What MDE Semiconductor does

MDE Semiconductor, Inc. is a privately held California-based specialty manufacturer of circuit protection components, with a single-minded focus on Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diodes and complementary Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV/TTMOV) and Two Terminal Thyristors. All silicon devices are built around a proprietary low-leakage glass passivation process and MAX-Avalanche technology, delivering high-energy absorption capability across a 400-watt to 288,000-watt power range — among the widest in the industry — with response times in the nanosecond-to-picosecond range. The product portfolio spans the high-power MAXPak Series, configurable MAX-20/40 cell-based assemblies, surface-mount SMDMAX variants, military-rated RT100KP and 5.0SMLJ series, thermally protected varistors, and custom stacks of up to 18 cells for tailored voltage, power, and packaging requirements.

The company monetizes through direct hardware sales, quote-based pricing (not publicly disclosed), and a broad distributor and manufacturer-representative channel: USI serves as primary distributor with regional offices spanning the US Southeast, Southwest, Western, Northeast, and South plus a European office in Korsør, Denmark, and territory-based reps cover most US regions and both Eastern and Western Canada. Primary customers are enterprise buyers in aerospace and defense, industrial, telecommunications, medical, and automotive/EV verticals, with named design wins on the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer GEDMS network, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter cockpit, the General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft, and long-running telecom surge-protection assemblies for Transtector Systems and subsea cable systems for SubCom.

MDE is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional backers. Headcount is small (11-50 employees), and the operating model relies on the founder-visible technical authority of "Bill" (via the website's Bill's Tech Briefs and Ask Bill content formats), a multi-decade defense and telecom qualification record (MIL-STD 1275, MIL-STD 1399 Section 300B, RTCA/DO-160, UL1449 4th Edition, ITU-T K.20/K.21), and a steady cadence of new product introductions through 2024 and 2025. Revenue figures are not disclosed; the addressable opportunity is concentrated in safety-critical applications where requalification costs protect incumbent suppliers.

Name

MDE Semiconductor

Legal name

MDE Semiconductor, Inc.

Website

https://mdesemiconductor.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MDE Semiconductor, Inc. is a privately held Newport Beach, California-based manufacturer of high-power Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diodes, varistors, and thyristors for circuit protection, serving aerospace, defense, industrial, telecom, and medical OEMs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circuit Protection Semiconductors

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

TVS/ESD & Surge Protection Devices (HDAHAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Varistors & Surge Protection (MOV/TVS-like passive protectors/GDT) (HDAHANAI), Thyristors (SCRs/Triacs/Diacs) (HDAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Transient voltage suppressor diodes
• Circuit protection components
• Metal oxide varistors
• High current TVS diodes
• Silicon surge protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. TVS Diode Sales: MDE Semiconductor generates revenue through the sale of transient voltage suppression diodes, including standard TVS diodes, high current power TVS diodes (MAXPak series), and custom assemblies. Products are sold through distributors and direct sales with varying power ratings from 400W to 288,000W.
2. Varistor and Thyristor Sales: Revenue is also generated from the sale of Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV series), Thermally Protected MOV (TTMOV series), and Two Terminal Thyristors for circuit protection applications across various voltage ranges.
3. Custom Assembly Products: MDE provides custom assemblies built to customer-specific designs using MAX-20/40 series cells that can be stacked and configured to meet unique voltage, power, or packaging requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MDE Semiconductor, Inc. manufactures silicon-based Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diodes, Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV), Thermally Protected MOVs (TTMOV), and Two Terminal Thyristors for circuit protection. All silicon devices are built with a proprietary low leakage glass passivation process offering high-energy absorption capability from 400 watts up to 288,000 watts, protecting electronic systems from lightning, ESD, NEMP, and inductive switching.

Product overview

MDE Semiconductor is a specialized manufacturer of circuit protection products with a focus on Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diodes. The product portfolio includes the Power TVS MAXPak Series (up to 288,000W), Power TVS MAX-20/40 Series (tab lead and S-lead cells), standard TVS Diode Series (400W to 100,000W), Two Terminal Thyristors, Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV), and Thermally Protected MOV (TTMOV). Products utilize low leakage glass passivation process and MAX-Avalanche technology. Available in surface mount (SMD, SMTO-218, DO-214AB, DO-218S), radial lead, and custom configurations. Target markets include aerospace/defense, naval/military, industrial, medical, telecommunications, and electric vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAXPak Series: High current bidirectional Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diodes with up to 288,000 watts of power for AC line protection and high power DC bus clamping applications
• MAX-Avalanche Technology
• 5.0SMLJ Series
• 30KP Series
• MAX-20 CELL Series
• MAX-40 CELL Series

