High-end Interview—Leveraging Strengths, Returning to Authenticity: Emerson Network Power Ushers in the Era of High-Frequency, High-Power UPS 2.0

　　Emerson Network Power’s newly launched Liebert® eXL high-frequency integrated high-power UPS can be described as ushering in the “2.0 era of high-frequency, high-power UPSs.” Compared to previous models, this high-frequency, high-power UPS stands out for its unwavering commitment to the high reliability that has always been a hallmark of Emerson Network Power. Building on this foundation, it innovatively balances—indeed, even enhances—both energy efficiency and maintainability, achieving an almost perfect system configuration. As Emerson Network Power puts it, “We’re committed to delivering products and solutions that reflect our ‘no-compromise’ approach.”

　　[Research and Development] “Uncompromising High Standards”—this is how Wu Shengzhang, Vice President of the AC Power Business Unit for Emerson Network Power in the Asia-Pacific region, puts it.

　　As for what it means to pursue, nothing could be higher than the greater good of one’s country and people, nothing heavier than the well-being of the populace, and nothing more genuine than integrity and moral principle. Yet Mr. Wu Shengzhang, Vice President of the AC Power Business Unit at Emerson Network Power Asia Pacific, has taken on all these responsibilities wholeheartedly. Behind his quiet, unassuming diligence lies a lofty vision and ambitious aspirations. In every conversation with him, one is constantly reminded of the profound sentiment: “Patriotism is not merely about empty slogans; serving the people is not just about providing sustenance; moral integrity must never be eroded; and trustworthiness must never be forgotten.”

　　• Elevating patriotic sentiments through technological R&D

　　Many people find it hard to understand those “Chinese who devote themselves wholeheartedly to working for foreign companies”—especially when the person in question is a senior executive in a foreign company’s R&D team, deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture and eloquently discussing concepts like “love for family and country” and “harmonious thinking.” As Wu Shengzhang reached this point in his remarks, his words were particularly heartfelt and sincere, naturally inspiring deep respect in those who listened.

　　As an R&D elite with long-term experience serving multinational corporations, Wu Shengzhang finds his “pride as a Chinese person deep in his bones” to be the greatest driving force behind his leadership of the Chinese team in pursuing cutting-edge R&D innovation and fully showcasing it to the world. Maintaining close collaboration with overseas teams and strengthening technological exchanges has become his key “secret weapon” for guiding the team to overcome challenges in scientific and technological innovation. One can easily imagine that within Emerson Network Power’s vast, globally distributed R&D ecosystem, R&D centers and teams around the world each shoulder their own distinct missions. Without harmonious and highly efficient cooperation, the R&D efficiency would surely suffer dramatically. In fact, Emerson Network Power’s R&D system not only serves as a platform for technological innovation but also provides an effective channel for R&D personnel to engage in in-depth exchanges and comprehensively integrate intellectual resources. “The reason why Emerson Network Power’s R&D capabilities continue to improve is not just our leadership in specialized technologies; more importantly, it’s the close-knit collaboration among our various R&D teams that keeps our R&D efforts vibrant and full of energy. I think this approach perfectly resonates with the traditional Chinese cultural philosophy of harmony,” Wu Shengzhang said with a smile on his face.

　　Speaking about the performance of China’s R&D team within Emerson Network Power’s R&D ecosystem, Wu Shengzhang said with a hint of excitement: “As an important force within Emerson Network Power’s R&D system, I truly feel proud. Every time I see so many young people rapidly growing and thriving in this industry through rigorous training—and representing the outstanding strength of China’s本土 capabilities—I can’t help but feel that we’ve lived up to the deep sense of patriotism and national devotion we carry in our hearts.” Indeed, Wu Shengzhang’s vision and broad-mindedness perfectly embody Emerson Network Power’s cultural ethos and its profound sense of global responsibility. What does it mean to serve the local community? What does it mean to be an industry leader? And what does it mean to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come? Wu Shengzhang has provided the answers.

　　• R&D personnel should continuously strive for a higher quality of life.

　　In the interview, Wu Shengzhang, who comes from a background in R&D, repeatedly used poetic and sophisticated phrases such as “making life better” and “elevating the quality of life.” In his view, harnessing his own talents and expertise as an R&D professional to create products and solutions that genuinely serve society, the industry, and the general public is the most practical way to bring tangible benefits to the people.

