Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Electronica 2024 in Munich concluded on 15th November 2024. The event highlighted the industry’s progress while addressing the inherent challenges of sustainability, power management, and efficiency in rapid technological growth. 

WAWT (Wired and Wireless Technologies), a leading strategic technology analyst and consulting firm specialising in power supplies and wireless power markets provides a glimpse from one of the world’s largest power electronics shows, the Electronica 2024. 

WAWT was impressed seeing a wide profile of numerous (nearly 4000) exhibitors) at this event which was attended by a large audience. Exhibitors and companies who were present but were not exhibiting at any booth were all very excited, energetic and optimistic about a great future. They were also very confident about their latest innovative offerings which were set to create a meaningful and positive difference and make this planet a better place to live (read efficiency and sustainability).

WAWT’s subject matter expert, Dinesh Kithany, summarises the Electronica 2024 event based on key vital observations. He states, “While there were minimal activities from the wireless power market, the power supply market saw almost every power supply vendor offering a new and innovative product and solution. From the application perspective, most power supply vendors focused on the automotive, datacentres, medical, and railway sectors. Innovative DC-DC Converters type of power solutions were also in the news. The first important insight was that, as most power supply vendors had introduced a range of power supply solutions, the product development and business strategy of only a few of them were in sync with the latest findings of WAWT’s latest comprehensive research on power supply market titled AC-DC and DC-DC Merchant Power Supply Market Report – 2024 Edition. Many vendors seem to focus on ‘not-so-promising’ application markets or sub-segments which are not projected to grow faster in the short term (2-3 years). There seems to be some level of mismatch which companies need to carefully re-access. The second vital insight was that the market is expected to recover to decent levels not before Q2 of 2025 as current inventory levels seem to be still high and the demand is expected to remain sluggish (but relatively better than the last two quarters) until then.

Here are some highlights from Electronica 2024 which was held in Munich from November 11^th to 15^th.

AI at Electronica 2024

Of course, the discussions on AI and ML (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) flooded the numerous halls of the fair, and even the CEO roundtable couldn’t resist debating its larger-than-life implications. Despite a dedicated forum for AI/ML, AI was extensively discussed in other Electronica forums. There were mentions of the hardware implications and challenges of using AI in the Automotive forum with the shift towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). In fact, the Arrow SAM Car project’s first-ever AI-based steering system in the Arrow Electronics’ booth caught the attention of many attendees. The AI steering system apparently uses face detection and a Jetson AGX Orin module to control a race car.  

AI Datacenters shifting trends in the power supply market

However, the power consumption tied to AI’s growth is a pressing concern for datacenters and power supply chains. The demand for data-intensive processing pushes power usage to newer heights, prompting companies to seek energy-efficient solutions. 

Navitas Semiconductor took a bold step by showcasing their 8.5 kW power supply unit (PSU), designed specifically for next-gen AI and hyperscale data centers. 

Even Infineon Technologies presented their latest 650V and 750V CoolSiC Generation 2 and 600 V CoolMOS 8 MOSFETs for the AI servers. 

Flex Power modules, on the other hand, introduced a high-power DC-DC converter (power supplies) and an intermediate bus converter for AI datacenters at this trade fair. The company also made an announcement about acquiring JetCool Technologies, a liquid cooling company. 

Pioneering GaN Power Devices for Enhanced Systems

Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) were thoroughly in focus at the Power Electronics Forum. The general emphasis was on the sustainability of wide band gap semiconductors. GaN, however, stole the stage. 

Infineon Technologies’ session on CoolGaN, Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) on ICeGaN amongst others tried giving an insight into the next leap in power electronics with GaN. 

Innoscience’s Dr. Denis Marcon’s presentation, “Enabling Smaller, More Efficient and Cheaper Power Converter Systems with Price-Competitive GaN Power Devices,” also caught our attention. He emphasized how InnoGaN and SolidGaN devices (Innoscience’s WBG technologies) offer significant advantages over silicon-based alternatives in both AC-DC and DC-DC converters, positioning them as game-changers for future power systems. This emergence of the material underscores the sector’s push for smaller, high-performance devices that align with global energy efficiency goals.

SiC devices in the spotlight 

Companies like STMicroelectronics showcased their new STGAP3S family of galvanically isolated gate drivers, which cater to high-efficiency requirements in IGBTs and SiC MOSFETs. 

