News: Optoelectronics
9 December 2020
Phononic partners with Fabrinet to scale production of thermoelectrics
To support the growing demand from optical communications, 5G mobile and automotive light detection & ranging (LiDAR), Phononic of Durham, NC, USA (which provides solid-state thermoelectric cooling solutions) has partnered with Thailand-based Fabrinet Co Ltd, which provides optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical and electronic manufacturing services). The partnership allows Phononic to dramatically expand its high-volume manufacturing capabilities beyond its existing factory in Durham with Fabrinet’s manufacturing facilities in Thailand.
Phononic says that the demand for data consumption and communications worldwide is a key driver behind the growth in its optoelectronics business. With 12 consecutive quarters of growth, Phononic forecasts year-on-year revenue growth of over 150% in 2020 from its optoelectronics business unit. Thermoelectric devices are mission-critical components needed inside many of the fiber-optic transceivers that deliver and transmit data to laptops, mobile phones, smart TVs and vehicles. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated a trend that was already in full swing, wherein all aspects of people’s lives are moving increasingly online.
The partnership with Phononic “leverages our core technical competency while expanding our coverage of the optical component value chain,” says Fabrinet’s president & chief operating officer Dr Harpal Gill. “Phononic is disrupting the optical component space with their leading performance and power consumption savings,” he adds.
Phononic says that it recognizes the global brand recognition from Fabrinet’s extensive experience in optical communications and believes that Fabrinet is uniquely qualified to enable it to meet its rapidly growing market demand. “In my 20 years in this industry, I have always seen Fabrinet as a critical go-to expansion partner,” says Phononic’s VP & general manager Kevin Granucci. “We share the same customer base, so Fabrinet deeply understands the performance, quality and reliability standards required of products in this arena,” he adds.
The expansion is particularly critical in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), where there is a growing customer base for Phononic’s devices. Optical communications component companies based in the region will be able to leverage Phononic’s in-continent expansion for thermoelectric devices in optical components for data centers, high-speed coherent applications, as well as 5G mobile and access networks (FTTx).
Phononic says that the expansion also allows it to continue delivering sustainable cooling solutions for its key target sectors beyond optical communications and LiDAR: micro-fulfillment food storage and delivery, and its licensing initiatives in life sciences & healthcare, food & beverage and sustainable climate control. Phononic corporate headquarters, R&D, product development and production will continue to operate at full capacity and strength in Durham.
Phononic focuses on opto industry by hiring industry veteran Granucci as VP of sales
Optical communications Fabrinet
www.phononic.com/optoelectronics
