Vertiv: from the Emerson and Liebert merger to global leadership in critical infrastructure

July 28, 2026 4 min read By Noxtel

Vertiv, as an independent company, was born in 2016. But the story behind the brand extends six decades back, with the founding of Liebert Corporation in 1965 in Columbus, Ohio. Understanding that journey helps explain why Vertiv is today one of the brands with the deepest technical depth in the critical infrastructure market.

The 2016 spin-off from Emerson Electric was not a new venture: it was the crystallization of a business that Emerson had built for more than 30 years, integrating historic brands such as Liebert, Geist, Avocent, Chloride, and Energy Labs. Today Vertiv trades on the NYSE (VRT) and is part of the S&P 500.

1965: the birth of Liebert Corporation

Liebert Corporation was founded in 1965 by five associates in Columbus, Ohio. Its first product was a computer room air conditioning (CRAC) system, a category that practically did not exist and that Liebert itself helped create.

At the time, mainframe computers occupied dedicated rooms and generated heat densities that commercial HVAC systems could not handle. Liebert identified the need and built the first precision cooling equipment designed specifically for computing environments. That first-mover advantage gave it a dominant position for the following two decades.

1970-2000: global expansion

During the 70s and 80s, Liebert diversified its portfolio beyond cooling. It entered the UPS market with its eponymous line and expanded operations to Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The company went through ownership changes: it passed through private equity funds and, in 1987, was acquired by Emerson Electric.

Under Emerson, Liebert continued growing organically and through acquisitions. Complementary brands were acquired in monitoring, KVM, and power distribution. The global operation consolidated as one of the most profitable divisions in Emerson’s portfolio.

2000-2016: Emerson Network Power

In 2000, Emerson Electric consolidated all its network infrastructure brands (Liebert, Asco, Astec, Lorain, etc.) under a single division: Emerson Network Power. The integration made it possible to offer unified portfolios to global telecommunications and data center customers.

During those 16 years, Emerson Network Power acquired complementary brands:

Chloride (2010): European manufacturer of industrial UPS, with strong presence in Europe and the Middle East.
Avocent (2009): already inside Emerson, specialist in KVM and console management for data centers.
Energy Labs (2017, but signed before the spin-off): manufacturer of CDU and liquid cooling systems.
Geist (2018, post-spin-off): manufacturer of intelligent rack PDUs.

The division grew to become one of the three large global platforms for data center infrastructure, competing directly with Schneider Electric and ABB.

2016: the Vertiv spin-off

In December 2016, Emerson Electric announced the separation of Emerson Network Power as an independent company. The spin-off was completed in October 2017, and the new company adopted the name Vertiv Holdings Co.

The separation responded to a strategic decision by Emerson: to focus on its industrial automation businesses and disconnect from the data center investment cycle, which is more volatile. For Vertiv, the independence gave it agility to execute a specific market strategy and a balance sheet dedicated to the sector.

2017-2026: Vertiv as an independent company

Since the spin-off, Vertiv has executed an aggressive consolidation and growth strategy. Some relevant acquisitions:

Geist (2018): entered the intelligent rack PDU market, completing the monitoring and power-by-rack ecosystem.
Energy Labs (2017): added the liquid cooling line, which became critical with the growth of AI.
DCM (Data Center Monitoring) and other smaller acquisitions: reinforced the software and services portfolio.
Alliance with several hyperscalers: the growth of AI demand drove liquid cooling revenues in 2024-2025.

Today Vertiv operates a global manufacturing network that covers the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, and Asia. In Latin America, the company maintains plants in Brazil (Cotia) and Mexico (Tijuana), in addition to service centers in the main cities.

What the Vertiv story teaches

For a client evaluating Vertiv, the trajectory matters for two reasons. First, the technical depth of the portfolio is a direct inheritance of six decades of Liebert and Emerson Network Power — this is not a brand newly entering the market. Second, the post-2017 corporate structure gives it financial stability backed by NYSE listing and S&P 500 membership, something few infrastructure brands can match.

That combination of technical depth and financial soundness is one of the central arguments Vertiv uses to win large tenders in Mexico and the rest of Latin America.

Do you need help with Vertiv solutions?

At Noxtel we specialize in the design, supply, installation, and preventive maintenance of critical infrastructure for data centers. If you are comparing equipment, need to size a project, or require certified technical support for Vertiv solutions, our engineering team is ready to help.

📞 Contact us today and schedule a consultation with the Noxtel team