Europower Components Ltd.

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Westcode - Thyristors

Westcode - About us information

Established in 1924, Westcode is recognised as one of the world's foremost manufacturers of high power semiconductors. Westcode began life in London as part of the Westinghouse Brake & Signal Company making copper oxide based semiconductors. During the next 30 years the company developed products based on selenium and germanium and then silicon power devices were introduced in 1957, technology which is still used in Westcode products today. In the 1960's the company consolidated its operation to Chippenham and in 1988 a new purpose built facility was constructed to accommodate the company's engineering, quality, production and sales departments.

During its long history, Westcode has been part of several illustrious engineering companies including GEC, Hawker Siddeley, and BTR industries. In 1997 it became an independent company, supported by 3i plc and Lloyds TSB, before being acquired by the IXYS Corporation in December 2001. Westcode continues to supply high technology components for a wide range of applications such as; welding, AC and DC drives, rectifier supplies, uninterruptible power supplies, motor soft starts, transportation, induction heating, power conditioning, high energy physics and many other industrial uses.

Through the acquisition of Westcode, IXYS has successfully expanded its "high power" centric strategy to become a more diversified supplier of medium to high power, Mixed-Signal IC, Optoelectronic and RF semiconductors. The IXYS group has manufacturing plants in Germany, USA and now the UK. With a very well established worldwide sales network, Westcode's products fit neatly into the IXYS product portfolio, sitting very much at the high end of the power semiconductor market.