From CTI Certification to Data Centers: How Arkora Is Breaking Down Cooling Tower Market Barriers

In the cooling tower industry, CTI (Cooling Technology Institute) certification carries weight comparable to an “industry passport.” For cooling tower procurement decisions in data centers, large industrial projects and high-end commercial buildings, CTI certification is often a hard requirement, not an option.

CTI is one of the most authoritative certification bodies in the global cooling tower industry. Its Thermal Performance Certification Program covers open-circuit cooling towers, closed-circuit cooling towers and dry fluid coolers. As of 2026, there are 305 certified product lines, comprising over 93,000 individual models.

In January 2026, CTI further launched a new Sound Certification Program, extending certification to acoustic performance. This new standard requires manufacturers to provide independently verified noise data, further raising the bar for entry into high-end markets.

For buyers, CTI certification means:

For data center projects especially, cooling tower performance directly affects energy efficiency, uptime and long-term operating cost. Independent certification gives engineering teams and facility owners a reliable basis for comparison.

For a long time, the data center cooling tower market was dominated by three foreign manufacturers—SPX (Marley), BAC and EVAPCO. The difficulty, time and cost of obtaining CTI certification constituted the core barrier preventing Chinese manufacturers from entering this high-value market.

This landscape is changing. Chinese manufacturers represented by Arkora are breaking down this barrier.

Arkora factory obtained CTI certification as early as 2014. This made it one of the earliest Chinese cooling tower companies to achieve this certification. Since then, Arkora has continuously expanded its certified product lines while also holding ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and EU CE certification.

More importantly, Arkora is not only a CTI certification holder but has also participated in drafting and formulating industry standards for closed cooling towers. This leap from “following standards” to “participating in standard-setting” represents Arkora’s technical leadership in the industry.

Holding CTI certification is only the first step. The real challenge is converting certification into market value. Arkora has achieved this transformation through:

FNB counterflow closed towers, FHB cross-flow closed towers and FFB composite flow closed towers—fully meeting the needs of different data center scenarios.

Continuous accumulation since establishment in 1996.

Including open-type fog elimination cooling towers, serpentine coolers and other innovations.

Cases covering Indonesia, the Middle East and other markets.

These capabilities allow Arkora to support data center projects not only with certified thermal performance, but also with practical engineering, delivery and service experience.

Data center cooling towers operate under demanding conditions: high ambient temperatures, continuous duty, water constraints and strict noise requirements in some locations. Certification alone does not guarantee a successful project—but it provides a verified performance baseline.

Arkora combines CTI-certified thermal performance with:

When CTI certification is no longer about “whether you can” but “who can do it faster,” Arkora is already ten years ahead.

Planning a data center cooling project and need CTI-certified cooling tower options? Arkora Cooling can help you evaluate closed cooling tower configurations based on your heat load, ambient conditions, water quality and project schedule.

Contact Arkora Cooling today to discuss your data center cooling requirements and receive a tailored solution.

Visit www.arkoracooling.com or reach out to our team for a personalized consultation.