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For next-generation power electronics, BASF has developed a polyphthalamide (PPA) that is especially suited for manufacturing housings of IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor) semiconductors. Ultramid® Advanced N3U41 G6 addresses the growing demand for high-performance, reliable electronic components for e.g., electric vehicles, high-speed trains, smart manufacturing and the generation of renewable energy.
Semikron Danfoss, a global technology leader in power electronics, now uses the BASF PPA as housing in its Semitrans 10 IGBT which can be installed in inverters of photovoltaic and wind energy systems. Due to its outstanding chemical resistance and dimensional stability, the Ultramid® Advanced N grade enhances the robustness, long-term performance and reliability of these IGBTs, thus meeting growing needs for energy saving, higher power density and increased efficiency. IGBTs enable efficient switching and control of electrical circuits in power electronics.
“IGBTs are a key element of modern electronics, particularly in the renewable energy sector,” explains Jörn Grossmann from research and predevelopment at Semikron Danfoss. “IGBTs must operate at higher temperatures while maintaining long-term stability and performance. The Semitrans 10 has set a new benchmark for performance and efficiency benefiting from the unique properties of BASF’s PPA. We chose this material because of its extraordinary electrical isolation even in harsh environments and because of its excellent robustness against short-term temperature peaks in the assembly process.” The combination of high-performance material and smart design allows for faster switching speeds, lower conduction losses, and improved thermal management, thus addressing key needs in power electronics.
In today’s IGBTs, BASF’s proven Ultradur® (PBT: polybutylene terephthalate) is widely used. The new PPA is designed to meet the stringent requirements of next-generation IGBTs for rapidly evolving power electronics. They demand materials that can withstand higher temperatures, provide sustained electrical insulation, and maintain dimensional stability under challenging environmental conditions like humidity, dust and dirt.
The laser-sensitive Ultramid® Advanced N3U41G6 with non-halogenated flame retardant combines high thermal stability with low water uptake and excellent electrical properties. It is characterized by a high CTI (Comparative Tracking Index) of 600 (acc. to IEC 60112): This supports miniaturization of IGBTs by lower creepage and better insulation than materials so far used for power switches. The UL-certified grade shows an excellent electrical RTI (Relative Temperature Index) value of 150°C.
“BASF’s PPA compound is globally available and ready for sampling”, says Jochen Seubert, senior application expert for power electronics at BASF. “Backed by our customer-focused technical support in part development, we expect this innovative material to significantly contribute to the advancement of power electronics, supporting the global transition to renewable energies.” For manufacturing of IGBTs, the BASF PPA is compatible with potting materials used to assemble the semi-conductors with metal pins and clamps after injection molding.
BASF’s polyphthalamide portfolio is based on the six polymers Ultramid® Advanced N (PA9T), Ultramid® Advanced T1000 (PA6T/6I), Ultramid® Advanced T2000 (PA6T/66), Ultramid® T KR (PA6T/6), Ultramid® T6000 (PA66/6T) and Ultramid® T7000 (PA/PPA). They open the door to the next generation of lightweight, high-performance plastic components in many different sectors including the automotive industry, electronics and electric devices, mechanical engineering and consumer goods.
The PPA portfolio is available globally and complemented by BASF’s Ultrasim® simulation tool and extensive experience in application development. It includes more than 50 compounded grades for injection molding and extrusion, products with or without flame retardants. The compounds are available in different colors, from colorless to laser-markable black, with short-glass, long-glass or mineral fiber reinforcement, and with various heat stabilizers.
Original – BASF
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Dominic Dorfner, Senior Vice President of the Automotive Division in Semikron Danfoss, will take over as President, when Claus A. Petersen retires on August 31, after 40 years in the Danfoss Group – the last 26 years leading Danfoss Silicon Power and Semikron Danfoss.
Dominic Dorfner has been named new President of Semikron Danfoss – a leading global manufacturer of power electronics based in Germany and part of the Danfoss Group. Dominic Dorfner joined Semikron Danfoss in 2021 as Head of the Industry Business in Danfoss Silicon Power. For the past 13 months he has been leading the Automotive Division in Semikron Danfoss.
Chairman of the Semikron Danfoss Board, Danfoss Power Electronics and Drives Segment president Mika Kulju says:
“The Board of Directors for Semikron Danfoss are very pleased that Dominic Dorfner has accepted the role as President. It is an important continuation of the work that has been done in Semikron Danfoss since the company was established two years ago with the merger of Danfoss Silicon Power and SEMIKRON. We are very excited to be working with him to continue the growth and realizing the huge potential for Semikron Danfoss in energy efficiency, in electrification, and in green energy.
