Posts Tagged ‘Year’

Power Management Semiconductors to Enjoy Unparalleled Growth This Year

July 4th, 2011

According to the semiconductor market research firm iSuppli Corp., fueled by gains in both the commercial and industrial sectors, the power management semiconductor industry will finish 2010 on a high note that will be unmatched over the next few years.

Comprising integrated circuits and discretes, power management semiconductors will generate $31.4 billion in 2010, up a sizable 39.9 percent from $22.4 billion in 2009. This year’s expansion not only will reverse the losses of 2009—when revenue declined by 15.8 percent—it also will be unequaled during the next four years, none of which will enjoy growth higher than 13 percent.

“Growth was solid for the first half of the year, marked by an exceptionally robust first quarter, due mainly to demand in the industrial and communication markets, as well as to deliveries that had been pushed to the start of this year after the component shortages of late 2009,” said Marijana Vukicevic, Principal Analyst (Power Management) at iSuppli. “Revenue will continue to expand into the third quarter, iSuppli data show, after which the market will slow as the year ends, in keeping with normal seasonal patterns. For the second half of the year, growth will be propelled by demand in the consumer electronics, wireless and data processing sectors, reflecting the overall improvement of the Consumer Confidence Index. Prices, however, are likely to increase as backlogs ease at the backend, and some time will be needed before supply catches up with demand.”

Power management market to continue strong growth until 2014

Over the next five years, a good part of growth in power management semiconductors will derive from the vibrant alternative energy market, which will bring inverters to the attention of many suppliers. The need for inverters—devices that convert direct current to alternating current—will stem from applications in the automotive, solar and wind turbine markets. Revenue is expected to more than double by 2014, reaching $7.2 billion, compared to $2.9 billion in 2009.

Among the various types of power management semiconductors, the fastest growth will take place among power MOSFETs, a kind of discrete semiconductor device designed to handle large amounts of power.

Power MOSFET revenue will increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 20.8 percent, during 2009 to 2014—higher than any type of power management semiconductor in either the discrete or Integrated Circuit (IC) category.

Within the power MOSFET group, the best performer will be low-voltage discretes, exploding at a runaway CAGR of 25.6 percent during the same period of time with forecasted revenue by 2014 of $4.9 billion, iSuppli data show. Several markets will contribute to the growth of low-voltage power MOSFETs, including wired communications, consumer, automotive and industrial.

Overall, ICs will slightly outpace discretes in growth during the period. Total revenue for integrated circuits will climb from $12.4 billion in 2009 to $25.3 billion by 2014—a CAGR of 15.3 percent. In comparison, total revenue for discretes will rise from $10.0 billion to $19.7 billion—a CAGR of 14.5 percent.

Power management semiconductors as a whole are expected to grow about 15 percent, driven mainly by the notebook market, server infrastructure replacement and alternative energy requirements issuing from hybrid and electric vehicles, wind and solar energy and grid upgrades.

iSuppli believes that, furthermore, observable improvements in the efficiency of electronics products and processes that make use of the semiconductors—everything from power tools to forklifts, from trains to cars—can be considered an emerging trend for power management.

Learn more about the latest developments in the power management market with Vukicevic’s report, entitled – ‘Is the Industrial Market Really Catching Up with Consumer Markets?’ at http://www.isuppli.com/Semiconductor-Value-Chain/Pages/Power-Management-Semiconductors-Is-the-Industrial-Market-Really-Catching-Up-with-Consumer-Markets.aspx

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Successful Year so Far For Skoda

July 4th, 2011

Skoda UK is celebrating a very happy new year with the news of the company most successful ever year in 2010. The company saw total registration for the year reach a new high of 41,240 which is a 10.5% increase on 2009 and a 2% market share, another milestone in the continued success for the Czech brand. In the UK, Skoda’s bestselling model was the new and used Skoda Octavia Estate /Saloon with 17,000 vehicles sold, followed by the Skoda Fabia with 15,000 sold, the Skoda Superb with 3,411 units sold, which is up 29% on 2009, the Skoda Yeti with 4,357 vehicles, and Skoda Roomster with 1,667 vehicles.

Skoda Auto achieved its best ever sales result in 2010 with 762,600 vehicles sold, which is an increase of 11.5% when compared with 2009 (2009: 684,200), breaking the threshold of three quarters of a million vehicles sold for the first time in the company’s history. Robert Hazelwood, Skoda UK Director said, “Skoda continues to go from strength to strength in the UK. Demand for all products in our five model line-up surged in the past twelve months. Customers recognise that Skoda is a brand that delivers great quality cars at outstanding value for money, delivered and serviced by retailers who take excellent care of their customers, as evidenced by our consistently strong performance in the J D Power Survey, in which we finished in the top ten cars manufacturers for the seventeenth consecutive year.

“We have also recently been awarded the Which? Best Car Manufacturer 2010 title, which is another great recognition of what the brand stands for – excellence in engineering, outstanding value for money and excellent customer service. Award-winning cars like the Superb Estate, Yeti, Octavia, and Fabia have helped us to attract more customers than ever before.”

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How to Keep Up with Car Care All Year Long

July 4th, 2011

Many of us consider our car to be one of our most important investments. Having a vehicle means freedom, convenience, and are a way to get around at will. You must have worked hard to put enough money away for a down payment. Each month you have to keep making your car loan payment and afford insurance coverage. However, when your car needs automotive care, the expense can hurt your budget. This is the reason why these tips for getting inexpensive car parts and auto repair tools can make an important difference in your financial bottom line.

Spending Less on Regular Repairs and Engine Repair Tools

If you have a minor repair such a maintenance problem, why not cut costs by doing it yourself? There are many books and videos that show you how to get these simple tasks done quickly. The advantage to getting it done yourself is that you only have to pay for the parts; no labor costs are involved. The auto repair shops can really mark up the parts, plus, it can cost $65 or more per hour to have their employees do the work. If you are uneasy about fixing your own vehicle, ask your friends and family if they can help you out or if they know someone who can help at a low rate. Family members are usually happy to help and don’t expect much in return; college shops cost at least half of what the repair shops cost.

Car Care Costs: Car Engine Parts and Services for Less

Other maintenance issues can require additional training or tools, but can still be accomplished by yourself. Take, for example, resurfacing rotors, figuring out what an engine code means, or replacing spark plugs. Local automotive parts stores often provide less-expensive diagnostic and resurfacing services than at the specialized repair shops. Engine error codes can be ambiguous and aggravating. In some states, you can go to a local parts store and they will diagnose the problem. But some localities don’t allow this, but the diagnostic tool is only a nominal cost at around $200. It can cost $90 or so to have your dealer run a diagnostic test on your car’s computer. However, you can add this useful piece to your home car repair tools and it will pay for itself with only 2 uses!

Basic Maintenance and Car Care Don’t Have to Break the Bank

Rotor resurfacing can be especially challenging because they have to be of a certain thickness in order to be resurfaced. A minimal amount of rotor metal must be present to remain at a nominal thickness. However, the good news is that your rotors will be measured by the facility and they’ll let you know if they meet minimum requirements. Moreover, they’ll resurface them for you immediately because they have the special machinery required to do the job. Equally as easy, spark plugs can be purchased at the car care and supply store and the needed gap is displayed visibly on the package. If you don’t already own a gapping tool, one can be bought for only a few dollars. With only a standard lifting jack, you can rotate your own tires.

You can save major cash by doing the minor repairs on your car. You can stretch your dollar and the life of your vehicle, and use the left over cash to enjoy more time with the family!

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