　　“Actually, innovation isn’t as mysterious as people might think. Coming from a farming background, I’d like to use this perspective to illustrate innovation: It’s about managing your small plot of land well—producing more grain so that people can eat their fill and stay warm, thereby reaping tangible benefits. From the standpoint of an R&D team, what we need to do is create high-quality products and solutions that deliver core value, maximize customer value, and significantly enhance the quality of life for everyone. That’s precisely our mission,” said Wu Shengzhang, articulating the true essence of innovation in simple, straightforward terms.

　　• The essential needs that R&D personnel have always adhered to

　　In response to the question many people have been asking—“Where will the future of UPS go?”—Wu Shengzhang candidly admitted that he, too, has long been pondering where the true value of UPS lies. “Who are you? Where will you go? How can you go there? These are philosophical questions,” Wu Shengzhang pointed out. He noted that the ongoing process of industrialization has indeed driven the development of the UPS industry; yet at its core, a UPS is fundamentally a guarantee of reliability. Therefore, Wu Shengzhang believes that the future applications of UPS will unfold along two main dimensions: First, data centers—whether it’s traditional line-frequency UPSs, high-frequency UPSs, modular systems, or even the so-called “de-UPS” trend—all offer customers more diverse options and could become applications with specific value. Second, the UPS itself will continue to hold immense significance and promising prospects by returning to its most essential and core value: reliability.

　　Today, the UPS industry boasts a wealth of advanced technologies, diverse conceptual approaches, and innovative solutions—each capable of creating unique value propositions tailored to customers with different needs. There’s no denying that this diversity serves as a powerful driver of industry growth. However, Wu Shengzhang also pointed out that many high-end international clients of Emerson Network Power are increasingly emphasizing the need for unparalleled reliability. In response, while effectively meeting these heightened demands, Emerson Network Power has become even more convinced that its unwavering commitment to “uncompromising reliability” is the right path forward. “Our team has always believed,” Wu Shengzhang stated firmly, “that this is an absolute bottom line we must uphold—a principle that embodies the integrity and moral backbone that UPS R&D professionals should possess.”

　　[Product Spotlight] “A Sense of Mission That Knows No Compromise”—says Cui Yibin, Vice President of Product and Strategic Planning for Emerson Network Power in Greater China.

　　So-called “sense of mission” is not only an inescapable duty and obligation, but also a unique and indelible mark. For Cui Yibin, Vice President of Product and Strategic Planning for Emerson Network Power in Greater China, the “sense of mission” is, in fact, the profound wisdom that enables Emerson Network Power to remain “robust,” “sustainable,” and “scalable.”

　　• Consistently market-driven

　　Over the years, Emerson Network Power’s strategic shift in industry market applications has consistently been a resounding success—from its initial deep focus on the telecommunications market to its expansion into the data center market and then into the broader industrial market. Even more remarkable is that, at every stage of this evolution, Emerson Network Power has managed to maintain a dominant market position. According to Cui Yibin, the key reason behind this success lies in Emerson Network Power’s core philosophy: “Putting the customer first, to the greatest extent possible.” This customer-first approach does not mean simply yielding entirely to customer demands; rather, it means genuinely taking into account customers’ actual circumstances, anticipating the risks they might face, and maximizing their potential benefits. Cui Yibin argues that if a company resorts to price wars in order to win customer resources, it will inevitably compromise product quality, reduce R&D investment, and cut back on service offerings—all in an effort to preserve profits. In such a scenario, it’s not the company itself that ultimately suffers, but rather the customers, and even the entire industry as a whole. Therefore, guided by this philosophy, Emerson Network Power has always remained steadfast in delivering superior product quality, robust R&D efforts, and excellent customer service, never compromising on brand integrity or its position as a market leader.

　　Of course, in addition to providing customers with high-quality products and solutions, Emerson Network Power has also made substantial investments in driving industry advancement. For instance, its selfless contributions and strong commitment are evident in the successful development and promotion of numerous industry standards, such as data center maturity benchmarks and energy efficiency metrics like the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). In Cui Yibin’s view, there must always be “leaders” willing to take on such initiatives; otherwise, the industry simply won’t be able to achieve healthy growth.

　　• A unique mindset that is always upheld

　　“The long-term sustainability of our business can only be achieved by staying true to our commitment to integrity and delivering real value,” said Cui Yibin with particular conviction. While a company’s long-term development must, of course, be predicated on profitability, Emerson Network Power has always emphasized that it doesn’t get caught up in short-term gains—a stance that reflects both vision and moral integrity. As a result, Emerson Network Power consistently leaves the industry with the impression of “never compromising on principles, never losing sight of its direction, and never following the crowd.” It is precisely this unique persistence that has built Emerson Network Power’s brand value and reputation for integrity, earning it unanimous praise and respect across the global business landscape.

