Silicon Carbide has gained significant attention and recognition for its exceptional properties, including high-temperature resilience, superior electrical conductivity, and impressive energy efficiency. The increasing demand for EVs, solar panels, and efficient power management devices in Industry 4.0 has magnified the importance of SiC manufacturing. Continental Device India Limited (CDIL) has recently inaugurated an additional assembly line dedicated to SiC SMD components, making it India’s first SiC components manufacturer. This upgrade will enable the manufacturing of auto-grade devices, including SiC Schottky Diodes, SiC MOSFETs, Zeners, Rectifiers, and TVS Diodes for both global and domestic markets.
The pilot production of the assembly line began in August, delivering its inaugural batch of 50 million units to customers in domestic and international markets. CDIL's president, Pankaj Gulati, has revealed plans to expand the company’s production lineup, aiming to increase annual manufacturing numbers by 100 million units. The company has invested approximately Rs 27-28 crores in procuring machines and equipment to set up new Surface Mount Assembly and Surface Mount Board lines, allowing CDIL to cater to a wider range of industries and applications.
CDIL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) to harness SCL’s expertise and advanced wafer fabrication facilities for the localized production of wafers tailored to CDIL’s discrete semiconductor devices. This venture aligns with India’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in semiconductors, particularly after the semiconductor scarcity issue noticed in 2021 and the country's commitment to the Production-Linked Incentive scheme.
Gulati also expressed CDIL's goals of setting up a focused lineup for Solar Schottky Diode production, with the aim of becoming the Indian pioneer in manufacturing these crucial devices for the solar panels industry. CDIL has established an advanced high reliability testing laboratory in Mohali in addition to its NABL Accredited facility in Delhi, crucial for qualifying devices for sectors like Automotive, Defence, and Aerospace.
The majority of CDIL’s production line has been exported across the world, but the company anticipates a rise in domestic demand as the Indian electronics industry flourishes. Additionally, CDIL plans to bring GaN device production to India in the near future, aiming to capitalize on GaN's superior electrical conductivity and performance in RF applications.
While India is on the path to becoming a semiconductor hub, there is still work to be done in establishing a full-fledged fab. Despite the potential prominence of the region, the upcoming manufacturing and assembly lineups are still a way off from producing semiconductor devices that are currently in demand.
