LOS ANGELES, CA. January 2001 - Los Angeles-based International Rectifier (NYSE:IRF - news; IR), the world's leader in power management technology, today announced a new power semiconductor chip that could cut the production costs of compact fluorescent lighting by as much as 25 percent, significantly reducing consumer price resistance to CFLs, which are priced substantially higher than conventional incandescent bulbs.

``These next-generation power chips could play a major role in putting an end to the energy crisis we are facing today,'' said Alex Lidow, International Rectifier's chief executive officer. ``Lighting accounts for 35 percent of the electricity used by consumers in this country. If consumers replaced conventional bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent lighting using this new power management technology, that would go a long way towards ending the threat of rolling blackouts.''

Compact fluorescent lamps, known as CFLs, produce the same light output as an incandescent bulb, while consuming only one-fifth of the power and lasting as much as 10 times longer. The lower operating costs of CFLs have so far failed to overcome consumer resistance to higher purchase prices. By integrating the electronics, International Rectifier's new chip eliminates 10 components and lowers the manufacturing cost of CFLs by as much as 25 percent.

Tom Ribarich, International Rectifier's design manager for lighting integrated circuits, added: ``This new power chip is a breakthrough in lighting technology because it incorporates into a single advanced chip all of the control features needed to light the bulb.

``Most designs on the market today simply fire the lamp instantly without preheating, which degrades the bulb life. By pre-heating the bulb's electrodes prior to firing, International Rectifier's new power chip boosts the rated life of the bulb by thousands of hours. And its clean, efficient design reduces component count and manufacturing costs and increases reliability.''

Leading lighting manufacturers who use International Rectifier's power semiconductor technology include Osram, Magnetek, Tridonic, Sylvania and Motorola.

``I believe International Rectifier's advancement in this technology shows great potential in demonstrating the superiority of compact fluorescent lighting to the American consumer,'' said Gunther Loehmann, director of product development - fluorescent lighting products, Osram GmbH, Munich, Germany.

``Compact fluorescent lighting has long dominated the consumer market in both Europe and Asia. International Rectifier's technology enables manufacturers to introduce less expensive, more reliable products, reducing the American consumers' resistance to price and their reliance on energy-hogging conventional bulbs.''

International Rectifier designs, manufactures and markets power management products to industry leaders in information technology and other market sectors. IR supplies analog power ICs and advanced circuit devices, power systems, and components (power MOSFETs, IGBTs, and diodes), and is the pioneer and market leader in the $4 billion power MOSFET industry.

IR's devices and systems cut energy consumption in home appliances and industrial motors, allow battery-operated products to run longer off a single charge, and improve automotive fuel efficiency. IR's advancements in power management technology allow its customers to add functionality, improve performance and reduce size and weight in products such as routers, servers, cell phones and notebook computers.