　　In the development of Emerson Network Power, there’s a phenomenon that may seem paradoxical yet carries profound wisdom: to ensure effective control over every aspect of its operations—from product R&D and manufacturing to sales, service, and corporate management—Emerson Network Power has refined its management practices to an almost “dehumanized” level. Yet in stark contrast to this meticulous, almost robotic approach is Emerson Network Power’s highly humanistic philosophy of “Health—Family—Career,” a philosophy that has been elevated to a level crucial for the company’s long-term sustainability.

　　This philosophy is characterized by a remarkably unique phenomenon: “health” takes top priority—even surpassing career aspirations. This fully reflects Emerson Network Power’s people-oriented philosophy and its profound managerial wisdom. This emotionally driven management approach, grounded in rationality, has greatly enhanced the affinity between the company and its employees, making Emerson Network Power’s overall operations more harmonious. Moreover, built upon shared values, it has fostered a powerful sense of cohesion, laying a solid foundation for the company’s long-term development. The management processes, which are almost rigorously demanding yet imbued with deep humanity—this seemingly paradoxical yet mutually reinforcing philosophy—precisely underscores Emerson Network Power’s pragmatic and objective attitude toward development.

　　• Always maintain rapid responsiveness.

　　When asked about the impact these industry hot topics—such as “Industry 2.0, Made in China 2025, Internet Plus, and Big Data”—would have on Emerson Network Power’s business, Cui Yibin expressed great confidence and enthusiasm. He pointed out that with the rapid advancement of both manufacturing and information technology, companies like Emerson Network Power—those that place a strong emphasis on R&D and technological investment and consistently put customers and the industry first—will undoubtedly gain greater market opportunities and room for growth. At the same time, he stressed that while maintaining its core values and corporate culture, Emerson Network Power has always demonstrated keen insight, enabling it to make effective adjustments to its development strategy in response to market trends and adapt swiftly, thus ensuring the company remains vibrant and dynamic.

　　To this end, Emerson Network Power has made a series of efforts and initiatives across various fronts—including the launch of personalized products and solutions, the transformation of value-promotion approaches, the enhancement of industry and service capabilities, and the expansion of deep-dive sales channels—working on multiple levels to ensure that it continues to maintain a strong, leading position in the industry going forward.

　　[Market Segment] “Uncompromising Reliability”—says Wu Jian, Senior Director of Data Center Solutions, Emerson Network Power Greater China.

　　“Having excellent technology but failing to promptly address users’ urgent needs—that’s just empty talk,” said Mr. Wu Jian, Senior Director of Product Marketing for Emerson Network Power in Greater China. His simple remark reveals the secret behind Emerson Network Power’s tremendous market success.

　　• Safety and reliability come first.

　　The shift in economic conditions and policies has prompted data centers to move toward big-data centralization. The rapid expansion and high degree of centralization of data have undoubtedly redirected users’ attention—from the energy consumption of data centers back to their reliability.

　　After data centers have undergone large-scale centralization, users have increasingly demanded greater efficiency and consolidation, leading to higher power density in the associated equipment. However, these trends still fall far short of meeting users’ stringent requirements for data center security and reliability. When balancing energy consumption against reliability, the actual energy consumption of UPS systems accounts for only a small fraction of the overall equation. For instance, in a 4,000-kW data center, if a single UPS achieves a 2% energy savings, it could translate into significant electricity cost reductions. Yet, for financial data centers—where a single outage can result in losses amounting to millions of dollars—the potential damage is simply incalculable.

　　Speaking about users’ demand for reliability, Wu Jian said candidly, “No matter how much power you save, you can’t offset the losses and adverse effects caused by downtime.”

　　In fact, regarding the need for reliability, Emerson Network Power introduced the concept of “Full Assurance for Critical Business Operations” as early as 10 years ago. Leveraging its leading-edge global R&D platform, the most comprehensive production lines, and rapid-response service capabilities, Emerson Network Power can provide a full range of products for the data center sector—including ATS (Automatic Transfer Switches) at the input end, surge protection systems, UPS dual-bus systems, static transfer switches, server power management systems for UPS outputs, precision distribution units, and server racks—easily meeting the diverse needs of data center operations.

　　• Application challenges are actually not difficult at all.

　　Emerson Network Power’s products have achieved remarkable success in the Chinese market, with numerous successful application cases across various industries. The company has earned both user recognition and market respect by precisely understanding users’ high reliability requirements, accurately identifying their key needs, and addressing these real-world pain points with targeted, rapid responses. This is no mere rhetoric—back in 2002, Emerson Network Power already shifted the focus of its global R&D platform to China.

