9 www.power-mag.com Issue 2 2023 Power Electronics Europe INDUSTRY NEWS iC-Haus appoints Dr. Alexander Flocke as further managing director alongside Dr. Heiner Flocke. Long-standing technical managing director Manfred Herz takes over the department “Advanced Technology Development” for tomorrow’s chip innovations. Bodenheim, Germany, March, 2023: At the beginning of this year, iCHaus GmbH undergone some changes in its management to ensure the lived continuity and a sustained growth with new products and markets in the future. With the “iC” as a trademark, the medium-sized iC-Haus GmbH with its 370 employees and its vertical range of manufacture at the Bodenheim site near Mainz has won a leading position as a manufacturer of application and customer-specific integrated circuits and microsystems for industrial, automotive and medical technology, represented worldwide. As of January 01, 2023, long-standing technical managing director and co-partner Manfred Herz stands down as managing director. He takes over the Advanced Technology Development in close cooperation with the development department to provide creative solutions and circuit innovations for chip design. Representing Dr. Heiner Flocke as majority owner and managing director with his sole power of representation is Dr. Alexander Flocke, who has been appointed further managing director of iC-Haus GmbH as of January 01, 2023. Together with an authorized signatory, he has decision-making power and act as deputy of Dr. Heiner Flocke. Alexander Flocke holds a PhD in electrical engineering from RWTH Aachen University. He has been working at iC-Haus since 2008, first in Chip Development and now in Applications and Sales. Henrik Liungman joined iC-Haus in 2019 in Sales. Responsible for commercial aspects, he serves as authorized signatory. Restructuring of iC-Haus GmbH Management The two companies signed a definitive agreement under which Infineon will acquire GaN Systems for US$830 million. GaN Systems is based in Ottawa, Canada and specialises in the development of GaN-based solutions for power conversion. Infineon’s CEO, Jochen Hanebeck, said the acquisition will accelerate the company’s GaN roadmap and will strengthen the company’s position in the power systems market. “GaN technology is paving the way for more energy-efficient and CO2-saving solutions that support decarbonisation,” he said. “Adoption in applications like mobile charging, data centre power supplies, residential solar inverters, and onboard chargers for electric vehicles is at the tipping point, leading to a dynamic market growth”. Jim Witham, CEO of GaN Systems (pictured), said: “The GaN Systems team is excited about teaming up with Infineon to create highly differentiating customer offerings, based on bringing together complementary strengths. . . . we will optimally leverage the potential of GaN. GaN Systems’ foundry partnerships and Infineon’s in-house manufacturing capacity will enable maximum growth capability, said Witham. “I am very proud of what GaN Systems has accomplished so far and cannot wait to help write the next chapter together with Infineon,” he says. “As an integrated device manufacturer with a broad technology capability, Infineon enables us to unleash our full potential.” GaN offers customers value by higher power density, higher efficiency, and size reductions, especially at higher switching frequencies. These properties enable energy savings and smaller form factors. Market analysts expect GaN revenue for power applications to grow by 56% CAGR by 2027, to approximately US$2bn (source: Yole, Compound Semiconductor Market Monitor-Module I Q4 2022) for a wide range of applications. GaN is one of the key materials for power semiconductors, together with silicon and SiC (silicon carbide). Last year, Infineon invested more than €2bn in a front end fab in Kulim, Malaysia which will operate in addition to Infineon’s existing wide bandgap manufacturing capabilities in Villach, Austria. Infineon acquires GaN Systems for $380m Dr. Alexander Flocke Infineon’s CEO, Jochen Hanebeck
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