ChipsMarch 27, 2026via McKinsey Insights
The $7 trillion data center build-out: How industrials can capture their share
Why it matters
The AI infrastructure boom is creating a massive market opportunity for industrial suppliers. Power and thermal equipment constraints mean new entrants can disrupt a legacy-dominated market, directly impacting who wins in the AI economy's hardware layer.
Key signals
- $7 trillion in data center capital deployment
- Incumbent power and thermal equipment suppliers unable to meet demand
- Supply constraint creating market opening for new codesign entrants
- Industrial sector pivoting to AI infrastructure as growth vector
The hook
$7 trillion. That's the data center buildout that's about to reshape industrial supply chains—and most incumbents aren't ready.
Capital is pouring into data center development, but there are real constraints on growth. Incumbents can’t meet demand for power and thermal equipment, creating room for new codesign entrants.