Tech Insights

Nuremberg Now a Tradition

May 01, 2015 by Bodo Arlt

The first PCIM I remember back in the late 80s was in a hotel in Munich and the exhibition was on table tops in the parking garage. Can you imagine? Since

The first PCIM I remember back in the late 80s was in a hotel in Munich and the exhibition was on table tops in the parking garage. Can you imagine? Since then, we have been coming together annually in Nuremberg and the importance of power electronics has grown immensely. The IGBT replaced bipolar transistor and thyristor designs as the work horse for inverters, and energy has become a crucial subject. Back in the day we looked forward to nuclear sources for a cheap and limitless energy supply, but we now recognize the uncalculated risks of nuclear power. Our lives are too short to understand and accommodate the cooling down of nuclear waste. Moving to renewable energy is the smartest alternative to living with this waste. The world must wake up to this fact.

Energy efficiency has now become a key focus for any kind of design. We have moved from the functionality of electronics, to efficient functionality. As engineers, we can deliver a reduction of energy consumption through technical innovation. This includes the reduction of losses in the switching elements of the now ubiquitous energy-saving inverter. Wide band gap materials, such as SiC and GaN, are paving the way to enhanced designs that meet the challenge of improved efficiency.  Surveying contributed articles for my May issue, I see that the majority are based on wide band gap materials and their applications.

With nearly 30 articles and 116 pages this May edition is another highlight for our publication which, like the industry, continues to grow. Those who have contributed to this strong issue are all leaders in technology. I hope my readers get a great impression of the changes that are happening, possibly triggering you to visit the PCIM in Nuremberg. It is always my pleasure to meet friends from around the world and have a chat.

I look forward to seeing you at my traditional podium discussion at the Fach Forum, Hall 6, Booth 345, on Wednesday May 20th from 11:00 to 12:00. This year’s headline is: “Reliable Volume Production of Wide Band Gap Semiconductors“. Respected innovators from the industry will provide background to help with the decision to start designs with a WBG based switch.

For several years now, articles in Bodo’s Power Systems magazine have detailed the generational change we are experiencing, from established silicon to GaN and SiC. Such communication is the only way to progress. We have delivered four issues this year. All technical articles are archived on my web-site and are also retrievable at PowerGuru. Bodo’s Power Systems reaches readers across the globe. If you speak the language, or just want to have a look, don’t miss our Chinese version: www.bodospowerchina.com.

My Green Power Tip for May: 

White asparagus is the vegetable of the season here in Germany. Look for a local producer to limit transportation pollution and ensure it’s been freshly harvested!

See you in Nuremberg.

Best regards,