　　Take the financial sector as an example: In a data center renovation project at a trading center in Shanghai, the client initially requested monitoring of the power supply status for each branch circuit of the UPS. To meet this need, Emerson Network Power’s R&D team specially designed a server power management system and delivered a satisfactory solution to the customer within just two weeks. As another example, in the internet sector, when a user temporarily needed an 80-module data center to support a red-envelope service, Emerson Network Power promptly delivered the facility for use within two months. Backed by a robust R&D team, Emerson Network Power is always able to promptly help customers address their urgent needs.

　　“Sometimes, a customer’s needs may not be complicated at all—and with the technical department providing solid support behind the scenes, it’s actually quite easy to help users resolve their issues,” Wu Jian said proudly. “It feels great having the R&D team right here. When other teams are still writing emails to headquarters asking for technical support, our on-site R&D team has already stepped in and solved the problem for the user.”

　　• Demand is the driving force and direction behind technological advancement.

　　As data centers are increasingly evolving toward greater centralization and intensification, the traditional UPS module parallel redundancy technology can no longer meet the stringent reliability requirements of modern data centers. The more modules that are paralleled, the harder it becomes to control circulating currents among them, leading to ever-decreasing reliability. In response to this challenge, Emerson Network Power has successfully broken through the technical bottleneck of high-power single-module UPS systems and promptly launched the Liebert® eXLUPS—a solution that leverages advanced single-module high-power technology. This innovative design enables a single module to deliver high power output, significantly enhancing system reliability. Moreover, thanks to its active compensation feature, the UPS achieves an efficiency of up to 97%, while its ECO bypass mode boasts an efficiency of 99%. This breakthrough aligns perfectly with the evolving needs of data centers in the era of cloud computing and big data.

　　In the future, even multi-megawatt UPS parallel systems may no longer be able to meet the demands of data centers. At that point, the technological development of UPSs may take a completely new direction. Speaking on this topic, Wu Jian replied proudly: “Emerson Network Power has ample technological reserves for the advancement of UPSs, and we will continuously enhance and refine our technologies in response to evolving market trends and changing application requirements. As soon as new demands arise, Emerson Network Power will swiftly deliver the UPS solutions that precisely meet those needs right to our customers.”

　　[Value Perspective] “Values That Don’t Compromise”—this is what Peng Huaidong, Senior Director of Product Management and Global Support for the AC Power Business Unit at Emerson Network Power Asia Pacific, had to say.

　　“As a global manufacturer renowned for its focus on product leadership, Emerson Network Power emphasizes product planning that is driven by customer needs and pain points. Before launching any product, we must clearly identify the value customers seek from our products and conduct in-depth research to understand the real challenges they face in their applications,” said Mr. Peng Huaidong, Senior Director of Product Management and Global Support for the AC Power Business Unit of Emerson Network Power Asia Pacific, expressing Emerson Network Power’s values in product roadmap planning and R&D.

　　• Returning to the essence of UPS products

　　With the rapid development of information technology, UPS systems have found widespread application across various fields, and their development trends have also undergone significant changes. Yet, over the decades of UPS’s evolution, what exactly remains its true essence? Actually, the answer to this question can be found in the full name of UPS—Uninterruptible Power Supply. Reliability is precisely the intrinsic attribute of UPS products.

　　However, a widely held view in the industry today is that cloud computing and big data will reduce the demand for UPS reliability and even call for corrections to architectural designs that rely excessively on redundancy. In fact, this misperception is a fallacy that can lead to insufficient attention being paid to UPS reliability. Indeed, this approach has already given rise to numerous problems in practical applications. Peng Huaidong cited an example: nowadays, it has become commonplace for ultra-large data centers to require UPS systems with capacities exceeding tens of megawatts. In such large-scale environments, the concentration of UPS usage has reached unprecedented levels. The prevailing industry pattern now involves providing support to data centers through parallel connections of modular units. Under this application model, any single module failure can directly and significantly impact system reliability.

　　“Based on these factors, Emerson Network Power has returned to the essence of UPS design in the development of the Liebert® eXL high-frequency integrated high-power UPS, placing great emphasis on reliability,” said Peng Huaidong. “Throughout the R&D process for UPS products, Emerson Network Power has consistently adhered to the principle of never compromising on reliability—this approach has remained unchanged and uncompromising in every aspect.”

