HUNAN, China /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- Freescale Semiconductor and Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric Co. Ltd., China's leading rail transportation company, have established a joint laboratory for microelectronics applications. The Freescale-Times Electric Joint Lab is located in the technical center of Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric, in the People's Republic of China.
According to the agreement, the two companies have jointly invested in the lab facility, equipment, development boards, and tools. Software and hardware engineers from both companies plan to team up for product development, evaluation, and support, in addition to training and market development activities. Not only does this cooperation mark a major milestone in which China's rail transportation industry is importing advanced technologies from other countries, but it also will help accelerate the development of local technology innovation and applications.
Freescale's authorized distributor, China Electronic Appliance Shenzhen Co. Ltd (CEACSZ), has played a pivotal role in organizing this cooperative venture. CEACSZ is also a strategic alliance partner of Times Electric, and the Freescale-Times Electric Joint Lab is an ideal structure to leverage the strengths of all three companies and serve as a solid foundation for continued collaboration.
"Asia is a growth engine for Freescale, and China is a critical component of our strategic initiatives," said Kai Wang, PhD, Freescale's Vice President and General Manager of the Asia-Pacific region. "By combining Freescale's advanced technologies and design talents with Times Electric's experience in rail electrical system application and research, this is clearly a win-win for technology innovation and market development for China's rail transportation industry."
The joint lab is expected to encompass six core technologies, including power conversion, control and diagnosis, safety monitoring, information and communication, power electronics, and test and control. Joint development efforts are expected to focus on the following application systems: AC drive systems, train control and diagnostics, railway safe driving carriers, locomotive and passenger information, passenger train electrics and information, and electric and control systems for engineering mechanics.
"The establishment of this joint lab represents an important step for China's track transport industry to bring in foreign advanced technology," said Ding Rong-Jun, President of Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric. "This cooperation will cement Times Electric's dominant position as the leading railway and track transport supplier, and accelerate industry developments in China."
About Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric
Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric Co. Ltd. is a leading integrator and supplier of carrier electric systems for the track transport industry in China. Its primary focus is research and development for electric drive technology and industry and civil converter technology. It develops and produces the electric control units of electric locomotives, diesel locomotives, subway and light rail locomotives, buses, large road-maintenance machines, as well as power and electronic devices, sensors, and vacuum toilets, which all are widely used in the railway and urban rail transport industry.
Its carrier electric system is exported to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and its electric parts are exported to North America and Europe. On December 20, 2006, the company was successively listed in Hong Kong with stock code 3898.HK, and the raised funds amounted to HK$ 2.2 billion. The company is the first Chinese enterprise that has successively listed in a region other than mainland China in the nation's track transport industry. It also has raised the most funds in the foreign capital market of any enterprise in Hunan Province.
About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, TX, and has design, research and development, manufacturing, or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2006 sales of $6.4 billion (USD).
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