Semiconductor Review: Specials Magazine

From electric cars to solar inverters, power semiconductors are the silent workhorses behind a wide range of modern systems, managing high voltages and fast switching with precision. As these components grow more advanced, so do the demands of testing them at scale. Manufacturers need platforms that can accurately perform high power semiconductor tests, validate critical electrical characteristics like breakdown voltage and leakage current and handle high-voltage, high-current conditions—reliably, repeatably and with minimal downtime. VX Instruments has stepped forward to meet that demand. Backed by decades of engineering expertise, it has introduced STS8760NEO, a standardized static parameter test platform that can handle the increasing complexity of modern power semiconductors. By merging high-speed, high-voltage testing with a modular PXI-based architecture, it gives manufacturers the flexibility to streamline their test environments while sustaining top-tier performance. It’s more than a launch—it’s a milestone in VX Instruments’ legacy of testing excellence. What started in 1989 as a precision engineering firm has steadily transformed into a global force in semiconductor testing. In its early days, VX Instruments (VXI) focused on building advanced measurement tools for industrial clients. But as test demands intensified, the company started building custom, end-to-end systems in close partnership with leading semiconductor manufacturers. Though rarely visible to the broader market, these highly customized solutions shaped VXI’s deep understanding of real-world validation challenges. Today, with more than 500 VXI-powered systems deployed across the globe, that legacy is no longer operating behind the scenes, it’s setting the stage for what comes next. STS8760NEO distills everything VXI has learned into a scalable platform. It

Digital Magazine

VX Instruments: Next-Level Testing for Next-Gen Power Semiconductors

Optical Design Software

Optenso, a distinguished player in the optical design software industry, has built its reputation on delivering accessible and efficient solutions for optical engineers and designers. Founded to provide affordable, high-performance tools, the company’s flagship product, OpTaliX, stands as a testament to its commitment to quality and cost-effectiveness. Designed by optical engineers for optical engineers, the software integrates design, analysis, and optimization into a comprehensive package while ensuring that users face minimal financial burden. Optenso’s success stems from OpTaliX’s combination of functionality and affordability—qualities that naturally foster lasting customer loyalty. Unlike many other software solutions, OpTaliX does not require costly yearly fees. Instead, it is offered as a permanent license, providing customers with long-term value and peace of mind. “The attractiveness of OpTaliX to our customers is based on several factors,” says Fritz Blechinger, CEO of Optenso. “Clients consistently highlight our software’s thermal modeling capabilities, its extensive glass selection options, the example library, and the unique integration of illumination and thin-film analysis.” These features have contributed to Optenso’s broad appeal across industries. The software’s success is also the result of a cost-effective development model. Since its commercial release in 1996, OpTaliX has been continuously refined through real-world projects, ensuring that new features are rapidly developed and efficiently integrated. This iterative process, driven by customer needs, enables Optenso to maintain high quality while keeping costs low—a balance that has become a hallmark of the company’s approach.

CXO INSIGHTS

How IP brings technological innovation to life

Kristof Beets, Vice President of Product Management, Imagination Technologies

Heating Heat Pump: New Challenges and Opportunities for Semiconductors

Giacomo Fiocchi, Chief Innovation & Advanced Solutions Officer, Ariston Group [BIT: ARIS]

The Future of Automated Manufacturing

Peer Schumacher, Head of Electronics Manufacturing Solutions, Panasonic Connect Europe

Agile Delivery of Semiconductor Facilities

By Manuel Magg, Project Director, Exyte

Achieving Industrial Excellence: Enhancing Manufacturing through a Hybrid New Product Introduction process

Tats De, PhD, Senior Director of Engineering, Daikin Industries

IN FOCUS

The Essential Role of Semiconductor Chips in Global Progress

Semiconductor chip manufacturing is vital for modern technology, economic growth, and national security. Its precision processes drive innovation and maintain global competitiveness.

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Redefining Semiconductor Testing for an AI-Powered Future

Integrating AI into semiconductor testing requires a new paradigm—one that leverages a data-driven approach to remain effective in the post-AI era.

Learn more

EDITORIAL

Engineering Europe's Semiconductor Future
Europe's semiconductor industry stands at a defining moment. As digital transformation accelerates across every sector, from automotive and industrial automation to healthcare, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence, semiconductors have evolved from enabling components to strategic assets that underpin economic resilience and technological sovereignty.

The lessons of recent supply chain disruptions remain fresh. Yet the industry's response has been equally remarkable. Across Europe, governments, research institutions, manufacturers, and technology innovators are investing in stronger ecosystems that combine advanced research, manufacturing excellence and cross-border collaboration. The emphasis is shifting from simply increasing production capacity to building a resilient, sustainable, and innovation-driven semiconductor value chain.

Innovation today extends far beyond transistor scaling. Innovations in chip design and integration technologies are enabling semiconductor manufacturers to achieve higher processing performance and improved energy efficiency through advanced packaging, silicon photonics, heterogeneous integration, and wide-bandgap materials. These advances are opening new possibilities for smart factories, connected mobility, edge intelligence, and next-generation communications.

At the same time, success depends on more than technology alone. Developing a highly skilled workforce, strengthening public-private partnerships, and fostering collaboration across the European semiconductor ecosystem will be critical in translating research breakthroughs into commercial impact. Europe possesses world-class expertise in semiconductor equipment, materials, design, and research. The opportunity now lies in integrating these strengths into a globally competitive ecosystem capable of meeting future demand.

In this edition of Semiconductor Review Europe, we highlight the organisations, innovators, and thought leaders shaping this transformation. Their insights demonstrate how collaboration, engineering excellence, and strategic investment are driving the next wave of semiconductor innovation across the continent.

As the industry navigates an increasingly dynamic global landscape, one principle remains clear: the future of semiconductors will be defined not only by smaller nodes or faster processors, but by resilient partnerships, sustainable innovation, and a shared vision for technological leadership. Europe is well-positioned to play a defining role in that future.