Dominic Dorfner is taking over for Claus A. Petersen – a renowned name in the power electronics industry.
Claus A. Petersen has been with Danfoss for more than 40 years. He was named President of Semikron Danfoss when the merger was finalized in 2022. Before the merger he was leading Danfoss Silicon Power, a position he has held since the company was established in Schleswig-Holstein in 1998 with, at that time only around 20 employees. Today, Semikron Danfoss has around 4,000 global employees and annual sales over EUR 1 billion.
Though now retiring as company President, Claus A. Petersen is not completely leaving Semikron Danfoss, as he has joined the Board of Directors.
“We are fully committed to the ambitions and the strategy for Semikron Danfoss that has been developed under Claus’ leadership. I want to extend a big thank you to him, both for what he has accomplished, and for accepting to join the Board. This will ensure a very smooth and proficient transition,” says Mika Kulju, and continues: “Dominic Dorfner has big shoes to fill, but he has all the needed qualities to do so, and strong teams around him.”
Efficient power electronics are vital for decarbonization. Yet another reason why the new President of Semikron Danfoss is really excited about the challenge ahead.
Says Dominic Dorfner:
“Our purpose is to enable a huge transformation towards a CO2 neutral world for us and our kids. To do so, we need extensive electrification, we need green energy, and we need to save energy much more through energy efficiency. All that needs power electronics with the best power modules and systems out there. We can provide that, and I can’t think of a better reason to wake up early and go to work.”
First day in the new role for Dominic Dorfner will be September 1, 2024.
Original – Semikron Danfoss
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As the deployment of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) accelerates, there is a critical need for compact and high-efficiency Power Conversion Systems (PCS) optimized for ESS applications. To address this requirement, Semikron Danfoss K.K. and Headspring Inc. have joined forces to develop advanced PCS solutions specifically for ESS, targeting mass production by 2026. This collaboration aims to enable more efficient and space-saving storage solutions.
Energy Storage Systems are essential components for renewable energy and power grids, ensuring resilience and stable supply. The global ESS market is projected to grow by 20%-30% annually, with expectations to exceed 400 GWh of storage systems worldwide by 2030. This exponential growth is driven by the increasing share of renewable energy in the grid, necessitating the accelerated deployment of ESS solutions for stable grid operation.
To address this rapidly growing market, Semikron Danfoss is developing a series of adaptable power solutions. Central to this initiative is the ANPC (Active Neutral Point Clamping) topology for ESS, which demonstrates a significant performance improvement by reducing power loss by over 50% compared to traditional NPC/MLI topologies. However, to fully harness the potential of ANPC technology, collaboration with Headspring is crucial. Headspring’s expertise in high-speed controller technology is vital for effectively controlling ANPC systems and ensuring optimal performance.
Semikron Danfoss brings extensive expertise and innovation in power electronics to the ESS market. Their ANPC technology in LF/HF configuration, featuring a hybrid circuit of silicon IGBTs and silicon carbide MOSFETs, significantly enhances efficiency and cost performance. The availability of ANPC power modules in PCB-mountable, industry-standard housings reduces both material and assembly costs, making them ideal for high-volume production.
The ANPC power modules provided by the SEMITOP E2 platform offer superior thermal performance, contributing to the downsizing and high-capacity PCS for ESS. Semikron Danfoss aims to set new benchmarks in ESS performance and value with their comprehensive design package that supports improvements in both hardware and software.
Headspring excels in developing high-speed real-time controllers essential for power electronics applications. Headspring’s controllers combine commercial microcontrollers with FPGA technology, providing flexible programming tailored to the specific demands of power electronics applications. Headspring has participated in the Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) “Energy Systems for an IoT Society by Japan’s Cabinet Office,” leading the development of ultra-high-speed controllers for power electronics. These controllers, integrating high-speed multi-core CPUs, high-performance FPGAs, and high-speed AD converters, achieve a feedback control performance of 50MHz, approximately 1000 times faster than conventional systems.
Semikron Danfoss and Headspring are collaborating to develop a compact, high-efficiency PCS tailored for large-scale, scalable ESS applications by integrating Semikron Danfoss’s ANPC technology-based power modules with Headspring’s advanced controller technology. Semikron Danfoss will offer the expertise for developing the power stack, which includes power modules, drive circuits, and coolers, while Headspring will be responsible for the controllers, peripheral circuits, software, and PCS integration.
