Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. is an American semiconductor company headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire. It develops components that enable electronic systems to measure their surroundings and control electrical equipment. Largely unknown to the general public, it supplies automakers, automotive suppliers and industrial manufacturers. Its positioning combines two complementary specialties: magnetic sensors and integrated circuits for power management.
A history tied to Sanken Electric
Founded in 1990, Allegro MicroSystems grew under the umbrella of the Japanese group Sanken Electric. This affiliation places it within a tradition of analog and power components, with particular attention to applications requiring reliability and the ability to manage electrical constraints. The company gradually built its offering around magnetic sensing and motor control.
Its listing on Nasdaq in 2020, under the ticker symbol ALGM, marked a new stage in its development. In 2023, the acquisition of Crocus Technology strengthened its expertise in tunnel magnetoresistance, or TMR, sensors. This technology complements its expertise in Hall-effect sensors and broadens its magnetic measurement capabilities.
Measuring current, detecting motion, controlling motors
Allegro’s sensors detect quantities such as position, angle, rotational speed and electric current. These measurements are used to control motor operation, monitor equipment or improve the precision of an automated system. Depending on the application, magnetic sensing enables measurement without mechanical contact, which is useful in environments subject to wear, vibration or temperature changes.
In automotive applications, its components are used in electrified powertrains, power steering and various actuators. Current measurement helps control electrical flows, while position sensors provide information to control systems. The company also offers motor driver circuits and power management circuits.
Beyond vehicles, Allegro serves industrial automation, robotics, energy equipment and certain types of IT infrastructure. What these markets have in common is the need to convert physical phenomena into actionable information and then precisely adjust equipment operation. Measurement quality and energy efficiency are therefore central criteria in its offering.
What next?
Allegro’s prospects remain tied to the electrification of applications and the growing number of motors and sensors in equipment. Integrating TMR technologies could enhance its portfolio for applications requiring precision and sensitivity. However, this trajectory depends on the pace of automotive and industrial investment in a cyclical semiconductor sector. For the company, the challenge will be to turn its technological developments into qualified components selected for long-term programs, while managing cost, supply and reliability constraints.