Power and automation technology provider ABB has said that it will further expand the capacity of its main manufacturing unit for high-power semiconductors in Lenzburg, Switzerland.
ABB will invest $50m to add production equipment to increase manufacturing capacity for highvoltage IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) devices and modules. An IGBT is a power semiconductor device used for high efficiency and fast switching of electricity in power electronic circuits.
The company hopes to increase production to meet the growing demand for high-voltage power semiconductors.
The expansion is expected to be completed by 2012.
The last time the company increased its capacity and infrastructure at the Lenzburg facility was in 2009, when it invested $150m. The facility had then added over 200 employees at the plant.
ABB Power Systems division chief Peter Leupp said this investment will increase the production capacity and ability to meet the growing demand for high-voltage power semiconductors.
Leupp said, "Semiconductors are key components for technologies that help address market needs such as integration of renewable energies, the development of critical infrastructure like power and rail and greater energy efficiency."
