NEWS24 June 2024
Congratulations to everyone at ipTEST on winning the King’s Award for International Trade – the company’s second consecutive King’s Award accolade.
ipTEST, which manufactures semiconductor testing equipment widely used in the manufacture of electric vehicles, was awarded the King’s Award for International Trade earlier this year after successfully growing its exports by more than five times in an exceptionally short amount of time.
During the assessed period, the company, which is based at Surrey Research Park, Guildford, saw a 553.53% total growth in exports, with close to 100% of its products and services sent to markets in Southeast Asia, China and Europe.
This prestigious recognition builds on the company’s 2023 achievement when the team was awarded the King’s Award for Innovation for their pioneering work advancing the test capabilities available for high-power Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors.
Why high-power semiconductors need special testing
High-power electronic chips are essential components in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Testing semiconductors involves passing very high voltages and electrical currents through the semiconductors, deliberately exceeding what the chips will experience during normal usage conditions. This helps to ensure the semiconductors can keep up with everyday use, batteries last longer and devices are safe to use.
The new wide bandgap SiC and GaN semiconductors have opened new possibilities for power device performance, prolonging battery life, and enabling more efficient, lower-cost electricity conversion in power-hungry data centres.
However, the currents in SiC and GaN semiconductors are switched on and off at a much higher speed than conventional silicon chip testers, which are unable to keep up, leading to inaccuracies.
To overcome this challenge, ipTEST developed its DS5 tester to operate at the highest speeds and accurately perform the fastest dynamic tests. It was the development of the DS5 that won the company its first King’s Award in the innovation category in 2023.
More about the King’s Award
The King’s Award for Enterprise, formerly known as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is one of the most esteemed accolades a UK business can receive. It honours outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Winning the award is shown to boost a company’s reputation, open doors to global markets, help attract top talent, and enhance stakeholder confidence. For more information, visit: The King’s Award website