This synergy aims to create an ESS-specific PCS with optimized cost, efficiency, and size. A primary goal is to enable containerized ESS solutions to increase storage capacity per 20-foot container from 3.3MWh to 5MWh. This will establish a roadmap setting hardware and software benchmarks for ESS performance, delivering superior ESS solutions that promote the advancement of renewable energy technologies.
Original – Semikron Danfoss
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Semikron Danfoss and SMA announced that the Sunny Boy Smart Energy incorporates the SEMITOP E power modules based on silicon carbide. The SEMITOP E features a low-inductance design with superior thermal performance, all in an industry standard housing. The SEMITOP E product offers a variety of circuit topologies based on the latest 650V-1200V silicon carbide technology from multiple sources.
“We strongly believe that the SEMITOP E is the power semiconductor package of choice for applying silicon carbide in advanced solar inverters,” says Roberto Agostini, Product Manager Semikron Danfoss.
“The SEMITOP E has been essential in increasing throughput and efficiency in our assembly,” says SMA Product Manager Petra Nawratil. “The press-fit design and simple mounting approach enabled a higher automation level in the assembly line for the Sunny Boy Smart Energy and following products.”
Residential solar inverters are tasked with generating solar power with the highest efficiency, enabled through silicon carbide technology.
The Sunny Boy Smart Energy is part of the new SMA Home Storage Solution, which enables fast and effective solar generation and storage. It is scalable to meet changing needs and adaptable to additional use cases such as an EV charger, a heat pump, dynamic tariffs, or peak load shaving. The modular SMA Home Storage battery can be expanded anytime to store more solar power.
Original – Semikron Danfoss
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Semikron Danfoss and Vincotech announced the renewal of their cooperation agreement for power semiconductor module packaging. The two enterprise’s alliance, dating back to 2003, has been extended to further strengthen MiniSKiiP packaging technology.
This move underscores Semikron Danfoss and Vincotech’s commitment to advancing MiniSKiiP and delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the needs of the power electronics industry.
“The partnership with Vincotech is key to ensuring the safe supply of our number one motor drive module MiniSKiiP to our customers,” said Peter Sontheimer, Senior Vice President Industry Division at Semikron Danfoss. “We strongly believe that this type of arrangement is beneficial to the long-term health of the power electronics supply chain.”
Multiple source options for the package to further mitigate the supply chain risk, as well as standards-compliant design, are just a few of the benefits of this renewed cooperation agreement. Engineered for easy assembly and featuring service-friendly spring contacts, MiniSKiiP’s unique hardware has earned an excellent reputation for efficiency and performance in general purpose and servo motor drives.
“We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with Semikron Danfoss for the MiniSKiiP package technology,” said Edoardo Guiotto, VP Sales & Marketing at Vincotech. “This agreement reaffirms our dedication to deliver premium products to our customers and drive innovation and advances in power electronics.”
Semikron Danfoss and Vincotech are now set to take MiniSKiiP’s reliability and standardization to the next level. Customers can look forward this technology bringing even greater robustness, versatility, and compatibility to their products.
Original – Semikron Danfoss
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LATEST NEWS / PROJECTSSemikron Danfoss to Build Semiconductor Processing to Packaging Center at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
May 3, 2024
3 Min ReadSemikron Danfoss announced its collaboration with SUNY Polytechnic Institute and other industry partners to build a Semiconductor Processing to Packaging Center that will focus on research, education and training. The facility will be established at the Semikron Danfoss office in Utica, located in the Quad C building on the SUNY Poly campus and will train 100-150 students per year in semiconductor processing, packaging and testing capabilities.
The official announcement came on Tuesday at the site of the future facility at a ceremony attended by over 100 people, including New York’s Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and other state and local business leaders and elected officials. “The cornerstone of our regional economic development process is collaborative, community-led projects that will build a stronger future for New Yorkers statewide,” said Delgado.
The center will be funded in part with the $4 million Empire State Development grant, announced Tuesday, as well as a larger economic development package announced by New York Governor Kathy Hochul for SUNY Poly last fall. In addition to supplying space for two classrooms and a 5,000 square-foot clean room, Danfoss will provide multiple pieces of equipment used in the semiconductor manufacturing process.
The Center will allow for both silicon device processing as well as SiC, GaN, AlN and their alloys, and Ga2O3 device processing for power electronics, optoelectronics and clean energy applications as well as their unique packaging needs.
