KEMET’s New Surface Mount Safety Certified Ceramic Capacitors Provide Solutions for Space Constrained Mains Powered Applications

New devices offer smaller form factors to save space and simplify manufacturing versus competing leaded devices in AC line filtering applications


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KEMET Corporation (“KEMET” or the “Company”) (NYSE: KEM), a leading global supplier of electronic components, has launched a new range of surface mount device (SMD) safety certified multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) for use in mains powered applications. The CAS series addresses widespread demand for miniaturization without compromising performance by offering higher capacitance, smaller overall size, and simplified assembly versus existing leaded disc devices, which represent the majority of safety-certified ceramic capacitors currently on the market.

According to market research*, the overall power supply sector is expected to grow to US $34.92 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2018 to 2023. Within this, AC/DC power conversion is considered the largest and fastest growing type of power supply owing to its increasingly wide range of uses and applications. KEMET’s CAS series of SMD MLCCs offers important design and production benefits versus leaded disc devices for AC line filtering in this significant and expanding market.

To satisfy industry and consumer demand for portable solutions, PCB real estate for electronics and power delivery systems continues to shrink as designers put more functionality in smaller spaces. Commonly used safety certified leaded disc components are bulky compared with KEMET’s CAS series SMD MLCCs and are often not suitable for applications with restricted spaces in which filtering circuitry needs to be placed. Leaded disc devices also require pin-through installation into PCBs, a process that is not compatible with standard automated reflow profiles and therefore can result in additional production costs.

Filtering is important in mains powered products to manage unwanted transients, such as high frequency noise in both line-to-line (Class X) and line-to-ground (Class Y) applications. Safety certified capacitors are used in a wide variety of applications, such as power adapters for mobile devices, industrial power distribution, and electric vehicle power inverters.

“Until now, safety certified capacitor technology has not kept pace with advances in MLCC technology,” said Reggie Phillips, KEMET Senior Product Manager. “Our new CAS range allows engineers to place the essential mains-connected filtering capacitors into smaller spaces, thereby reducing board size. For manufacturing professionals, the benefit is that the new devices are compatible with standard reflow processes, eliminating an additional step in the manufacturing process.”

To learn more about the product’s applications visit www.kemet.com/safety and watch the video here.

*Power Supply Market by Output Power, Product Type, Vertical (Lighting, Consumer Electronics, Telecommunications, Transportation, Food & Beverages, Medical & Healthcare, Military & Aerospace, Industrial), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 - Published by MarketsandMarkets™ (https://www.​marketsandmarkets.​com/Market-Reports/power-supply-market-52394163.​html)

About KEMET
KEMET offers our customers the broadest selection of capacitor technologies in the industry, along with an expanding range of electromechanical devices, electromagnetic compatibility solutions, and supercapacitors. Our vision is to be the preferred supplier of electronic component solutions demanding the highest standards of quality, delivery and service. The Company’s common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “KEM.” Additional information about KEMET can be found at www.kemet.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws about KEMET Corporation’s (the "Company") financial condition and results of operations that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets in which the Company operates, as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's judgment only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

Certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcome and results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements are described in the Company’s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact for editors:
Fernando Spada, KEMET
Tel: +1 954 766 2815
Email: fernandospada@kemet.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/895d22d4-07ef-4dce-91f9-f43ab406fba6 

Ceramic SMT Safety Capacitor