　　• Highlight features with full grid adaptability

　　Objectively speaking, the R&D and design of UPS products have gone through a progression from power-frequency to high-frequency, from stacking modular components to simplifying topologies. In earlier designs, there were even attempts at streamlining—such as integrating battery converters into rectifiers, eliminating redundant components, and adopting unidirectional topologies. However, such designs often encounter numerous challenges when applied in ultra-high-power on-site scenarios. During the transition from power-frequency to high-frequency UPS systems in China several years ago, many issues arose in areas like neutral-line handling and diesel-generator switching. In response, Emerson Network Power has taken these challenges fully into account during its R&D process. By summarizing the application characteristics of ultra-high-power data centers, Emerson has positioned the Liebert® eXL high-frequency integrated ultra-high-power UPS as a second-generation high-frequency solution.

　　According to Peng Huaidong, statistics and surveys conducted by Emerson Network Power show that data centers in China experience power outages two to three times per year, while the North American region sees about two outages annually. In Europe, power outages are virtually nonexistent. However, the situation is entirely different in Southeast Asia and India, where power outages can occur as many as ten times a day in India alone. This clearly underscores the need for UPS products to demonstrate comprehensive adaptability and high reliability in real-world applications—adaptability not only to the entire power grid but also to various types of loads and different power standards.

　　“Emerson Network Power’s products are globally oriented, and the development of our second-generation high-frequency UPS systems has fully taken into account the varying adaptation requirements across different regions. These systems have been launched based on extensive research into reliable architectures, adaptability to the entire power grid, and environmental resilience,” Peng Huaidong said confidently. “We’re optimistic about the application prospects of the Liebert® eXL high-frequency integrated high-power UPS. We believe this product meets customer needs and can operate reliably and smoothly in large-scale applications.”

　　• A globally available product with a truly high-power design

　　Emerson Network Power has consistently maintained a leading edge in the high-power UPS sector. The Liebert® eXL high-frequency integrated high-power UPS, with its 400 kVA and 500 kVA models as benchmarks, has achieved a technological breakthrough in single-module high-power capability, addressing the shortcomings of the first-generation high-frequency UPS technology—particularly the immaturity of ultra-high-power product technologies. This product is a globally-oriented offering that fully demonstrates Emerson Network Power’s R&D prowess.

　　The Liebert® eXL high-frequency integrated high-power UPS not only achieves breakthrough advancements but also offers customers maximum flexibility. Its capacity design fully takes into account future trends in data center development. Tailored to meet the diverse needs of different applications, this product can deliver a single-unit capacity of up to 1.2 MW—a power level derived from extensive research into the characteristics and trends of large-scale data centers overseas—enabling it to provide power for ultra-high-density data centers while occupying the smallest possible footprint.

　　As a groundbreaking, innovative product, the Liebert® eXL high-frequency integrated high-power UPS also boasts several other notable features.

　　“Efficiency and green energy conservation are undoubtedly key priorities for Emerson Network Power in its R&D efforts,” Peng Huaidong explained. “This UPS itself boasts an efficiency of 97%, and its ECO mode even achieves an efficiency rate as high as 99%. Despite such industry-leading operational efficiency, Emerson Network Power encourages customers not to focus excessively on a single metric, but rather to evaluate the true application value of a UPS product over its entire lifecycle.”

　　• Unique resource capabilities and collective advantages

　　The value of any product—whether high or low—depends on its ability to genuinely and effectively help customers solve real-world problems in their daily use. Achieving this goal hinges not only on the manufacturer’s R&D capabilities and technological strengths, but even more so on a value system that puts customer needs at the very heart of everything we do. There is absolutely no room for compromise on this point.

　　When asked about how Emerson Network Power has achieved this level of excellence, Peng Huaidong repeatedly emphasized the advantages of “integration.” On one hand, Emerson Network Power has integrated the unique strengths of globally renowned UPS brands such as CHLORIDE and Liebert. By combining the strengths of these manufacturers, the company has drawn on many outstanding achievements and built up a wealth of resources—this integration is particularly evident in this product. On the other hand, in terms of R&D, Emerson Network Power has brought together the distinct R&D characteristics and strengths of its teams from China, the United States, Europe, and other regions, creating a powerful technological synergy.

　　Moreover, before each new product is launched, Emerson Network Power subjects it to rigorous testing and experimentation. Peng Huaidong explained: “This is reflected in two key aspects. First, we place great importance on maintaining the status of maintenance testers as independent ‘judges,’ fully leveraging their initiative and setting up additional, highly stringent standards that go beyond national norms. Second, in terms of hardware, we have a comprehensive testing platform. For instance, for this high-power product, Emerson Network Power boasts a 2.4 MW test station, which ensures that testing activities can proceed smoothly and efficiently.” It is precisely because of this scientific and well-established testing and experimentation process that Emerson Network Power effectively guarantees the consistency between product performance and R&D design.