Distribution
Key considerations for product development
Paul Bentley, managing director of GD Rectifiers, reflects on the key considerations when purchasing for new product development
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n today’s fast paced and highly competitive market, successfully launching a new electronic product requires more than just having a good concept or product. To launch a product, engineers must tackle a number of technical challenges whilst keeping the project on track. Any delays during product development can cause catastrophic issues potentially leading to higher final product costs or a missed market opportunity. The power electronics industry plays a pivotal role in enabling technologies across various sectors, from renewable energy and electric vehicles to industrial automation and telecommunications. Developing successful products in this space demands careful planning, agile execution, and strategic partnerships. Manufacturers face pressure to bring products to market faster, at lower cost, and with greater reliability - all while navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
48 July/August 2025
This article explores the key considerations for product development in the power electronics industry, including how to streamline the development process, reduce costs, and select a reliable distributor.
Understanding the complexity of power electronics product development
Product development in the power electronics industry involves a unique set of challenges. These include: High technical complexity: Products often require precise control of voltage, current, and temperature.
Component interoperability: Ensuring all components – from semiconductors to passive components – work together seamlessly is critical.
Compliance requirements: Product designers must meet a range of standards (such as IEC, UL, RoHS) depending on application and market.
Components in Electronics
Thermal management: Efficient heat dissipation is essential for reliability and longevity.
Given these constraints, a robust development process must be adopted, focusing on design optimisation, component selection, prototyping, and testing.
Streamlining product development To remain competitive, companies must shorten development cycles without compromising quality. Here’s how: Leverage modular designs Adopting modular approaches allows teams to reuse proven subsystems and components, reducing design complexity and time-to- market. For example, pre-qualified IGBT modules or power stacks can significantly cut development timelines. Use simulation tools
Modern simulation software allows engineers to model circuit behaviour, thermal dynamics, and electromagnetic
interference (EMI) before physical prototyping. This minimises costly iterations. Adopt agile engineering practices Applying agile methodologies – such as rapid prototyping and iterative testing – enables teams to adapt quickly to design changes and customer feedback, ensuring more responsive and customer-centric products. Work with an experienced distributor Early involvement of a component distributor can help streamline the design phase by providing expert advice on product selection, lead times, and obsolescence risks. Distributors can also work with manufacturers to design in components specifically for new projects.
Managing and reducing costs Cost control is a fundamental concern in power electronics, where material costs, long design cycles, component obsolescence
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