Infineon Technologies Bipolar, a former Infineon Technologies AG product sector, was spun off in October 2007 as a separate entity in order to serve the increasingly specialized markets of high power semiconductors. Siemens AG participated in the new joint venture. A lot of innovative and significant projects have been undertaken, e.g. from development of semiconductor switches (thyristors) with a silicon wafer diameter of six inches to a 5000A Press Pack IGBT for Gigawatt-HVDC-Transmission Lines. The joint venture combines a more than 75 years long-standing expertise in power electronics with the flexibility and dynamism of a lean and innovative company.
Infineon Technologies Bipolar develops and produces the most advanced bipolar power electronics products for its customers’ systems. The products are the basis for outstanding system solutions – on all continents of the world.
The company is a market leader in the field of bipolar high-performance semiconductors, differentiating by highest quality and reliability products at all times and especially with innovative technologies for, but not only, high demanding applications.
Interview with Claus Panzer, Senior Director Marketing at Infineon Technologies Bipolar GmbH & Co. KG.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Claus Panzer: Infineon Technologies Bipolar develops, produces and supplies key technology components such as bipolar high-performance semiconductors, stack assemblies and Press Pack IGBTs (PPI) for several applications along the entire energy chain – from generation to transmission to consumptions. We address the industrial and energy market such as motor control, renewable energies, high voltage energy transmission, grid stability, uninterruptable power supplies, high power charging system, electrolysis, traction among others. The activities contain technical customer support, power semiconductor chip-design and -production processes development as well as package development, manufacturing and after sales service.
What’s the news about new products/services?
C.P: Infineon Bipolar began by offering a range of high-power thyristors and diodes, and has since expanded to include Press Pack IGBTs for energy transmission, grid stability, and high-power industrial motor drives. This product range completes the broad portfolio of IGBT-plastic-modules of the Infineon AG for the highest power and demanding applications.
In parallel we increased the power density of our bipolar devices by offering premium performance devices to enable customers to increase the performance of their products within the same footprint.
Last but not least Infineon Bipolar opens a new production line in 2025 of so called solder bond modules to address the growing market of cost and performance-optimized devices.
What are the ranges of products/services?
C.P: We offer a broad range of press pack disc housings containing thyristor or diode chips in voltage range of 600V to 9500V and a current range of 300A to 8300A. All discs are assembled in high reliable, robust and hermetic sealed ceramic housings.
As an extension, our product portfolio contains disc types as light triggered thyristors (LTT). Higher reliability thanks of less electronic components on high potential by using the internal protection functions. The power range covers blocking voltages from 5200V to 9500V and current ratings from 500A to 6900A.
We also offer Power Block modules containing thyristors and diodes in voltage range of 1200V to 5500V and a current of 100A up to 1100A. The modules are designed and assembled with highly reliable pressure contact or solder bond technology which addresses the specific requirements of cost and performance-optimized applications. Our modules are offered in several single- and dual-device topologies for almost all phase control or rectifier applications.
Application specific devices for soft starter application complete the module portfolio.
Leading edge IGBT-technology combine with state-of-the-art packaging technologies form the newest portfolio of application-optimized press pack IGBTs from 2000 A to 5000 A at a blocking voltage of 4500V. The PPI-housing is hermetically sealed and specially designed to withstand failure events caused by the system: The PPI offers “short-on-fail” feature and an extremely robust case non-rupture performance.
Last but not least uses our stack assembly family – thyristors and diodes in both press pack or module, water- or air-cooled heat sinks with optional fans as well as snubber components and sensors in standard configurations.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
C.P: We address with our products low- and medium voltage industrial drives and soft starters, Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS), Power Transmission and Distribution and Renewable Energies such as Wind and Hydro-Power. The demand is currently strong nearly among all applications, especially for high power devices.
What can you tell us about market trends?
C.P: The energy industry’s value chain begins with the extraction and procurement of primary energy sources such as coal, oil, gas or biomass. This is followed by the conversion of these primary energy sources into useful energy such as electricity in power or heating plants (generation). In addition, more and more electricity is being generated from renewable energies such as solar, wind and hydropower. This is followed by transmission and distribution to consumers and then utilization of the energy by industry and private consumers.
In addition to equipment and systems for renewable energies and electricity transmission and control of electricity grids, the market for our products is also focussed on capital goods that are used in economic production processes. In addition to political requirements to improve energy efficiency, the issue of life cycle costs for capital goods is also becoming increasingly important.
The industrial markets such as motor control drives are characterized by solid growth. New, innovative products address the need for either cost down at same performance or higher efficiency. The total cost of ownership gets more momentum especially for applications which are supposed to be in service for many decades.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
C.P: We offer a perfect fitting range of Press Pack IGBTs (PPI) for HVDC, StatCom, Energy Storage and Medium Voltage Drives application with its flagship of P5000ZL45X202, a 5000A/4.5kV IGBT switch. The PPIs offer unprecedented power density combined with highest reliability and lifetime. Latest chip-technology in combined with unique package processes enable fail safe mode, hermetically sealed housing, highest case non-rupture values, and low losses.
Infineon Technologies offers a wide range of Premium Thyristor/Diode Modules which allow higher power range in customers´ application without changing the design/frame size for industrial Motor Drives and UPS.
Last but not least we developed customer specific devices for high demanding applications such as Pulse Power, High Power Rectifier, e-marine, Truck-Charging etc.
What estimations do you have for the second half of 2025?
C.P: We expect a sustainable market growth especially for energy generation and transmission due to rapidly increasing investment in energy infrastructure as well as for power supplies for e.g. AI data centers. In these areas, semiconductor demand is increasing in the long term. Industrial markets in general are continuing to navigate our way through an uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical situation. In these areas, semiconductor demand is increasing in the long term.