Product category: Power Supply ICs and Controllers
News Release from: International Rectifier
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 7 June 2004
Expansion to put
Newport at leading edge
International Rectifier has revealed a major initiative to expand its workforce and double the production capacity at its facility in Newport, Wales
Last week International Rectifier CEO Alex Lidow and Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan revealed a major initiative to expand IR's workforce and double the production capacity at its facility in Newport, Wales. The expansion will include the creation of highly skilled engineering and production jobs to fill the nearly 120 vacancies the company foresees as it brings online its 200mm (8in) wafer fabrication facility.
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 June 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Controllers ease POL convertor design
Dual-channel synchronous buck control ICs integrate high performance drivers for medium- to high-current point-of-load buck convertors
Audio amplifier design saves space
Reference design cuts PCB board space by 50% for Class D audio amplifiers for the entire mid-voltage range of mid- and high-power amplifiers
Many of the newly created jobs will be devoted to International Rectifier's latest proprietary high-voltage IC (HVIC) technology.
Lidow unveiled plans to expand IR-Newport's charter beyond leading-edge low voltage devices to include IR's next generation of HVICs, considered by many to be the best in the industry.
This high value HVIC silicon, planned for production on the 200mm line, will be used in integrated motor controllers for a variety of industrial, appliance and automotive applications.
"IR-Newport is one of our most advanced facilities and, as such, an important part of our business strategy", said Lidow.
"Since the acquisition, IR has invested over $66 million dollars to expand our production capabilities in the 150mm facility and has increased the staff by more than 100".
Further reading
Two-device set simplifies multiphase power
Chipset provides a full-featured and flexible way to implement a complete Intel or AMD CPU power solution
Drivers cut the cost of motor control
Half-bridge, high-side and low-side driver ICs are tailored for low- and mid-voltage motor drive applications
QPL rectifiers target high-reliability supplies
High-reliability Schottky rectifiers are manufactured in accordance to the Defense Supply Center Columbus Qualified Products List
"With the great skill sets available here in Wales and greater Europe, and our strong relationships with the Welsh Assembly and Welsh Development Agency, we are ahead of our original expansion plans".
"These circumstances coupled with strong market demand lead to our decision to bring the 200mm facility online".
First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "International Rectifier is a hugely successful company with an international lead in the semiconductor market and this announcement will be very warmly welcomed in Newport and South Wales".
"I am very pleased that the Welsh Assembly Government has played a key role in the company's expansion in Newport through a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant".
"Our backing for this project has been crucial in securing a future for Newport's semiconductor manufacturing skill base and demonstrates International Rectifier's commitment to develop skilled R and D and operations openings here in the region".
Graham Hawker, Chief Executive of the Welsh Development Agency added: "We have been working closely with International Rectifier offering our local knowledge and expertise to ensure that we support the growing needs of the company".
"The opening of this 8in wafer fab is positive news for Newport and testament to the teamwork of the WDA with industry to maximise economic growth opportunities here in Wales".
International Rectifier acquired the Newport facility in 2002.
Since that time, the facility has met or exceeded all expectations, including the consolidation of IR's low voltage trench product line production, the doubling of Newport's initial production capacity, and providing exceptional support to IR's low voltage R and D programme.
These efforts have dramatically accelerated IR's position in this important market segment.
International Rectifier's planned investment of $40 million in IR-Newport will result in more than 120 additional jobs.
Furthermore, this investment will also provide the potential to quadruple the facility's production capability in the future.
• International Rectifier: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• NEW
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Related Business News
Applications/Solutions
High-performance analog ICs provide efficient, compact and dependable solutions for engine management systems, body electronics and comfort systems.
Taiwan stocks end down in biggest...
...drop in over 1 yr. Taipei, July 27 (Reuters) - Taiwan shares fell 4.22 percent on Friday to their lowest close in three weeks, marking their largest one-day percentage drop in more than a year, after a sell-off on Wall Street hurt big exporters such as TSMC .
Nippon Oil Aug refining seen flat, eyes Sudan crude
Tokyo, July 27 (Reuters) - Japan's top oil refiner Nippon Oil Corp. will keep its August processing volumes steady versus a year ago to meet summer gasoline demand and is seeking more Nile Blend crude to meet higher utility use.
Fluor Gains Eastman Chemical Gasification Plant Feed Work
Fluor Corporation announced today that it was selected by Eastman Chemical Company to provide front-end engineering and design work for a $1.6 billion gasification project along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Migao Corporation Secures Preferential Natural Gas Prices
Toronto, Ontario-- - Migao Corporation , a leading producer of specialty potash fertilizers for the Chinese market, is pleased to announce that it has negotiated preferential natural gas prices in Sichuan Province from China Petroleum & Chemical Corpora
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
