Powerex completes new automated production center

Powerex completes new automated production center

Leveraging $6M in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding, Powerex, announces the opening of a new automated production center capable of producing both silicon and silicon carbide modules used in inverters for the electric vehicle, aerospace and industrial marketplaces. This project positions Powerex as the leading U.S. manufacturer of medium volume high power semiconductor modules.

The DOE grant, awarded in March 2010, provided 70% of the funding for the $8.6M project which increases Powerex’ silicon module production capacity from 17k units produced in 2009 to 100k units in 2015.

Total Project Cost: $8.6M (70% U.S. Department of Energy funding)

Equipment: $4.8M investment (purchase robots from Sony)

Facilities: $2.6M investment

Labor: $1.2M investment

Modifications of existing Powerex facility:

22,600 ft2 (2,100 m2 )

40% to 60% relative humidity control

22C ±2C temperature control

Class 10,000 manufacturing areas

Creation of new manufacturing center

7,200 ft2 (670 m2 )

Capable of producing 100,000 units/year in 2015

Creation of reliability testing center

4,300 ft2 (400 m2 )

Capable of testing to automotive standards

Creation of prototype center

4,400 ft2 (410 m2 )

Utilizing existing Powerex equipment

Looking towards the future of the semiconductor industry, Powerex created this new center to accommodate the production of cutting edge SiC (silicon carbide) MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) modules.

Since its inception in 1986, Powerex has been manufacturing custom silicon Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)-based modules. Recently, Powerex offered the first commercially available SiC MOSFET module. These SiC MOSFET modules can operate at temperatures well beyond the temperature limits possible with the traditional silicon IGBT-based modules, allowing for 38% lower conduction losses and 60% lower switching losses for a total power loss reduction of 54% when operated at 20 kHz.

About Powerex:

Powerex turns ideas into cost-effective products and is a leading supplier of discrete devices, modules and integrated high power semiconductor solutions, supporting many markets including automotive; energy conservation / alternative energy; power generation; conditioning & distribution; aerospace; motor starting and speed control; transportation; medical; UPS and static transfer switches; and white goods.

Headquartered in Youngwood, Pennsylvania, 35 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Powerex, Inc. was established in 1986. It is the result of a combination of three pioneers in the power semiconductor industry-the Power Semiconductor Divisions of General Electric Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. In 1994, Westinghouse sold its shares to General Electric and Mitsubishi Electric. General Electric and Mitsubishi Electric currently share equal ownership of Powerex.

Powerex exclusively provides sales, marketing, strategy and logistics support for Mitsubishi Power Semiconductor Devices in the Americas. The relationship with Mitsubishi, the world leader in IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) and IPMs (Intelligent Power Modules), allows Powerex to give its customers access to an established supply chain and cutting edge technology. Powerex also manufactures a wide range of semiconductor products at its manufacturing facility in Youngwood.

Powerex Youngwood, PA Headquarters :

Design and manufacture of power semiconductor devices- Rectifiers and thyristors- Custom modules – Integrated power products300 employeesIBEW and AWSE Unions120,000 square feet of manufacturing and logistics facilitiesAS9100/ISO 9001 certified

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