Together with Star Semiconductor, HuaHong Semiconductor Achieves Mass Production of Automotive-Grade IGBT Chips and 12-Inch IGBTs!

According to a post on HuaHong Macro’s official WeChat account, on June 24, HuaHong Semiconductor and IGBT company StarPower Semiconductor held a “HuaHong Semiconductor Automotive-Grade IGBT and 12-Inch IGBT Mass Production Ceremony” and signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two companies jointly announced that the high-power automotive-grade IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) chips they have developed together have passed product verification by leading automakers and have now been widely adopted in automotive applications such as powertrain units.

Image source: HuaHong Hongli

According to reports, during their years of collaboration, HuaHong Semiconductor and Star Semiconductor have fully leveraged their respective strengths and resources, strengthened technological innovation, and devoted themselves to the R&D and production of IGBTs in multiple fields including automotive electronics, variable-frequency drives, inverter welders, UPS systems, photovoltaic/wind power generation, and white goods. Currently, a series of products covering various voltage levels—such as 650V, 750V, 950V, 1200V, and 1700V—have passed end-customer evaluations and have entered mass production. The cumulative shipments of IGBTs jointly developed by the two companies have exceeded 250,000 equivalent 8-inch wafers.

In 2020, HuaHong Semiconductor integrated 8-inch IGBT technology into its 12-inch production line. Through less than a year of R&D, it successfully established an IGBT wafer fabrication process on the 12-inch line. The resulting products have smoothly passed customer certification, making HuaHong Semiconductor the world’s first pure-wafer foundry to achieve mass production of advanced trench-gate field-stop (FS) IGBTs simultaneously on both 8-inch and 12-inch production lines. All four of HuaHong Semiconductor’s “8-inch + 12-inch” facilities have obtained IATF 16949 automotive quality management system certification. Currently, HuaHong Semiconductor’s 12-inch IGBT output has exceeded 10,000 wafers, and all electrical performance parameters remain at outstanding levels.

Image source: HuaHong Hongli

Star Semiconductor has consistently been dedicated to the design, manufacturing, and testing of IGBT chips as well as IGBT modules. HuaHong Semiconductor pointed out that Star Semiconductor is the only domestic supplier to have entered the global top 10 for IGBT module providers. In 2020, its automotive-grade IGBT modules—produced using its proprietary chips—were supplied to over 200,000 vehicles in the global market.

Tang Junjun, President and Executive Director of HuaHong Semiconductor, stated that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between HuaHong Semiconductor and StarPower Semiconductor not only affirms their previous excellent collaboration but also marks the beginning of a new stage of development in their partnership.

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