It is anticipated that the students will be both traditional and non-traditional students, seeking either degrees or certificates. The goal of the Center is to increase graduates across advanced manufacturing disciplines by 10 percent in the next four years. The Center’s curriculum will offer several workforce development training and upskilling pathways for industry partners and their employees as well as those seeking to gain entrance into the workforce.
“The creation of a single center covering research, education and training capabilities across semiconductor processing to packaging will provide students and the future workforce with both the deep theoretical knowledge as well as the hands-on experience needed to fully understand the workflow and attention to detail needed to produce devices with the required yield and performance functionality,” said Michael Carpenter, Ph.D., Interim Dean of SUNY Poly’s College of Engineering and Associate Provost for Research. “We are looking forward to working with Danfoss and our other industry and community partners on this initiative.”
“Partnering with educational and community organizations in the communities where we operate is an important focus of Danfoss’ mission,” said Michael Godsen, general manager of Semikron Danfoss in the U.S. “We are excited to work with SUNY Poly to develop a skilled workforce in the semiconductor industry.”
Original – Semikron Danfoss
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The European Commission has approved the “Important Project of Common European Interest on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies” (IPCEI-ME/CT) with the aim of initiating complex and investment-intensive projects that could not otherwise be realized. This involves 68 projects from 14 member states – and two of those comes from Semikron Danfoss.
Semikron Danfoss is planning the further development of diodes based on thin-wafer technology and the development of a new edge structure – as well as the establishment of automotive module production based on Direct Press Die technology in Nuremberg, a continuation of the activities from the IPCEI on Microelectronics project. And in Slovakia, development activities and an expansion of production for industrial modules are planned.
Projects funded under the IPCEI -ME/CT will enable the development of new technologies and products that will make a decisive contribution to the further reduction of CO2 emissions and will secure growth and jobs in Europe. The Semikron Danfoss projects address the objectives of the European Union to strengthen competitiveness and security of supply in key technologies for both the digital and the green transformation process.
Power semiconductors are an important multiplier along the value chain of many products. The projects also aim to expand European cooperation with universities and research institutes as well as suppliers. The member states are now starting the implementation process and will determine the requirements of the projects based on the EU decision. Thanks to the prior approval of the early start of the initiatives, the projects have already been launched. The official funding commitment from the federal government and the state of Bavaria is expected shortly for Germany.
Original – Semikron Danfoss
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If you haven’t had a chance to visit a wonderful Lake Maggiore yet, this September you can enjoy one of the most beautiful places in Italy in a company of power semiconductors superstars discussing SiC & GaN technologies. After a successful series of events across the world, International Semiconductor Executive Summits (ISES) returns to Italy with ISES EU Power 2023 edition.
With a regional focus on the power semiconductor market, the EU Power International Semiconductor Executive Summits seeks to strengthen the EU supply chain and promote key executives in the semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research through our networking and conference platform which consists of working with key industry stakeholders to encourage progress and collaboration.
With speakers coming from STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, Semikron Danfoss, onsemi, Wolfspeed, Renesas, ROHM, Nexperia, SK Siltron, Soitec, Okmetic, Aehr Test Systems, Amkor Technology, Innoscience, Cambridge GaN Devices, Ferrari, Volkswagen, Volvo, Škoda, and many more leaders of power electronics and automotive industries, you are about to be a part of the power semiconductors event like never before.
During two days of the event, all participants will be discussing and disclosing the latest news and advances in silicon carbide and gallium nitride technologies, sharing the view of the future and taking a close look at the current state of the industry, supply chain, global collaboration, exhisting problems and emerging opportunities.
You can find the agenda of ISES EU Power 2023 at the event website.
International Semiconductor Executive Summit EU Power provides a unique platform for networking and expanding your knowledge base. Here are just a few topics that will be covered this September:
- SiC and GaN Manufacturability
- Variety of WBG Applications
- SiC Wafer & Materials
- Power Packaging
- Design and Reliability
The event offers various packages for participation:
- Standard Pass
- Member Pass
- Partner Pass
- Virtual Pass
- Numerous Sponsorship Packages and VIP Passes
All interested to participate can register at ISES EU Power 2023 website.
ISES EU Power 2023 will take place at Regina Palace Hotel. Overlooking the shore of Lago Maggiore, the Regina Palace Hotel is located in a favored spot in the center of Stresa, considered the pearl of Lago Maggiore. The hotel represents yesteryear’s charm and prestige enriched by the history and the grace that each epoch has donated.
