No Downtime, No Redesigns: How Maketronics Sourced Obsolete IGBTs for a US-Based Renewable Energy Manufacturer

The Challenge: An Obsolete IGBT Threatening Production Timelines

A renewable energy equipment manufacturer based in the US faced a critical supply chain disruption when the IRG4PC50UDEPBF — a high-efficiency IGBT from Infineon — went obsolete and became unavailable through authorized distribution channels.

This IGBT was a core component in their solar inverter line. Without it, the manufacturer was at risk of production halts, increased downtime costs, and the possibility of a complete product redesign — an expensive and time-consuming option.

Why the IRG4PC50UDEPBF Was Mission-Critical

This specific IGBT is known for its high-speed switching, low conduction loss, and robust performance in power conversion applications. Replacing it would have meant

• Reengineering the inverter’s power control board

• Running a new qualification cycle

• Pushing back product delivery deadlines

Every delay in the renewable energy sector impacts large-scale deployments and revenue cycles, especially in peak seasons.

Maketronics’ Solution: Agility + Trusted Supplier Network

At Maketronics, we specialize in sourcing End-of-Life (EOL) and obsolete components through our vetted global supplier network. Here’s how we solved the problem:

• Identified and confirmed availability of authentic IRG4PC50UDEPBF units

• Carried out quality checks to ensure compliance and functionality

• Delivered within 10 days, ahead of the client's internal deadline

• Helped the client avoid reengineering costs and downtime

Estimated Savings Delivered

Avoided redesign + requalification costs: $35,000+

Prevented estimated production downtime of 3–4 days

$60,000–$80,000 in potential revenue loss

Impact

• Project delivery remained on track

• No redesign required

• Zero downtime

• Extended product lifecycle using existing design

At Maketronics, we don’t just find hard-to-source components — we help companies protect timelines, revenue, and engineering resources.

Stuck with an obsolete part? We’ll find it. #Maketronics #ObsoleteParts #PowerElectronics #RenewableEnergy #SupplyChain