Worldwide shipments of DC-DC converters for the merchant market continue to grow, according to a study by Venture Development Corp. (VDC), a market research firm in Natick, Mass.
In 2006, shipments of merchant DC-DC converters totaled $2.6 billion and are forecast to reach $3.9 billion in 2011. During 2006, standard converters represented more than 60 percent of the DC-DC converters shipped, an increase from 45 percent only two years ago.
This increase, in part, is because of industry standard organizations such as the Distributed power Open Standards Alliance (DOSA) and Point of Load Alliance (POLA). The standards developed by these organizations allow competing vendors to develop converters that are compatible in form, fit and function.
The availability of interchangeable products has simplified the evaluation process of converters and is in some measure responsible for the downward movement of ASPs.
The study also points out that pricing has become a significant criterion in the vendor selection process and has forced converter manufacturers to find other ways to remain competitive.
Improving efficiency and reliability and adding features such as supply monitoring and control functions are some of the ways converter manufacturers are differentiating their products in an increasingly standardized environment.
For more information contact VDC online at www.vdc-corp.com.
