An in-depth look at how one manufacturer, X-FAB, and PowerAmerica worked together to adopt a new technology, retain 400 jobs, and build a foundation for jobs of the future -- all while bringing innovation to an industry that was once on the decline.
Facing risks of making large investments for technology upgrades in thier factorty, X-FAB worked with PowerAmerica to accelerate market adoption of the new technology.
According to Andy Wilson, Director of Strategic Business Development at X-FAB, “In January 2015, PowerAmerica, one of the manufacturing hubs of Manufacturing USA, officially opened its doors and launched with a public-private collaboration to accelerate the market adoption of wide bandgap semiconductor power devices. X-FAB Texas joined PowerAmerica and this partnership with PowerAmerica allowed us to accelerate our investment and establish a Silicon Carbide (SiC) pilot line to validate the concept of running SiC wafers in a Silicon fab. The industry collaborations provided by PowerAmerica allowed us to expand our SiC customer base. Additionally, PowerAmerica funded projects demonstrating the advantages of this new material and helping assure that the market would be ready for the SiC devices we will be producing. PowerAmerica is the first federally funded program in which we have participated. This program has been an outstanding success."
Read the full article on the White House blog.