In step with China’s ongoing growth, EPCOS is strengthening its activities in the world’s largest electronics market. According to an annual ranking of technology companies conducted by China’s Ministry of Information Industry (MII) and the Chinese Electronics Components Association (CECA), EPCOS is already the number two manufacturer of electronic components in China based on its product portfolio.

As a visible signal of its growing commitment to China, EPCOS has added a Chinese name to its logo. The name is pronounced [ahy-poo-kah-see]. Freely translated it means, “love of technology.” “With the Chinese EPCOS brand we demonstrate our identification with China and local customers,” explains Michael Pocsatko, President and CEO of EPCOS China Holding.

EPCOS delivers a wide range of products to leading multinational and Chinese industrial electronics customers. For example, EPCOS is Siemens Electrical Drives Ltd.’s (SEDL) main supplier of screw terminal aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which are used in frequency converters for industrial drives and wind power plants in Asia. Additionally, SEDL recently presented EPCOS with its “Best Supplier Award” for high quality products and superior service.

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors with screw terminals are manufactured in China by EPCOS Xiamen, a joint venture established at the end of 2005 between EPCOS and Xindeco. In a move to expand the joint venture, partner Xindeco is transferring its entire aluminum electrolytic capacitor production facility in Xiamen to the joint venture. The transfer significantly broadens the product portfolio of EPCOS Xiamen to include single-ended, snap-in and SMD types. “The integration of the additional product segments of Xindeco and their over 700 employees will enable us to offer new products made in China to customers in both the consumer and industrial electronics markets. One example is an offering for electronic ballasts,” explains Pocsatko.

	Solutions for China
EPCOS products and solutions for energy efficiency and power factor correction attracted a great deal of interest at the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen.

EPCOS manufactures products for both the Chinese and the global market in two additional joint ventures. Baoke Electronic in Wuxi produces SAW filters and resonators for multimedia and telecommunications applications, while EPCOS Xiaogan makes surge arresters and switching spark gaps.

Comprehensive products and services

EPCOS is responding to increasing demand for quality customized products and local value-added services such as application and customer-specific development. “To this end we are expanding our team of field applications engineers in order to provide customers with top design-in support,” explains Pocsatko of the recent addition.

EPCOS AT THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING 2008

Harmonic filter solutions from EPCOS are improving power quality at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. They have been selected for both the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center and the Wrestling Center in Beijing. In Qingdao five tuned harmonic filters systems totalling 1400 kvar have been installed. In Beijing four systems for a total of 1200 kvar have been installed. Harmonic filters are needed to reduce harmonics in the power distribution system and provide stabile voltage supplies and improved energy efficiency for all the loads on the grid, including lighting, air-conditioning, elevators and others.

EPCOS also offers advanced solutions to improve energy efficiency. China’s largest shipbuilding company, the China State Shipbuilding Company (CSSC), is an excellent example of how EPCOS is helping Chinese industry to save energy with Power Quality solutions. In the first phase of EPCOS’ largest dynamic power factor correction (PFC) project, CSSC has installed a dynamic reactive power of nearly 7000 kvar. The installation currently consists of 44 systems with PFC capacitors, thyristor modules and PFC controllers, which enable CSSC to simultaneously ensure a more reliable power supply and save energy.

Leading companies in China’s telecom industry use EPCOS solutions. Huawei, for example, designed miniaturized WCDMA front-end modules into its new 3G cell phones. These modules, which are based on LTCC technology, combine SAW filters with the functions of dozens of electronic components. In mobile communications, EPCOS is the market leader for SAW components used in mobile phones and base stations – supplying both global players with manufacturing bases in China and Chinese companies. Additionally, EPCOS has a major share of the Chinese surge arresters market, a large portion of which are used in telecommunications switching and distribution systems.

	STATEMENT
“We are expanding our team of field application engineers in order to provide our customers with top design-in support.”   Michael Pocsatko, CEO EPCOS China Holding

EPCOS also focuses on Chinese electronic manufacturing suppliers (EMS). EPCOS supplies all major EMS including Flextronics and Foxconn. Sales to customers in China continue to grow. Already EMS business accounts for roughly 15 percent of sales in China. In the Chinese consumer electronics market, EPCOS is the leading supplier of SAW components. For example, over two thirds of the TVs made in China have SAW multimedia filters from EPCOS.

EPCOS customers include leading companies such as Haier, Hisense, Panasonic, Sharp and many more. Several customers in China use IF SAW filters produced by Baoke Electronic for silicon digital tuners. Manufacturers of household appliances, such as washing machines, also employ varistors from EPCOS to protect sensitive circuitry from overvoltages.

China’s rapidly growing automotive industry is also served by EPCOS, which supplies manufacturers with a complete and robust portfolio. EPCOS solutions enable them to develop cutting-edge products “While automotive electronics make a relatively minor contribution to our sales in China today, we are confident that its share will continue to grow sharply,” asserts Pocsatko.

In China – for China

The importance of the Chinese market is clearly shown in the structure of EPCOS’ workforce. Today, 7300 of EPCOS’ nearly 9900 Asian employees are located in China. In addition to six production plants, EPCOS has established six sales offices in Greater China. The most recent is located in Xiamen at the newly expanded joint venture.

Pocsatko is optimistic that EPCOS is prepared to serve customers in China even more successfully in the future, with new products and services tailored to the needs of the market: “Our strong portfolio and the engineering competence of highly qualified Chinese employees, combined with an excellent footprint in this key market means we’re able to help them develop reliable products rapidly and cost-efficiently.”