Semikron circuit board awarded PCB Design Award by Fachverband für Design, Leiterplatten und Elektronikfertigung FED in High Power category

Semikron laureate Michael Schleicher awarded for his "above common standards" circuit board design / best documentation of all contestants / Häusermann provide support in packaging technology with their HSMtec circuit board technology

Michael Schleicher, PCB designer at SEMIKRON, a leading global manufacturer of power semiconductors, has won the PCB Design Award by the Fachverband für Design, Leiterplatten und Elektronikfertigung FED in the High Power category. A jury of six people evaluated the designs in more than 50 criteria. The SEMIKRON circuit board prevailed over contestants from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  

The award-winning circuit board is part of the MCB assembly (Multi-Converter-Box; IGBT-based multiple drive unit for automotive applications). The assembly presented includes more than eight technical challenges, such as distances for air and creepage, ampacity of the eleven power paths in a 105° C environment and low heat input, meandering structure of the placement, analog inverter phase current measurement, low-resistance power supply and separately routed bus systems.     

“With the support from Häusermann technologists, we were able to find the perfect packaging technology for our clients. The HSMtec circuit board technology empowers the embedding of high voltage lines with ideal cross-sections with high-precision positioning into the board. Understanding the challenge and implementing it was fun“, says Michael Schleicher. "I am also very delighted about my award for the documentation." In his award speech, presenter Stephan Weyhe of FED pointed out the paramount function of a perfect documentation in electronic design. Given this background, the jury would explicitly point out the quality of the presented documentation, which is by far the most professional one in the competition.    

The work of the circuit board designer impacts the costs and quality of a circuit board’s future production as well as its fitting and assembly. The Fachverband für Design, Leiterplatten und Elektronikfertigung FED issued the PCB Design Award for the first time this year, awarding the performance of circuit board designer in the German-speaking markets. Other categories include 3D/form factor, HDI and creativity.

About SEMIKRON:

SEMIKRON is a global manufacturer of power semiconductors, primarily in the medium power range (approx. 2kW to 10MW). Applications include speed-controlled industrial drive units, automation technology, welding equipment and elevators. Other applications include uninterrupted power supply (UPS), renewable energies (wind, solar) as well as electric and hybrid vehicles (commercial cars, conveyances, sports cars, passenger cars). The family enterprise has its headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany. It was founded in 1951, and employs more than 3,000 people worldwide. An international network of 37 companies and production plants in Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Korea, Slovakia, South Africa and the USA ensures rapid and comprehensive services for local customers. With the foundation of its subsidiary, SindoPower, in 2009, SEMIKRON also extended its distribution channels. SindoPower, an e-commerce company, sells power electronic products online, and offers competent technical consulting to small and medium businesses.