IMI sets up new power unit

Ayala-led electronics manufacturing arm Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI) has established a new unit that will focus on the power module business, citing bright global prospects for this segment that is expected to be a major driver of the global power semiconductor market.

IMI president Arthur Tan announced during the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting yesterday the launch of a new division—the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power module—in its facility in Laguna.

IGBT modules are terminal power semiconductor devices used as electric switches that combine high efficiency and fast switching for applications that include automotive, energy and industrial.

“We are the only local integrated power module line in the Philippines with the capability to not only do packaging but also the development of customized testers and test systems. Other companies can only package and wait for their customers to provide them the testers,” Tan said.

Citing a projection made by US-based research firm IHS, the power module market is seen to grow into an $8-billion industry by 2020 with annual growth rates of around 8 percent.

The thriving demand from consumer electronics sector, the shift to electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, and the deployment of smart grid are just a few of the market drivers seen to boost the IGBT market in the next five years.

Meanwhile, Tan said IMI’s Design and Development Group (D&D) continued to provide product development services to IMI’s customers in identified market areas.

A significant number of samples of its latest automotive cameras have been distributed and are undergoing evaluation by big automotive suppliers and original equipment manufacturers.

D&D Bulgaria continues to develop motor driver solutions and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting systems for automotive applications, Tan said.

IMI’s Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Group (AME) in Tustin, California, meanwhile, has focused on developing medical electronic products like the implantable nerve stimulator and watch that monitors heart rate, hydration and glucose levels.

The company’s Automation Group, on the other hand, continues to expand and has recently established a group in IMI China to focus on developing fully automated production lines as well as smaller cost-effective automation systems to help drive internal cost reduction efforts.

IMI’s Test and Systems Development Group (TSD) is specializing in the integration of multifunction test and precision mechatronics in the development of automated backend equipment.

Overall, Tan said global trends continued to favor the company’s direction.

“Major economies the United States, China, Germany, France, Japan, and Asean—continue to expand albeit either slowing down or posting minimal growth. While the Chinese economy is slowing down, bold reforms by the Chinese government are being implemented. Thus the economic weakness will probably be short-lived,” he said.

“The huge population of Asia today and its expanding middle class augur well for premium goods such as high technology products. It is estimated that the middle class population in Asia will balloon to 3 billion by 2030. This will account for about 80 percent of the global middle class,” he added.