Companies stress enhanced frequency, reliability in switching power supplies

Units come in 30kHz to 1GHz and integrate safety features. Some are IP65 to IP67-rated for outdoor applications.

China makers of switching power supplies for communication equipment emphasize improved performance of conventional analog types. They focus on the product's inherently high operating frequency, with most able to realize up to 500kHz units while a few can offer models supporting 1GHz. Companies continue to put a premium on reliability as well, adding safety attributes that protect against overvoltage, -heating, short circuit, and ingress in outdoor settings. To suit the last, there are IP65 to IP67-rated versions.

To upgrade features further, suppliers look to adopt digital signal control to optimize circuitry, and achieve greater stability and precision in smaller configurations. At present, only 10 to 20 percent of makers can turn out such kinds due to the high technology and cost.

Customization will also continue to drive the line as suppliers underscore capability to meet diverse requirements. More than half of Shenzhen City Jinrui Energy Technology Co. Ltd's shipments are based on buyer specifications.

Providing impetus for development is the broadening communication equipment market. In China, the switching power supplies segment for this application reached $1.7 billion in 2013, according to Qianzhan Industry Research. It grew by 10 to 15 percent the following year. By end-2015, the same rate of increase is expected.

Shenzhen City Jinrui derives 30 percent of its annual sales of as much as $10 million from this market. It is bolstering output to prepare for more orders in the year ahead.

Overall, the local switching power supplies industry will have a production value of up to $30.5 billion in 2015, posting 13 percent CAGR from 2011, according to ICTresearch. Besides the communications sector, the demand catalysts are the consumer electronics, industrial, military and security fields.

The major overseas destinations are North America and Asia. XP Power Electronics Co. Ltd exports its entire yield, mostly to the first. The maker is confident of a 10 percent demand rise abroad in 2016.

There are about 500 companies churning out products for communication equipment in mainland China, of which 80 percent are locally owned. They also cater to other applications, with some offering related categories, including AC/DC adapters and LED drivers.

The coastal provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are still the main manufacturing hubs. More than half of the makers gather in the first, in particular in the cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan and Zhongshan. These areas have a comprehensive supply chain and skilled labor force, and will continue to attract entrants to the line.

See a comparison table of switching power supplies manufacturers on GlobalSources.com