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Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre

Growing UK manufacturing in power electronics, machines and drives

CSA Catapult leads the Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre (DER-IC) for the South West and Wales. 

 

The DER-IC is a UK-wide network of over 30 universities and research and technology organisations (RTOs). 

Funded through a £80 million investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the DER-IC was initiated to develop clean, resilient technology supply chains in power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) and push the UK towards Net Zero. 

The DER-IC for the South West and Wales is a national centre of excellence that helps businesses and researchers develop and prototype new PEMD technologies and manufacturing processes. 

CSA Catapult received significant funding from the DER-IC programme to equip a state-of-the-art lab with equipment unique to the UK focusing on multi-material 3D printing for advanced packages. 

Paul Jarvie

centre lead, DER-IC South West and Wales

“Advanced packaging is unleashing the potential offered by a new breed of high efficiency, high voltage power electronic (wide bandgap) compound semiconductor devices such as SiC and GaN.

"The capability to fast prototype additive 3D ceramic and metal printed package solutions for our customers is a game changer that promises to revolutionise the approach to device packaging previously unavailable.

"The overall system efficiency benefits unlocked by this smaller, lighter and power dense technology, promises to help industry accelerate their delivery on multi-sector commitments towards zero emissions through a localised supply chain.”

A national network for power electronics 

The DER-IC network reduces the cost and risk of manufacturing PEMD in the UK by providing open access to expertise and state-of-the-art manufacturing, test and validation equipment. 

PEMD technologies enable more efficient control and delivery of electrical energy and include propulsion in transportation, energy generation and distribution, industrial machines and robotics.  

The DER-IC network supports the development of PEMD technologies through: 

  • Product and manufacturing process equipment design
  • Manufacturing process development and optimisation
  • Prototype manufacture and scale-up support
  • In-process and end-of-line test and validation
  • Materials and components characterisation
  • Electrification skills learning and development

Our capabilities at CSA Catapult

We provide access to state-of-the-art equipment that provides multi-material 3D printing for advanced packages. 

Our suite of equipment is the UK’s first in an open-access lab and is operated by our team of advanced packaging experts, who provide unique and novel packaging solutions for devices that operate with high power densities and can tolerate higher operating temperatures. 

Our lab is a prototype facility for ceramic and copper packaging elements and sub-assemblies for integrated modules, which enables a combination of mixed metal and ceramic printing to be applied to chip packages, heat sinks and PCB designs. 

Our equipment and capabilities are perfectly suited to novel components with complex geometries.  

Multi-material 3D printing

Our multi-material 3D printing equipment can quickly prototype novel packages with high thermal conductivity using ceramic and mixed material for higher power and performance packaging. 

Capabilities: 

  • Ceramic 3D printer 
  • Thermal optimisation 
  • Ceramic debinder furnace – ceramic post process 
  • Ceramic oxide oven – post process 
  • Ceramic sintering furnace – high temperature ceramics 
  • Cleaning station 

Metal 3D printing

Our 3D metal printer can create fast prototypes for embedded packages and modules using copper or other conductive materials. 

Capabilities: 

  • Metal 3D printer 
  • Printing materials supply 
  • Metal debinding oven – debinding process for package 
  • Metal sintering oven – sintering process 

Metrology and processing tools

We have an optimised laser system that can dice and drill semiconductor and ceramic materials for novel package designs. 

Capabilities: 

  • Tensile testing equipment 
  • Fully automated Vickers micro hardness tester 
  • Laser cutting/drilling machine 
  • Lapping and polishing machine 
  • Density/volume measurement for 3D object 

Our expertise

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Power electronics

Power electronics

Our world-leading team of experts has the know-how, experience and track record in developing and commercialising high-performing power electronics devices for automotive, energy and industrial applications.

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RF & microwave communications

RF & microwave communications

Our radio frequency and microwave communications experts help optimise the performance and improve the energy efficiency of RF and microwave devices in future telecoms, space, defence and security industries.

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