Top 10 IGBTs Every Equipment Wholesaler Should Keep on Hand in 2025

July 23, 2025

In the fast-moving world of machinery, equipment, and supplies wholesale, downtime = lost revenue + unhappy customers. One of the most critical yet often overlooked components behind uptime is the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). These high‑power switching devices sit at the heart of motor drives, inverters, UPS systems, welders, pump controls, and other heavy industrial gear.

Here’s the challenge: many go-to IGBT modules are now obsolete, last-time-buy only, or in constrained supply thanks to OEM discontinuations, fab transitions, and the lingering ripple effects of global semiconductor shortages. If you’re a wholesaler serving maintenance-driven verticals, stocking the right legacy and current‑fit IGBTs is a competitive advantage—one that can win emergency orders, earn loyalty from integrators, and keep critical plants online.

This guide highlights 10 high-velocity, high-risk IGBT modules ATI recommends keeping in your 2025 inventory plan—plus stocking heuristics, obsolescence signals, and cross-manufacturer insights to protect your customers (and margins).

Quick Why: 2025 Is a Stocking Year

1. Postponed Capital Projects = Life Extension Mode. Manufacturers are sweating aging assets instead of replacing full drives—meaning repair and module replacement demand stays high.

2. OEM Consolidation & Package Changes. Major power semi vendors continue to rationalize product lines; common legacy footprints are disappearing or shifting voltage/current ratings.

3. Lead-Time Volatility & Spot Market Inflation. When a plant is down, price resistance collapses. Strategic stocking turns panic buys into planned margin.

How We Chose the Top 10

We prioritized parts (or part families) that meet one or more of the following criteria:

Large Installed Base: Seen across multiple drive OEMs (ABB, Allen‑Bradley, Danfoss, Yaskawa, etc.) or widely used in retrofit kits.
High Failure Impact: Single-point failure that bricks a drive, inverter, or power section.
Obsolescence / LTB Flags: Original manufacturer discontinued or shifted to newer package; aftermarket demand persists.
Cross-Manufacturer Drop-Ins: Mechanical footprint and pinout allow practical substitution with qualification.
ATI Demand Data: Historical orders, urgent RFQs, and recurring shortage alerts from ATI’s global industrial customer base.

Stocking Framework You Can Steal

When planning buy quantities, segment your IGBT assortment into three tiers:

Tier	Use Case	Target Coverage	Reorder Signal	Notes
A – Always-On	Parts that shut down high-revenue equipment	90–120 days demand	Hit 35–40% of starting qty	Carry safety margin; rotate FIFO by lot/date.
B – Priority / Seasonal	Known wear items; mid-volume	60–90 days	Hit 25%	Accept longer refresh; bundle w/ repair kits.
C – Strategic / Opportunistic	Hard-to-find, LTB, or customer-specific	1–2 turns/yr	Hit 10%	Buy when market dips; hold for premium/emergency.

The List: 10 IGBTs to Have Ready in 2025

Below, voltage and current are class ratings (typical family range) rather than guaranteed device limits; always verify datasheet values for the specific lot / manufacturer rev you procure.

1. Powerex CM100DY-24H (1200V class, 100A dual)

Where It Shows Up: Medium-voltage industrial motor drives, HVAC chillers, elevator controllers, CNC power stages.
Why Stock It: Massive legacy footprint; still fielded in plants delaying drive upgrades.
ATI Insight: Demand spikes after heat events; many requests come with scorched bus bars. We recommend pairing spares with fresh thermal pads & gate drive opto kits.
Cross Options: Mitsubishi co-branded equivalents; evaluate CM100DU and CM100DY-24G fit with minor mechanical differences.