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The Hartl Group has joined forces with three other partners to form synaforce GmbH, aiming to provide sustainable data center services across Germany. Under the leadership of Munich-based investment firm Afinum Management GmbH, a buy-and-build approach is being pursued to bring together mid-sized companies. The goal is to scale managed cloud services powered by 100 percent green energy.<\/strong><\/p>\n Data center performance is a concrete priority for companies in 2023 because it directly shapes scalable data center capacity, energy efficiency and compliance. This article uses synaforce as an example to show which requirements, figures and operational steps matter in practice.<\/p>\n The data center infrastructure market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. While traditional providers often still rely on outdated cooling technologies, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability are now coming into focus. The founding of synaforce GmbH marks a significant step in this evolution. Four established players have pooled their resources to create a solution that combines technical excellence with ecological responsibility. This initiative is supported by German medium-sized enterprises.<\/p>\n Peter Hartl, founder of the Hartl Group-one of the leading operators of sustainable data centers at its headquarters in Hofkirchen near Passau, as well as in Vienna, Nuremberg, and Munich-has always believed that long-term success can only be achieved through collaboration and partnerships. Consequently, his company relies on \u201ccollaborators,\u201d as he calls them, for areas it cannot or does not wish to handle independently. This approach led to the formation of the new group in spring 2023. ITecon GmbH, which also includes ITecon Financial Services, operates modular data centers in Mainz and Frankfurt am Main, adhering to comparable standards. The Swabian system integrator Abakus IT Service, based in Waldburg, is highly active in western Germany, including North Rhine-Westphalia, with locations in Dortmund, Soest, and Unna. Meanwhile, the Hamburg-based network service provider Trikom has a strong presence beyond Hamburg\u2019s city limits across northern Germany. Thanks to this geographic diversification, synaforce gains not only spatial but also technical breadth.<\/p>\n The fifth partner-and the one who made this merger possible-is Munich-based private equity firm Afinum Management GmbH. The company manages funds with committed capital totaling \u20ac1.8 billion, as well as \u20ac1.1 billion in equity. As synaforce CMO Hannes Beierlein stated at the official founding press conference on June 14, 2023, a significant portion of these funds is directed toward Buy-and-Build projects focused on consolidating medium-sized companies, building them up collaboratively, and enhancing their competitiveness. This approach differs markedly from traditional acquisitions, which often prioritize short-term synergies. Instead, the emphasis lies on the long-term development of a scalable platform.<\/p>\n Hartl concluded negotiations with Afinum as a strategic financial partner in May 2022 to initiate the next growth phase. Under the agreement, Afinum Neunte Beteiligungsgesellschaft, advised by Afinum Management GmbH, would acquire a majority stake in the Hartl Group along with additional IT service providers. This move aims to position and scale the sustainable managed cloud services business across regions. Such an undertaking requires meticulous due diligence processes and a clear vision for the future of the participating companies. The financial backing enables investments in modern infrastructure that would otherwise be challenging to fund without external capital.<\/p>\n Through these IT service providers, synaforce expands not only geographically but also in terms of its service offerings. For example, Trikom brings extensive expertise in network security. Abakus enjoys strong local ties in Wathlingen, within the district of Celle in eastern Lower Saxony, and has established a solid reputation as a telecommunications service provider. The combination of regional presence and technical know-how creates a network that ensures seamless transitions between different areas. Collaboration is based on shared standards for quality and security.<\/p>\n \n”<\/span><\/p>\n For government agencies, municipalities, and large enterprises alike, this has now become a deal-breaker. Sustainability is increasingly important-and is being demanded by corporations as well.<\/p>\nWhat is Data center performance?<\/h2>\n
The Most Important in Brief<\/h2>\n
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Strategic Financing by Afinum<\/h2>\n