Vishay Adds To Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) Families With Industry's Such First Single-Chip Devices Rated for Up to 540 V

MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA - January 3, 2003 - Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) today announced that it is adding to its transient voltage suppressor (TVS) families with the industry's first such single-chip devices rated for breakdown voltages up to 540 V.

Providing transient voltage protection for high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting and lighting ballast applications, the Vishay Semiconductor TVS devices are built on a patent-pending process that yields improved surge capability, lower leakage currents, and improved voltage clamping for high-voltage applications. Enhanced performance in a single chip also allows designers to lower costs and reduce board space by implementing one device, rather than two, for high-voltage protection.

The new additions increase the available maximum breakdown voltage from 440 V to 540 V in Vishay's P4KE, P6KE, and 1.5KE480 axial-leaded TVS families, and from 220 V to 540 V in the surface-mount P4SMA, P6SMB, and 1.5SMC families.

These new products feature the same packages as existing TVS products, giving designers a simple means to incorporate appropriate higher-voltage devices for a given application.

Samples and production quantities of the new extended-range TVS devices are available now, with lead times of eight weeks for larger orders.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, and transducers). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and ability to provide "one-stop shop" service have made Vishay a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.