Power electronics
Power electronics are technologies holding the key to unleashing innovation. This power is shown by the wide range of applications these technologies already find: in drives for electricity-powered motors, pumps and ventilators; in manufacturing facilities; in household and consumer entertainment devices; in computers and communication networks; in illumination devices and systems; in in-facility conveyance systems and in elevators; in medical devices and electrochemical facilities; in power plants and distribution grids; in trains and, increasingly, in automobiles (on-board networks and hybrid propulsion systems). Bavaria’s ability to produce and apply power electronics helps account for the state’s position at the forefront of high-tech.
Bavaria’s power electronics cluster is large, with the term referring to its range, size and impact. Range: the cluster is comprised of companies whose products form each link in the chain of value added: components (semiconductors, circuit boards, capacitors, coils/inductors, cooling elements), subassemblies (switching power supplies, inverted rectifiers, traction inverters, power supply units), and devices and facilities incorporating power electronic systems, and services. These include materials developers, testing laboratories, producers of means of production, and engineers of software used in development and simulation. Even when the definition of ‘power electronics’ is restricted to those companies and institutes directly and principally devoting themselves to the researching, developing, producing, distributing, selling and providing of services of and for power electronics (parts and components and subassemblies and subsystems), Bavaria’s sector is still large. It is comprised of some 550 companies. They employ some 110,000 people. Most of the companies are based in the Nuremberg and Munich metropolitan areas.
The world market for power electronic components and systems has annual sales of more than $60 billion. This figure has been growing at a 7% annual rate. These products are incorporated into devices and facilities whose annual sales come to a further one trillion dollars. Electronics’ strategic importance also stems from its ability to increase energy efficiencies. This effect amounts to 10% to 30% in many areas of application. For this reason, forecasts foresee up to 80% of the world’s electricity’s being controlled and regulated by power electronics systems.
Bavaria’s power electronics companies include those producing semiconductors (Infineon, SEMIKRON, EPCOS, SiC), insulation technologies (Kuramik, CeramTec, Kunze), converters (Siemens), automotive electronics (Bosch, Conti, Liebherr, Transtechnik) and accumulators (BMZ).
The following institutes conduct research in the field:
- FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, Center for power electronics, Erlangen (component and propulsion technologies, electrical networks, EMC)
- TUM (Technical University Munich), faculty of electronics and information technologies (power electronics, propulsion technologies, electrical networks, electrodynamics)
- University of the Federal Armed Force Forces, faculty of electronics and information technologies, Munich (power electronics, propulsion technologies)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Component Technologies (IISB), Erlangen, department of power electronics systems
- Center for Power Electronics and Mechatronics (ZKLM), Nuremberg
- Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM), Munich
- Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics, Oberpfaffenhofen
- ZVE Center of Development of Connective Technologies in Electronics, Oberpfaffenhofen/Weßling
- Institute for Electrical Systems (ELSYS), Georg-Simon-Ohm University of Applied Sciences, Nuremberg
- The Universities of Applied Sciences in Aschaffenburg, Amberg-Weiden, Augsburg, Coburg, Kempten, Ingolstadt, Landshut, Munich, Nuremberg and Regensburg.
A large-sized pool of high-qualified personnel for the power electronics industry:
Many of the highly-qualified and motivated personnel staffing Bavaria’s innovative power electronics companies are graduates from the degree programs offered by 3 state universities and 10 universities of applied sciences. Others attended the vocational and ongoing occupation education programs staged by three Fraunhofer institutes and by ECPE, OTTI, Bayern Innovativ, VDE and VDI.
ECPE and Bavaria’s power electronics cluster
ECPE (European Center for Power Electronics e.V.) was founded in 2003 by a number of Bavaria companies in the field. This network of applied industrial research is comprised of some 30 internationally-operating manufacturers. It maintains links to some 40 European universities and research institutes. These constitute the ECPE’s ‘Competence Center’. This founding was complemented by August 2006’s setting up at ECPE of an office of coordination for Bavaria’s companies and institutes of science. This move formed part of Bavaria’s cluster-building initiative. The main activities of ECPE and Bavaria’s clusters are the supporting and facilitating of innovations-producing R & D, technology transfer and application, business partnerships, vocational and further occupational education, and public relations.
Power electronics: leading trade fairs
- PCIM – Power Conversion Intelligent Motion, Nuremberg, annual. One of the world’s leading trade fairs for the power electronics industry.
- SPS / IPC / Drives, Nuremberg, annual. International trade fair for propulsion and automation technologies.
