’re also exploring additional eco-friendly materials that could further reduce our carbon footprint across our product line.

See the Innovation in Action

Watch our full interview from Data Center World London to learn more about our Composite Aisle Frame system and how Subzero Engineering continues to lead the industry in sustainable data center infrastructure solutions.

Learn More About the AisleFrame System Here

Jane Neil Of Subzero Engineering On How We Can Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics

Normalize Female Engineers: Using social media to showcase women in engineering can normalize the presence of women in these roles and make them more relatable to young girls.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering or robotics, and how can we replicate that inspiration for young girls?

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?

Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?

This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should enter the Engineering and Robotics fields?

Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics?”

In your opinion, what are the most effective ways to introduce girls to engineering and robotics at an early age?

How do you think the portrayal of women in STEM fields by media and educational materials impacts girls’ interest in engineering and robotics?

What advice would you give to girls who are interested in engineering and robotics but are hesitant to take the first step?

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

How AI is Revolutionizing the Data Center Industry

Operational Efficiency

Energy Management

Cooling

Conclusion

Harnessing the Power of Operational Scalability

The investment of time and energy resources

Scaling up

Scalability or sustainability

Change management

Industry shifts

International Women’s Day 2024

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, we applaud some of the women within Senneca and Subzero Engineering who buck the trend of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

Alexa McFarlaneBuyer in the Supply Chain for Subzero Engineering

Cathy KnutsonOffice Manager & Site Services Install Team Coordinator

Chelsea TraverVice President of Finance at Senneca Holdings

Gloria HuegelVice President of Human Resources at Senneca and Subzero Engineering

Jane NeilSupply Chain Manager at Subzero Engineering

Liz CarranzaProduction Planner at Subzero Engineering

Makenna DeamerSales Application Engineer at Subzero Engineering

Yvette “Shorty” GarciaLead on Manufacturing Line at Subzero Engineering

Forging equality

#InspireInclusion

Subzero Engineering Relocates Headquarters to New State-of-the-Art Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah

Notable highlights of the relocation include:

Data Center Sustainability and CFDs

Video Overview

Further highlights include:

Simplex Cleanrooms Overview

Video Overview

Other key discussion points and takeaways from this episode include:

Video Tour of Subzero Engineering’s Massive Industry-Leading Facility

Video Overview

Deep Dive: Gordon Johnson, Senior CFD Manager, Subzero Engineering

Data Center Industry Interview

What would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the data center industry?

What first made you think of a career in technology/data centers?

What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?

What do you think is the current hot talking point within the data center space?

How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office?

What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry?

What are the region-specific challenges you encounter in your role?

What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the coming months?

From Concept to Completion: The Five Phases of Cleanroom Excellence

Your Guide to Critical Environment Protection

Unraveling the Cleanroom Construction Process

The Five Phases of Cleanroom Construction

1. Consulting Phase

2. Design and Layout Phase

3. Client Review, Modification, and Approval Phase

4. Manufacturing Phase

5. Installation Phase

Why Choose Subzero Engineering for Your Cleanroom Needs

Ready to Protect Your Critical Environment?

Take the Next Step

The Five-Phase Guide to Designing Perfect Cleanrooms

Simplifying Cleanroom Design and Implementation

Your All-Access Guide to Cleanroom Excellence

The Five-Phase Approach to Cleanroom Success

Modular Solutions for Critical Environments

Building a Partnership You Can Trust

Download The Educational Whitepaper Today

Unlocking Data Center Sustainability: Financial Gains Meet Environmental Responsibility

The Hidden Environmental Impact of Data Centers

Actionable Sustainability Strategies

Alexa McFarlane
Buyer in the Supply Chain for Subzero Engineering

Cathy Knutson
Office Manager & Site Services Install Team Coordinator

Chelsea Traver
Vice President of Finance at Senneca Holdings

Gloria Huegel
Vice President of Human Resources at Senneca and Subzero Engineering

Jane Neil
Supply Chain Manager at Subzero Engineering

Liz Carranza
Production Planner at Subzero Engineering

Makenna Deamer
Sales Application Engineer at Subzero Engineering

Yvette “Shorty” Garcia
Lead on Manufacturing Line at Subzero Engineering