Powerex completes new automated production center

Leveraging $6 million in DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) funding, Powerex is has announced the opening of a new automated production center. The facility is capable of producing both silicon and silicon-carbide modules for inverters in electric vehicle, aerospace, and industrial applications. The DOE grant, awarded in March 2010, provided 70% of the funding for the $8.6 million project which increases Powerex's silicon-module-production capacity from 17 k units produced in 2009 to 100 k units in 2015. Total Project Cost: $8.6 million (70% U.S. Department of Energy funding)

• Equipment: $4.8 million investment (purchase robots from Sony)
• Facilities: $2.6 million investment
• Labor: $1.2 million investment

Modifications of existing Powerex facility:

• 22,600 ft² (2,100 m²)
• 40% to 60% relative humidity control
• 22 °C ±2 °C 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 (400m²)
• Capable of testing to automotive standards

Creation of prototype center

• 4,400 ft² (410m²)
• Utilizing existing Powerex equipment

Powerex created this new center to accommodate the production of SiC MOSFET modules. Since its inception in 1986, Powerex has been manufacturing custom silicon 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. Powerex