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 delivers fast, accurate results across various devices and configurations. Its open interface enables seamless integration with DUT-specific resistor networks, temperature sensors and third-party tools. Designed for flexibility and built for the future, it reflects a commitment to advancing the next generation of high-power semiconductor testing. “For more than two decades, we were the go-to team working in the background for the market leader for High-Power Semiconductors, solving tough problems in custom setups,” says Christian Degenhart, CEO and CTO of VX Instruments. “With STS8760NEO, we’re putting that experience to work for a broader market, delivering the speed, flexibility and performance manufacturers need.” Traditional Automated Test Equipment (ATE) systems are often rigid, monolithic setups engineered for fixed use cases. Scaling them across new devices or adapting them to evolving test demands means retooling the entire system—an approach that’s slow, expensive and inflexible. In today’s semiconductor industry, where devices change fast, and test conditions vary dramatically, this approach is no longer viable. VX Instruments reimagined the test platform from the ground up to overcome these constraints and put modularity at the core.