ROHM also introduced new SiC Schottky barrier diodes, aimed at high-voltage electric vehicle (xEV) systems. With a design that enhances creepage distance, these diodes cater to the shift from traditional 12 V architectures to more robust 48 V systems. This is crucial since the automotive industry’s pivot towards electrification is clear, demanding higher power, efficiency, and durability in semiconductor components.

But perhaps the evolving power needs of the automotive sector were demonstrated by TDK Lambda Germany which dragged in an all-electric race car to the Electronica 2024. The company also displayed its first programmable AC power source–GENESYS AC and GENESYS AC PRO series–and the GSPPS DC power supply and a few other products.

Gate Driver Technology and Industrial Applications

In the realm of power conversion, Nexperia unveiled a suite of gate driver integrated circuits (ICs) suitable for synchronous buck and half-bridge configurations. These ICs reflect the industry’s drive towards refining control mechanisms for power conversion, which is vital for applications that range from industrial systems to consumer electronics. 

Complementing these advancements, Microchip Technology presented their IGBT 7 devices, aimed at enhancing thermal and electrical performance in power-heavy environments.

A Shift Towards Smarter Battery Management System (BMS) and DC-DC Solutions

NXP Semiconductors along with MathWorks unveiled Model-Based Design Toolbox for Battery Management Systems. This BMS, based on Ultra Wide Band Gap technology, could deliver enhanced precision and safety, crucial as electric vehicles (EVs) continue to dominate new automotive development. As intelligence enters the battery realm, the EV arena too gets more exciting.

The promise of cutting cords continues

We witnessed quite a few wireless power technology solution providers presenting their cool wireless power solutions though at a limited scale. We had Amphenol, Renesas, Sunway Communications, Superworld, and Wurth Electronics, presenting their wide range of wireless power-based innovative coil designs and solutions for low-frequency inductive-based (WPC’s Qi1/Qi2/Ki, Apple’s MagSafe and other proprietary solutions) as well as NFC Wireless Charging-based solutions. These coil designs were set to be suitable for a wide range of devices. This confirms WAWT’s forecast of increasing adoption of wireless power technology across application markets/devices.

Delta Electronics also presented its wide range of wireless power solutions specific to the industrial and logistics sectors. They were for AGVs and AMRs, across power classes (1KW, 3KW, 12KW and 30KW).

From a long-distance wireless charging technology perspective, we had a leading RF-based wireless power technology company, Powercast Corporation exhibiting its solution for a wide range of applications across retail, industrial, consumer and packaging sectors  Powercast also exhibited its partner Powermat’s wireless power solution for low and medium-power applications.

Industry Outlook: A Complex Yet Promising Future

While the industry showcases rapid technological growth, challenges remain. Economic and political uncertainties continue to be risk factors, but the consensus at Electronica 2024 suggests a cautious optimism for a future driven by innovation and sustainability. 

Strategic collaborations and acquisitions reflect a forward-thinking approach that blends innovation with practical problem-solving to meet global demands.

As Electronica 2024 demonstrated, the power electronics sector is poised to tackle its challenges head-on. From advancements in GaN technology and intelligent power solutions to strategic moves in thermal management, the path ahead is marked by progress and adaptability.

Footnotes: 

WAWT has endeavoured to capture as much news and insight on the power supply and wireless power markets through its full presence and lot many meetings at the Electronica 2024 Trade Show and by engaging with industry associates before and after this key event.

This is a summarised version of WAWT’s event-based insight report which highlights the latest news and trends across the power supply and wireless power market based on Electronica 2024 segmented by general theme. 

Please note that the above news and trend items are not a complete and exhaustive list but represent the profile of news and announcements made at Electronica 2024. Additionally, the news items listed above are not presented in any specific order or hierarchy.

We would appreciate your feedback on the above insight report from WAWT™ covering the Electronica 2024 Trade Fair held in Munich. More details on such news, trends and insights are covered in WAWT’s subscription-based “Power Supply Intelligence Service” and “Wireless Power Intelligence Service”.

To discuss these latest market trends and insights further, please feel free to contact our subject matter expert, Dinesh Kithany, Founder and Chief Analyst of Wired and Wireless Technology (WAWT) at analyst@wawt.tech or write to us at WAWT™.

Wired and Wireless Technology (WAWT) is the leading and most trustworthy strategic technology analyst and consulting firm focusing on the power supply and wireless power industry. No one covers and delivers critical market data, insights, intelligence and strategy on these markets like WAWT.