January 2, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Littelfuse announced the completion of its acquisition of Elmos Semiconductor's 200mm wafer fab in Dortmund, Germany, for €93 million (approximately $101 million). This acquisition will significantly enhance Littelfuse's production capacity for power semiconductors, catering to various industrial markets, including energy storage, automation, motor drives, renewable energy, power supplies, and charging infrastructure. The facility employs up to 225 staff members.

As part of the deal, Littelfuse and Elmos have entered into a multi-year capacity-sharing agreement, with the initial term lasting until 2029. Under this agreement, Elmos will purchase a certain amount of wafers produced at the Dortmund fab. This deal complements Elmos’ existing supply arrangements with other foundry partners, ensuring it has sufficient capacity to meet growing automotive demand. Since the announcement in June 2023, Elmos has been expanding its testing capabilities at the site.

Initially, Elmos had planned to sell the Dortmund fab to Sweden’s Silex Microsystems, receiving preliminary approval from German authorities for the deal in 2022. However, Elmos later finalized the agreement with U.S.-based Littelfuse, which operates wafer fabs in the U.S. and the UK.

Elmos Semiconductor described the completion of the fab sale as a key milestone for its future success. As a fabless company, Elmos can now access advanced manufacturing capabilities through a well-established partner. The company is now focused on leveraging its strong growth potential in innovative automotive IC applications. Elmos is confident that Littelfuse will continue to develop and expand the Dortmund power semiconductor fab.