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Siemens Acquires DownStream Technologies to Expand PCB Design-to-Manufacturing Flow
April 8, 2025 | SiemensEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that it has completed the acquisition of DownStream Technologies, a leading provider of manufacturing data preparation solutions for printed circuit board (PCB) design. This acquisition strengthens Siemens’ PCB design portfolio and expands its footprint in the electronics small and medium-sized business (SMB) market.
“The acquisition is a significant step for Siemens EDA in the mid-sized PCB market, offering DownStream’s customers improved time to market, quality, and cost efficiency," said Mike Ellow, CEO, Siemens EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software. "Integrating DownStream Technologies enables Siemens EDA to provide the most comprehensive and advanced manufacturing data preparation solution, helping to ensure a smooth transition from design to production within a fully digitalized and scalable electronic systems design process.”
Founded in 2002 and based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, DownStream Technologies is a leading provider of manufacturing solutions for manufacturing data analysis and processing, and documenting PCB designs. Its widely adopted CAM350 suite of tools enables customers to visualize, verify and automatically prepare PCB design data for fabrication.
DownStream’s patented BluePrint-PCB tool is widely recognized as a best-in-class documentation solution enabling customers of all sizes to automate the creation of highly detailed manufacturing documents. By reducing errors and streamlining the transition from design to production, BluePrint-PCB enhances efficiency across the PCB development process. The integration of BluePrint-PCB with Siemens’ PCB design solutions aims to provide customers with a seamless workflow, improving digital continuity and manufacturing readiness.
“We’re excited to join forces with Siemens and bring our decades of expertise into their world-class ecosystem,” said Rick Almeida, founder, DownStream Technologies. “Together, we’ll provide a fully integrated solution with both breadth and depth that enables PCB designers to deliver designs to manufacturing with greater efficiency and confidence.”
Suggested Items
RF PCB Design Tips and Tricks
05/08/2025 | Cherie Litson, EPTAC MIT CID/CID+There are many great books, videos, and information online about designing PCBs for RF circuits. A few of my favorite RF sources are Hans Rosenberg, Stephen Chavez, and Rick Hartley, but there are many more. These PCB design engineers have a very good perspective on what it takes to take an RF design from schematic concept to PCB layout.
The Right Blend: Mixed Wireless Technologies
05/08/2025 | Kirsten Zima, Siemens EDAA common trend recently is to employ as many radios as possible on a single PCB. With the increase of wireless standards and the downscaling of PCB size, it can be difficult to know what the most critical design parameters are to focus on. In this article, we’ll discuss the most important considerations to make when designing with mixed wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi, on a single PCB. These considerations include antennas, frequencies, FCC compliance, shielding, and layout with and without transition vias.
Navigating Global Manufacturing in an Era of Uncertainty
05/07/2025 | Philip Stoten, ScoopThe EMS industry faces unprecedented challenges as global trade tensions rise and tariff announcements create market uncertainty. In an overview of IPC Europe’s podcast, MADE IN EUROPE, industry experts from GPV and Zollner examine how these developments impact our businesses and customers, and what strategies will prevail in this new landscape.
Voices of the Industry: Alpha Circuit
05/06/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazinePrashant Patel, founder and president of Alpha Circuit, takes a pragmatic approach to doing business: “Commerce always wins out,” he says. How will potential tariffs and shifts in the economy affect PCB manufacturing? Prashant offers sound advice.
AMI Achieves 52 Consecutive Weeks of First Pass Yield Rates Above 98.72%
05/06/2025 | Alternative Manufacturing, Inc.AMI, a leading provider of high-quality PCB assembly (PCBA) solutions, proudly announces the achievement of 52 consecutive weeks of first pass yields at test, maintaining an exceptional success rate of 98.72% or better. This remarkable accomplishment underscores the company's unwavering commitment to manufacturing excellence, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction.