What does it take to create a truly next-generation PDU? At Schleifenbauer, the answer involved every department – from engineering to marketing, from logistics to assembly. This exclusive interview article gives you a front-row view of the development behind PDU 5.0 and EnerTree: the integrated solution for data centre power that puts sustainability, usability and innovation first.
An interview with the team behind PDU 5.0 and EnerTree at Schleifenbauer Products BV.
The launch of Schleifenbauer’s PDU 5.0 and EnerTree marks more than just a product release. It’s the result of a company-wide effort to rethink how energy infrastructure in data centres should be built, managed, and experienced. From concept to manufacturing, from software to sales, every team at Schleifenbauer had a hand in shaping this next-generation solution.
For Edward Goudsmits, Operations Director, the journey began with a clear vision:
“From day one, we knew the PDU 5.0 had to be more than just innovative on the outside. It had to be solid, sustainable and self-manufactured – right down to the components on the inside.”
Edward led the effort to set up a local, low-emissions supply chain and restructured Schleifenbauer’s manufacturing process to produce PDU 5.0 entirely in-house. New production lines were built, and packaging was reduced to an absolute minimum.
“We redesigned everything – hardware, manufacturing lines, production flow – with one goal: control and quality without compromise.”
Maarten van Klompenburg, Warehouse & Purchasing Manager, brought sustainability into the core of Schleifenbauer’s supply chain:
“When you build every PDU to order, your warehouse doesn’t stock finished products – it stocks possibilities. But those possibilities have to be managed efficiently, and sustainably.”
Maarten developed a packaging-free supply flow with reusable transport crates and introduced closed-loop logistics with key suppliers. Most components now arrive without single-use packaging.
“If every component came wrapped in plastic or boxed individually, our build-to-order model wouldn’t be sustainable. Now, most parts arrive unpackaged – and it works because we built the logistics around it.”
The same principle applies to outbound deliveries: custom-built transport racks and electric partners deliver PDU 5.0 directly into data centre white space.
“No cardboard, no clean-up – just plug and go.”
As Head of Product Innovation & Development, Anthony van Oijen ensured that the technical foundation of PDU 5.0 matched its ambitious goals.
“In consumer tech, plug-and-play integration is standard. In the world of energy monitoring, it’s not. That’s what we wanted to change.”
Anthony’s team developed PDU 5.0 and the EnerTree DCEM software platform in parallel – ensuring seamless communication, unified provisioning, and scalability up to 100 PDUs per IP address.
“You can connect a whole room of PDUs and manage them as one system. Everything just clicks – that’s the power of integrated design.”
Before a single line was drawn, Schleifenbauer asked forty data centre operators across Europe what they truly needed. Sales Director Jos Janssen translated that input directly into product requirements.
“Operators told us they wanted fewer platforms, faster setup, and better integration. So that’s exactly what we built.”
Jos played a key role in shaping the product roadmap and positioning the PDU 5.0 in the market, including live demos at events like Data Centre World London.
“This is not just another PDU. It’s a system that’s been designed with the market, for the market.”
Sales Manager Benelux Frédéric Sys and UK & Ireland Sales Manager Stuart Edmonds both highlighted how PDU 5.0 addresses day-to-day frustrations in the field:
“Clients told us about scattered tools, manual setups, and rising software costs. PDU 5.0 with EnerTree solves all of that in one go.”
EnerTree supports up to 10,000 PDUs, with automatic recognition, real-time alerts and enterprise-grade security – all licence-free.
Stuart added:
“The way we build PDUs – from modular components to order – means we can deliver fast and tailor precisely to client needs. That flexibility sets us apart.”
Team Lead Assembly Arian van den Boom and his colleagues bring each PDU 5.0 to life with precision and care:
“You can design the smartest PDU in the world, but if it’s not built to the highest standards, it won’t perform. That’s where we come in.”
From aluminium machining to cable routing, each unit is assembled and tested in-house. Schleifenbauer’s new hot-swappable modules – Gateway, Controller and Daisy Chain – add serviceability and flexibility.
“Everything is built to spec, tested individually, and finished to perfection.”
Operations Support Engineer Renze Elings ensures that each component and finished PDU meets the highest standards:
“Every component used in a PDU is thoroughly tested before it enters production. If something’s wrong, we catch it before it ever reaches the assembly line.”
Every unit undergoes a detailed, traceable final test. Reports are accessible globally in seconds, offering unmatched transparency and accountability.
“We can pull up the full test report for any PDU we’ve ever built – instantly. That’s how we guarantee reliability across the globe.”
With the added complexity of hot-swappable modules, this approach is more essential than ever.
“When you innovate, you also introduce new risk. So the margin for error must be zero – no weak links, no exceptions.”
Account Managers Anneke van Aken, Amanda Wagenaar and Bastiaan de Haan ensure that customer requests become manufacturable designs:
“We don’t just sell off-the-shelf. We translate needs into real, buildable PDUs – no matter the quantity.”
Using a dedicated configuration platform, they generate validated, production-ready designs within hours. Especially for AI and HPC clients, the right balance of outlets, clearances and thermal control is critical.
“With one Gateway or Controller and 99 Daisy Chain modules, clients get complete control without unnecessary hardware.”
Marketing Manager Dami Munter made sure PDU 5.0 launched with a message as sharp as the product itself:
“We started with an animation – before brochures or datasheets – because people need to see how this works. It’s a shift in mindset.”
The result? A full marketing strategy across digital, print and events, centred around one clear message:
“PDU 5.0 isn’t just a new model. It redefines how power is managed in data centres.”
From the drawing board to delivery, Schleifenbauer’s PDU 5.0 is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a reflection of how product development, engineering, operations, sales and marketing can work together to build something future-ready – and ready now.
If you want to make a difference, you have to build it yourself.
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