Products and services

• Power TVS MAXPak Series High current bidirectional Transient Voltage Suppressor diodes with power ratings up to 288,000 watts, designed for AC line protection and high power DC bus clamping applications from 50V to 470V, meeting IEC 61000-4-5 and MIL-STD 1275 requirements.
• Power TVS MAX-20 / 40 Series High current TVS diode series available in tab lead and S-lead cell configurations. MAX-20 Series ranges 4.0-22.0V and MAX-40 Series ranges 12.0-40.0V, configurable as stacked cells for custom voltage, power, or packaging requirements.
• TVS Diode Series

Quantifiable outcome

• 288,000 watts peak power dissipation capability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Transtector SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 200320+ year strategic partnership where MDE Semiconductor supplies custom MAX-20 CELL and MAX-40 CELL Series TVS diodes to Transtector for custom telecommunications surge protection devices. The partnership enables customized protective devices that meet advanced requirements of the telecommunications industry, with improvements of up to 35% in protection versus commodity silicon diode construction.
• BoeingcoreTechnology or IntegrationBoeing selected MDE Semiconductor's MAX-200 High Current Power TVS Diode for inclusion in the Gigabit Ethernet Data Multiplex System (GEDMS) aboard US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. The MAX-200 meets MIL-STD 1399 Section 300B requirements and passed rigorous testing including sea trials on USS Spruance (DDG-111).
• Lockheed MartincoreTechnology or IntegrationLockheed Martin selected MDE Semiconductor's 5.0SMLJ Series TVS Diode for use in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft cockpit electronics protection. The partnership was part of the F-35 redesign contract (N00019-14-0002) for protecting advanced electronics from power surges and lightning strikes.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)coreTechnology or IntegrationGA-ASI utilizes MDE Semiconductor's 30KP (30,000 Watt) transient voltage suppressor diode series in MQ-9B SkyGuardian remote aircraft systems. The products passed comprehensive lightning tests conducted at NTS Pittsfield testing facility to achieve airworthiness certification for national airspace operation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Vishay Intertechnology: Vishay is a major discrete semiconductor manufacturer producing TVS diodes, rectifiers, MOSFETs, and passives for industrial, automotive, and military markets. It competes head-to-head with MDE across multiple TVS and diode series used in aerospace and defense.
• Littelfuse: Littelfuse is a leading global manufacturer of circuit protection products, including TVS diodes, MOVs, thyristors, and fuses across industrial, automotive, and telecom markets. It is the most direct competitor to MDE in TVS and surge protection devices, though with a far broader portfolio and customer base.
• Bourns: Bourns manufactures circuit protection components including TVS diodes, MOVs, and gas discharge tubes, with strong positions in telecom surge protection and industrial applications. It is a direct competitor in many of MDE's core telecom and industrial segments.
• ProTek Devices: ProTek Devices is a niche manufacturer specializing in TVS diodes, arrays, and other transient voltage suppression components for aerospace, military, industrial, and telecom applications. It is a direct competitor in the same specialty TVS niche as MDE, with overlapping customer profiles.

Emerging players

• Semtech: Semtech is primarily a mixed-signal semiconductor company (LoRa, signal integrity, protection) with a TVS/ESD protection portfolio targeted at high-speed data, telecom, and industrial interfaces. It overlaps with MDE in telecom surge protection and circuit protection for high-speed interfaces.

Broad incumbents

• Infineon Technologies: Infineon is a leading power semiconductor IDM with TVS and protection devices as part of its broad power, automotive, and industrial portfolio. It competes in high-power protection for EVs and industrial drives where MDE's MAXPak series also plays.
• onsemi (ON Semiconductor): onsemi is a broad-line semiconductor manufacturer with TVS diodes, Zeners, and protection ICs serving automotive, industrial, and aerospace customers. It competes with MDE in protection for EV power electronics and aerospace power systems as part of a much larger portfolio.
• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics is a broad-line semiconductor IDM offering TVS protection arrays and discrete protection devices alongside its power, automotive, and MCU franchises. While circuit protection is not its core focus, it competes in the same end markets and on automotive/EV surge protection sockets.
• TDK (EPCOS): TDK's EPCOS line manufactures varistors, surge arresters, and circuit protection components for industrial, telecom, and automotive markets. It is a direct competitor to MDE's MOV and TTMOV series and has strong incumbency in telecom and AC line protection.
• Eaton (Electrical / Surge Protection): Eaton's electrical business produces surge protection devices, TVSS systems, and related components for industrial, data center, and utility markets. It overlaps with MDE's industrial and telecom surge protection offerings via its Bussmann and other protection lines.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MDE-Semiconductor-Inc-102481268246779
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mde-semiconductor-inc

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MDE Semiconductor