Handful of companies dominate power electronics market

Only nine vendors control more than 50 percent of the U.S. market for AD-DC switching power supplies and DC-DC converters, according to a new study, "U.S. Merchant Markets & Applications for AC/DC Switching Power Supplies & DC/DC Converters, Eighth Edition." The study, by Venture Development Corp. of Natick, Mass., says the top seven companies control nearly 50 percent of the market for AC-DC switching power supplies. Industry consolidation continues to be a major factor in the power electronics industry, VDC officials say. "I expect consolidation to continue, as power supply manufacturers continue to jockey for position, using acquisitions as a strategic tool to improve their competitive positions," says Mark Gaboriault, director of power conversion and control at VDC. The top five AC-DC switching power supply vendors, according to VDC, are Artesyn Technologies of Boca Raton, Fla., Astec America Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif., Delta Products Corp. of Fremont, Calif., Marconi Communications Lorain Power Group of Lorain, Ohio, and Lucent Technologies Inc. of Murray Hill, N.J. VDC says the top five DC-DC converter vendors are Artesyn, Astec, Celestica Asia Inc. of San Jose, Calif., Lucent, and Vicor Corp of Andover, Mass. — J.K.