AVX Offers Power Capacitors for High Energy Applications.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 16, 1999--

Manufacturer broadens passives offerings

with integration of TPC...

With the acquisition of Thomson SA's passive components business (TPC), AVX Corp. (NYSE:AVX) has expanded its offering of capacitors to include Thomson's power capacitor line. These high energy devices are typically used for filtering, protection, switching and discharge in applications such as mass transit, cardiac defibrillators, industrial converters, inductive heating and electric vehicles.

"The TPC acquisition allows AVX to offer these products in the U.S., where they were previously unavailable," says AVX Product Marketing Manager Andrew Rassweiler. "Adding TPC's products to our passive range gives us the greatest variety of parts in the world."

TPC power capacitors offer a broad range of options and with AVX Corp.'s custom design capabilities, they are designed to meet the specific needs of the application. The power capacitors employ a range of technologies including dielectric materials, electrode material, impregnation and packaging. Depending on the application requirements, power capacitors are available with capacitance up to 12,000mF with a maximum voltage of 36KV.

AVX Corp.'s segmented metallized film technology used in most of its TPC products offers customers a predictable and controlled end of lifetime referred to as "controlled self-healing." The unique film designs used by TPC make their power capacitors some of the most energy dense capacitors in the industry, including:

-- Capacitors for DC Filtering: The TFM/IFM Series capacitors are for high power/high voltage (1kV and up). The TPC Trafim and Filfin Series offer DC filtering solutions where high ripple current handling capability is required. Capacitances range from 90mF to 15,500mF (standard) and feature TPC's controlled self-healing segmented films. The FFL/FFV Series capacitors are for medium power DC link filtering where high ripple current withstanding is needed. The FFL and FFV series are dry wound and offer many alternatives to electrolytics: they do not short or explode at the end of lifetime as can be the case with electrolytics. These ranges offer capacitances of 12mF to 6,600mF, from 57 to 1,100 VDC with ripple currents of up to 300Arms in single cans.

-- Capacitors for GTO Protection: PPX/FPX Series capacitors offer a complete range of solutions for the protection of Gate Turn-Off Thyristors, Thyristors and as a clamping capacitor. Offering both dry-wound controlled self-healing and oil-filled film-foil types, TPC's range covers the entire spectrum from 1,600 to 7,500V with very low self-inductances.

-- Tuning: FAI Series capacitors are specifically designed as tuning capacitors for induction heating equipment ranging from 20kHz to 500kHz. These film capacitors have tremendous ability to withstand very high reactive power levels (up to 1,280kVAR depending on frequency and capacitor) and are perfectly adapted to this application. The FAV Series high reactive energy tuning capacitors are designed for use with resonant-mode converters and for protection of semi-conductors. Capacitances range from 80 to 1,200nF at a tolerance of 110 percent with rated voltages ranging from 200 to 2,000Vrms.

-- Cardiac Defibrillators: The Heartfim Series is custom designed for custom environments.

-- Energy Storage: The Disfim Series are high voltage energy storage capacitors for research and military applications.

For more information on TPC power capacitors and other products, contact AVX Sales & Marketing at 843-946-0414, by fax at 843-448-1943, or on the Web at www.avxcorp.com.

AVX Corp. is a leading international electronic supplier of components with worldwide manufacturing facilities, offering the world's broadest selection of passive electronic components. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:AVX).