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Cars with fully or partially electrified drivetrains will account for two thirds of cars produced by 2028, as per analyst forecasts. This rapid growth of electromobility is driving the demand for power semiconductors. Against this background, Infineon Technologies AG and Semikron Danfoss have signed a multi-year volume agreement for the supply of silicon-based electromobility chips.
Infineon will supply chipsets consisting of IGBTs and diodes to Semikron Danfoss. These chips are mainly used in power modules for inverters, which are used for the main drive in electric vehicles.
“As the global leader in automotive semiconductors, Infineon enables game-changing solutions for clean and safe mobility. Already today, our IGBTs and diodes play a major role in the industry’s electromobility transformation by enabling efficient power conversion in the electric powertrain,” said Peter Schiefer, President of Infineon’s Automotive division. “Our broad product portfolio, system expertise and continuous investment in our manufacturing capabilities make us a valued partner of automotive players like Semikron Danfoss.”
Claus A. Petersen, President of Semikron Danfoss added: “Semikron Danfoss provides automotive customers with power modules based on the most advanced assembly technologies that fully exploit the capabilities of IGBTs and diodes to enable further decarbonization of the transportation sector. Automotive customers trust us as an experienced long-term partner to drive the transformation in the industry.”
The IGBTs and diodes for Semikron Danfoss will be manufactured by Infineon at its sites in Dresden, Germany, and Kulim, Malaysia. Semikron Danfoss manufactures its own automotive power modules in Nuremberg and Flensburg in Germany, in Utica, US, and as of next year, in Nanjing, China.
Original – Semikron Danfoss
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Semikron Danfoss and the Kyoto-based company ROHM Semiconductor have been collaborating for more than ten years with regards to the implementation of silicon carbide (SiC) inside power modules. Recently, Semikron Danfoss added ROHM’s new 1200V RGA IGBT to its low power module offering. In doing so, both companies show that they remain committed to serving worldwide motor drive customers’ needs.
The worldwide growth in electrification technologies has created unprecedented demand for power modules. Often, it is the chip supply that limits power module availability. Despite ongoing investments in production capacity by the chip manufacturers, the supply situation remains tight. It is against this backdrop that ROHM has introduced the new 1200V RGA IGBT, targeted as an alternative to the latest Generation 7 IGBT devices in industrial applications. ROHM is now expanding their bare die offering to Semikron Danfoss, positioning themselves as an advanced alternative to traditional chip suppliers.
“The RGA is a newly designed, light punch through, trench gate IGBT with Tj,max = 175°C. The conduction, switching, and thermal characteristics are optimized for new industrial drive applications in the low to medium power range. At the same time, the RGA is intended to remain compatible with existing IGBT solutions, enabling a multiple source approach. In addition, the RGA can also be used to improve transient overcurrent handling during overload conditions in motor drive applications,” says Kazuhide Ino, Member of the Board, Managing Executive Officer, CFO at ROHM.
Semikron Danfoss can offer the 1200V RGA IGBT in a full range of nominal current classes from 10A to 150A. This range, combined with the suitability of the RGA chip in motor drive applications, means that the MiniSKiiP family is the ideal choice for module implementation. The baseplate-less, spring-contact MiniSKiiP is already deeply embedded in the worldwide motor drive market and always equipped with the latest generation IGBTs. Therefore, it is important for this product to have an alternative IGBT source to diversify the supply chain. The uniform-height MiniSKiiP housing family is also offered on the market as a multiple source package, making an alternative IGBT a valuable option for manufacturers.
For press-fit/solder applications, the industry-standard SEMITOP E package will also be available in pin-compatible configurations to existing Generation 7 IGBT module offerings. This housing family will also offer sixpack (“GD”) and converter-inverter-brake (“DGDL”) circuit configurations.
“The power electronics industry continues to recover and learn lessons from the supply issues in recent years. It’s clear that diversification in semiconductor chip and module manufacturing is required to generate true ‘multiple source’ power modules”, says Claus A. Petersen, President, Semikron Danfoss. “In the case of 1200V Generation 7 IGBTs, a reliable equivalent from a reputable manufacturer is now available to address this issue also in the low power range. The 1200V RGA IGBT from ROHM is a perfect alternative to the Generation 7 IGBT and can be made to behave in a remarkably similar manner with small gate resistor adjustment,” continues Peter Sontheimer, Senior Vice President Industry Division & Managing Director at Semikron Danfoss.
Original – Semikron Danfoss
