Siemens launches AI-powered PCB design tools for smaller teams

Siemens is extending its AI-driven electronic systems design tools to small and mid-sized businesses with the introduction of PADS Pro Essentials and Xpedition Standard software.

The company aims to provide accessible, collaborative, and AI-powered printed circuit board (PCB) design solutions to smaller electronics teams, which have traditionally faced high entry barriers to professional-grade design tools.

Both PADS Pro Essentials and Xpedition Standard are based on Siemens' Xpedition technology and incorporate cloud collaboration, intuitive user interfaces, and automation through artificial intelligence. These features are designed to offer small teams and independent engineers access to capabilities that are regularly used by larger electronics corporations, but now at a reduced cost.

AJ Incorvaia, Senior Vice President at Siemens EDA, stated, "Today's launch marks a major milestone in our strategy to democratize access to high-performance PCB design and bring the transformative power of AI to the PCB design workflow. With PADS Pro Essentials and Xpedition Standard, we're delivering scalable solutions that help smaller teams move faster, work smarter, and design with confidence without sacrificing quality or budget."

PADS Pro Essentials targets independent engineers and startups by offering a user-friendly, cloud-connected environment for schematic capture, device layout, and a seamless design experience that lowers the entry barriers to professional PCB design. This entry-level solution also introduces a co-branded interface powered by CELUS, supporting engineers in using intelligent functional blocks and incorporates AI-assisted schematic and bills of materials (BOM) generation.

Xpedition Standard is designed for growing teams that require more advanced features while balancing cost constraints. The platform offers design reuse, variant management, advanced routing automation, and native three-dimensional layout. It also enables extended collaboration across disciplines such as mechanical, manufacturing, and supply chain stakeholders. Teams can further expand their use of the tool by leveraging token-based options to access integrated pre- and post-layout signal integrity analysis using Siemens' Hyperlynx software and rigid-flex design capabilities, without fully upgrading to a higher tier.

Shrouk El-Attar, Founder of Shrouk El-Attar consultancy, shared insights following their evaluation of the new solution. "We took a close look at Xpedition Standard and were genuinely impressed. Siemens has clearly reimagined the experience. It's intuitive, modern, and far more connected and integrated than we expected. From day one, it felt like a tool built for the way we actually work. I can get real design work done without fighting the software."

Both PADS Pro Essentials and Xpedition Standard are part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. The software family is structured to support users as they grow, from individual engineers to larger enterprises. The platforms offer a consistent user experience, centralised design libraries, and cloud-based collaboration infrastructure, enabling seamless upgrades and adaptability as project or business needs expand.

Siemens Digital Industries Software aims to help organisations of varying sizes integrate software, hardware, and services to support their digital transformation initiatives. By leveraging digital twins and optimisation tools, the company supports efforts to improve design, engineering, and manufacturing processes across the electronics sector.