|
March 5, 2008...
Spire Corporation of Bedford, Massachusetts USA, a global solar company, announced that it has received a purchase order for its advanced Single Long Pulse Solar Simulator from the United States Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) located in Golden, Colorado.
NREL is one of several laboratories worldwide that is currently accredited to perform current-voltage (I-V) measurements of photovoltaic modules and issue International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certificates. The larger solar modules being made requires that the NREL use an advanced pulsed Simulator that will handle these larger units.
Spire will delivering the SPI-SUN Simulator 4600SLP, its newest model, to the NREL. The solar module testing device is reportedly able to accommodate modules up to 200 centimeters by 137 centimeters. Spire boasts that the Simulator meets the highest Class A spectrum and spatial uniformity requirements of ASTM International (originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
"It is an honor to have your equipment selected by the laboratory that sets the standard for the industry," said Roger G. Little, Spire's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our Sun Simulator is recognized in the forefront of the solar module field and we are committed to its consistent improvement and evolution."
Company News Release
 |
Fairchild Semiconductor Listed Among '100 Best Corporate Citizens'
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 5, 2008...Fairchild Semiconductor of San Jose, California USA, a supplier of power electronics, has been recognized as one of the ‘100 Best Corporate Citizens’ by CRO Magazine in their annual ranking of public companies in the United States.
“Fairchild is honored to be included in this list of companies that are recognized for their sustainability initiatives and corporate responsibility actions,” said Mark Thompson, Fairchild’s president and CEO. “With the world energy concerns, semiconductor suppliers have the opportunity, and obligation, to design products that reduce the demand for power and to develop practices that encourage environmental stewardship in our facilities.”
CRO compiled the 100 Best in partnership with IW Financial, a research and consulting firm in environment, social, and governance issues. They ranked the corporate responsibility efforts of large-cap companies from the Russell 1000 index in eight categories: Climate Change, Employee Relations, Environment, Financial, Governance, Human Rights, Lobbying and Philanthropy. Transparency was required to get the data from public sources . is an important component of corporate responsibility and the results were based on publicly-available data from sources such as financial disclosures, sustainability, environment and citizenship reports, websites, EPA databases and others.
“Some companies have good environmental policies,” said Mark Bateman, director of Research at IW Financial. “Some companies have great employee relations. Some companies have exemplary human rights records. CRO's 100 Best Corporate Citizens list answers the question: Which companies do best across a wide variety of citizenship issues?” Fairchild Semiconductor News Release
Global Solar Introduces PowerFlex Material at WIREC 2008
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 5, 2008...Global Solar, a maker of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells, has introduced its PowerFlex material at this week’s Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) in Washington D.C. Global solar is showcasing the lightweight, conformable material that the company says is being integrated into products to combine power and building material functionality. Global Solar points out that the material greatly expands the company's potential solar applications. Global Solar says that to manufacture the pliable photovoltaic material called PowerFlex, it deposits CIGS materials onto a thin, pliable and unbreakable substrate. In addition to the PowerFlex material, the Company produces standard CIGS solar cells and glass module solar cell strings compatible with traditional glass manufacturing worldwide.
“The unique combination of high efficiency, low cost and flexibility offered by PowerFlex opens Global Solar to new emerging markets, such as Building Integrated PV (BIPV),” said Mike Gering, CEO of Global Solar. “Now, in addition to supplying our thin-film cells to the traditional glass module markets, we can furnish companies with highly-efficient, affordable and flexible material to be built directly into commercial, residential and government products of their design.” Company News Release
 |
RFMD Introduces Two New InGaP HBT Power Amplifiers for Wireless Base Station Applications
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 5, 2008...RF Micro Devices, a wireless solution developer, has introduced two new power amplifiers, the SPA-1426Z and SPA-1526Z. The SPA-1426Z and SPA-1526Z are one-watt and two-watt, respectively, Indium Gallium Phosphide (InGaP) power amplifiers for base station applications across all cellular standards and frequencies.
According to RFMD, the power amplifiers exhibit industry-leading backed-off linearity performance, which is particularly critical to WCDMA high power amplifier (HPA) applications. They are housed in RFMD's proprietary SOF-26 package. RFMD says both devices lead their product class with lower thermal resistance (Rth) and lower power dissipation, and they are RoHS and WEEE compliant. The SPA-1426Z and SPA-1526Z offer on-chip active bias circuitry and bias control pins. They have an input power detector and rugged class 1C ESD rating (greater than 1KV HBM). The SPA-1426Z and SPA-1526Z are priced at $5.78 and $7.38, respectively, in quantities of 1,000 units with immediate sample availability. Company News Release RFMD Completes Acquisition of Filtronic Compound Semiconductors
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 3, 2008...RFMD of Greensboro, North Carolina USA, a wireless solution developer, announced the completion of its acquisition of Filtronic Compound Semiconductors Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Filtronic PLC. Under the terms of the transaction, RFMD paid about 12.5 million pounds in cash for Filtronic Compound Semiconductors. RFMD noted that the price included the purchase of Filtronic Compound Semiconductors' millimeter wave RF semiconductor business, and the purchase of Filtronic Compound Semiconductors' six-inch GaAs wafer fabrication facility ("fab") at Newton Aycliffe, United Kingdom. RFMD predicts that the addition of Filtronic Compound Semiconductors' high-volume GaAs fab will reduce the company’s GaAs pHEMT manufacturing costs in addition to providing incremental GaAs manufacturing capacity increase. RFMD says the capacity increase will support its anticipated growth in the near furture. RFMD will add Filtronic Compound Semiconductors' microwave and millimeter wave component business. RFMD indicated that the business will strengthen the product portfolio of its Multi-Market Products Group (MPG) with profitable products.
