Infineon widens SiC supply basis
In order to be able to satisfy the exploding demand for energy-efficient SiC components in the medium term, Infineon has contracted two more suppliers for SiC precursors.
The measure is also intended to diversify the supply chain, they say – but both suppliers come from China. This could have something to do with the fact that China’s carmakers are among Infineon’s biggest customers.
Under the agreements, SiCC Co, Ltd from Shandong will supply silicon carbide wafers and boules to Infineon, as will TanKeBlue from Beijing. The wafers from both suppliers will be supplied in 150mm format; in a second phase, the two companies will also support Infineon’s switch to 200mm wafers. Each of the two suppliers will cover a double-digit percentage share of the demand for SiC components.Infineon is currently doubling its investments in SiC technology and the expansion of its SiC product portfolio.
According to Infineon, the measure serves to secure the SiC supply and to diversify the supplier base. However, China already dominates the global market for SiC materials with a 56% share. “Infineon is significantly expanding its manufacturing capacity at its sites in Malaysia and Austria to meet the growing demand for SiC,” explained Angelique van der Burg, Chief Procurement Officer at Infineon. “In this context, we are pursuing a multi-supplier, multi-country sourcing strategy to increase resilience for the benefit of our broad customer base,” van der Burg said.
The wafers and boules supplied by SiCC and TanKeBlue will be processed at Infineon’s fabs in Kulim and Villach. SiC materials are used in inverters for electric vehicles – where they help to increase the range of the vehicles. They are also used in charging stations and wallboxes. Here they make it possible to shorten charging times and reduce the dimensions of the devices.
Infineon intends to achieve a global market share of 30% for SiC products by the end of the decade. To achieve this, the company plans to increase its SiC manufacturing capacity tenfold by 2027. A new plant in Kulim, Malaysia, is scheduled to start production in 2024, complementing Infineon’s manufacturing capacity in Villach, Austria. The new “Module 4” at Infineon’s Dresden manufacturing site, for which ground was broken this week, is also scheduled to be operational by 2026.
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