www.inteprosystems.com AUTOMATED TEST SYSTEMS 25 www.power-mag.com Issue 1 2025 Power Electronics Europe Automated Test Equipment Revival Repurposing and Extending the Life of Aging ATE Systems Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and Automated Test Systems (ATS) serve the critical purpose of ensuring that electronic devices operate according to specifications in the field. As such, these systems are widely utilized for testing automotive electronics, batteries, telecom infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and consumer electronics. The aerospace and defense sectors also make substantial investments in ATE due to the criticality of electronics utilized in military equipment such as aircraft, naval vessels, and ground vehicles, as well as in various systems like weapons, radar, and wireless communication. The dilemma, however, is that ATE stations are specifically engineered to validate the functionality of the units being tested. A substantial investment in testing equipment is necessary, and then… everything changes. Government contracts may not be renewed or could be entirely terminated. Hardware components become obsolete. Test specifications undergo modifications, sometimes necessitating a complete reconfiguration of the test. At this point, the purpose-built ATE system that costs hundreds of thousands to millions is often left to gather dust, redistributed to another program, sold, salvaged for parts, or scrapped altogether. “Some companies essentially have $300,000 paperweights sitting in their laboratory. At that point, they face a choice – they can find a way to get rid of it or have it refurbished or repurposed to meet the requirements of a new program or test,” says Andrew Engler of Intepro Systems. Founded in 1981, Intepro has supplied Automated Test Equipment (ATE) systems that test power electronics used in various applications. Engler emphasizes that many ATE equipment customers are not aware that updating or repurposing the equipment is even an option. However, experienced ATE system integrators like Intepro can upgrade any hardware component, replace the existing test program, and even reconfigure the entire test. There are significant benefits to this approach, including cost savings when compared to purchasing an Experienced integrators can upgrade hardware components, replace test programs, and reconfigure tests, extending the equipment’s life and functionality. Photo: Intepro Systems refurbished
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