Bob Bruggeworth, president and chief executive officer of RFMD, said, “With the acquisition of Filtronic Compound Semiconductors, RFMD significantly benefits in three ways. First, the acquisition significantly lowers our overall GaAs cost structure, which we believe will result in improved margins as calendar year 2008 progresses. Second, RFMD’s GaAs capacity is increased by approximately 30 percent, giving us the flexibility to capture near-term demand upside and defer future fab-related capital outlays. Finally, we acquire a strong microwave and millimeter wave business that adds profitable, high-margin revenue to MPG.” Company News Release Pirelli Starts Subsidiary, PGT Photonics
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 3, 2008...Pirelli, a photonics and optical component company of Milan, Italy, has set up PGT Photonics, an optical communications subsidiary.
Pirelli said that the new subsidiary will specialize in second generation photonics based on nanotechnologies. PGT’s comprehensive product offering includes Pirelli's DTL Tunable Laser, ITLA, 300-PIN MSA Transponders, and DWDM XFP Transceivers. The subsidiary will also have its headquarters in Milan, but its sales office will reside in Atlanta, Georgia USA.
Pirelli noted that it incorporated the new company to integrate the Photonics business unit of Pirelli Broadband Solutions and the Optical Innovation division of Pirelli Labs. Pirelli indicated that it incorporated the new subsidiary to generate greater synergies between R&D activities and the commercialization of its growing product portfolio of optical components and modules. The subsidiary's main technology will be Pirelli’s Dynamically Tunable Laser. Pirelli said that the small footprint device reduces optical network costs.
"With a more flexible structure suited for the Optical Communications sector, we will be more closely focusing on our core business while simultaneously leveraging our expertise in order to meet the needs of the marketplace in a timely manner," said Claudio De Conto, General Manager for the Pirelli Group and Chairman for PGT Photonics. Company News Release Oxford Instruments Announces All-time-record Orders for Month
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 3, 2008...Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology Ltd reports that it achieved its highest order for a month in the company’s 25 year history. During February the company received orders for 20 systems; amongst these is an Ion Beam Cluster System to the value of over £1m, and five production tools for a manufacturing facility in Malaysia. The company says it hopes to double the size of its business by 2010, and it indicated that the increase in orders demonstrates it is well on track to achieving this growth. Oxford Instruments says it provides etching, deposition, and growth solutions for micro and nano structures. It also offers flexible and configurable process tools including its renowned Ion Beam Cluster System.
Mark Vosloo, Sales and Customer Support Director comments, “We are extremely pleased to have achieved an exceptional level of orders in February. This is in line with our target to double the company’s turnover by 2010. It is also an endorsement of Oxford Instruments’ position at the forefront of providing high quality, innovative process tools which are clearly answering the customers’ needs. They are responding by placing record numbers of orders with Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology.” Company News Release TRUenergy Invests in Efficient Solar Technology
CompoundSemi News StaffFebruary 27, 2008...Solar Systems of Melbourne, Australia signed a $290 million development agreement with the integrated energy company, TRUenergy (TRU). Under the agreement, construction of a large and efficient solar photovoltaic power stations will begin in 2009 in Victoria, Australia. TRUenergy has given $40 million to Solar Systems in for 20 percent ownership. TRU says that the investment will help ensure growth and continued success in the development of concentrated photovoltaics.
TRU points out that its investment in Solar Systems will also help fund the development of one of what the company says is among the largest solar manufacturing facilities . The facility will supply concentrated solar photovoltaic modules for use in the Northern Victorian power plant and other locations around the world. Also, TRU will provide seven million dollars for the development of a two megawatt (MW) heliostat concentrated photovoltaic pilot plant, then it will invest up to $285 million to build the remainder of the project. TRU’s funding will add to the $129.5 million of Federal and Victorian Government funds already earmarked for the project. The photovoltaic plant will produce 154 MW of solar cells originally developed for satellites. TRU says that this is enough to power 45,000 homes. The project will also create 950 new jobs during construction.
TRUenergy reports that its parent company, CLP, has also entered into a ten year joint Development Agreement with Solar Systems, to support the deployment of up to one gigawatt (GW) of concentrated photovoltaic technology across Asia Pacific Partnership countries. TRUenergy News Release Fairchild Introduces Power SPM to Meet Energy Star Requirements for Power Supplies
CompoundSemi News StaffFebruary 27, 2008...Fairchild has introduced its Smart Power Module to meet Energy Star requirements for power supplies. Fairchild says its Smart Power Module (SPM) in its line of Power products, the Power SPM, increases efficiency in power supplies to meet stringent United States Department of Energy’s Energy Star requirements.
According to the company, the Power-SPM FPP06R001 is a highly integrated synchronous rectification module that boosts power efficiency while allowing more rugged and space efficient power supply designs. The device incorporates two PowerTrench MOSFETs and a high current gate driver in a compact transfer-molded package. Fairchild boasts that the design of the Power-SPM eliminates up to 10 discrete components and reduces board space by 20 percent. Addtionally the company contends that it provides 10 percent lower on-resistance and 16 percent lower stray inductance compared to discrete solutions, which results in lower thermal dissipation and reduced voltage stress. Fairchild notes that the high efficiency of the device helping power supply designs meet next generation Energy Star requirements that specify that power supplies must achieve 85 percent or greater efficiency at normal output load conditions.
Company News Release Our news features are reported
by the CompoundSemi News staff writers.
For submissions or content suggestions, you can contact us using
editor -at - compoundsemi.com
For more information and to reserve promotion space contact
Info7 -at - compoundsemi.com
or call +1 (512) 257-9888
|
