Pickering Interfaces

What Pickering Interfaces does

Pickering Interfaces Ltd. is a UK-headquartered (Clacton-on-sea), privately held designer and manufacturer of modular signal switching and simulation products used in electronic test and verification systems. Founded in 1974, the company has over 50 years of operating history and offers more than 3,500 PXI/PXIe modules spanning signal switching (matrices, multiplexers, RF/microwave to 110GHz, fault insertion, low-leakage switched guard), sensor and battery simulation (programmable resistors, thermocouples, resolvers to 130,000 RPM, battery simulators up to 5A), reed relays, PCI cards, and LXI/USB modular chassis. Differentiated technologies include the BRIC high-density matrix architecture with integrated backplanes, proprietary reed relay designs with up to 10^14 ohm insulation, low-leakage switched guard modules with up to 10^13 ohm isolation, and the world-first PXI/PXIe 10-Gigabit T1 FIU MEMS switch.

The company's commercial model is built on one-time hardware sales distributed through direct enterprise field sales, an e-commerce storefront, and a worldwide network of solution and integration partners, with no subscription or recurring software revenue component. Products are priced individually (representative modules range from approximately $2,830 to $15,040), carry a standard three-year warranty, and are supported for 15-20 year lifecycles including post-discontinuation support. Pickering serves engineering customers in aerospace & defense, automotive and electric vehicle, semiconductor parametric test, medical device, rocket/satellite/space, and general industrial & research segments, with regional offices in the UK, the US (Austin, Texas), and China (Beijing, established 2015). The portfolio is backed by IVI-compliant software drivers, free design tools (Test System Architect, Switch Path Manager, Microwave Switch Design Tool, Cable Design Tool), and an AI chat agent (TESS) for product assistance.

Name

Pickering Interfaces

Legal name

Pickering Interfaces Ltd.

Website

https://pickeringtest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pickering Interfaces is a UK-based, privately held designer and manufacturer of modular signal switching and simulation products (PXI, PXIe, LXI, USB, PCI) used in electronic test systems for aerospace & defense, automotive/EV, semiconductor, medical device, and space customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Test and Measurement Instrumentation

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Capacitor, Resistor, Coil, Transformer, and Other Inductor Manufacturing (334416)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Electronic Connectors (3678), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677)

akta.pro primary industry

Sockets, IC Sockets & Test/Programming Interconnects (HDAHAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Resistors (Fixed/Variable/Network) (HDAHANAA)

Keywords

• Modular signal switching
• PXI switching modules
• Fault insertion units
• Sensor simulation modules
• Electronic test equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Clacton-on-sea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: Sale of modular signal switching and simulation products including PXI, PXIe, LXI, USB and PCI modules. Products include switching modules (matrices, multiplexers, relays, RF/microwave, optical, fault insertion), simulation modules (programmable resistors, thermocouples, resolvers, battery simulators), instrumentation modules, and chassis/controllers. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware purchases with no subscription component.
2. Custom Connectivity Solutions: Custom cable and connectivity solutions with no minimum order required. Specialized cable assemblies and connectors for test system integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pickering Interfaces designs and manufactures modular signal switching and simulation products in PXI, PXIe, LXI, USB, and PCI form factors for electronic test and verification. The portfolio spans over 3,500 PXI/PXIe modules covering signal routing (matrices, multiplexers, RF/microwave switches, fault insertion units, low-leakage switched guard), sensor and battery simulation (programmable resistors, thermocouples, LVDT/RVDT/resolvers, current loop, strain gauges, battery simulators), LXI/USB modular chassis, PCI cards, reed relays, custom connectivity, and supporting software drivers and signal routing tools.

Product overview

Pickering Interfaces offers a modular signal switching and simulation platform architecture with products in PXI, PXIe, LXI, USB, and PCI form factors. The core portfolio comprises over 1,000 switching modules including General Purpose PXI Relays, BRIC Large PXI Matrices, PXI Matrix Switch Modules, PXI Multiplexer Switch Modules, RF & Microwave Switch Modules, Fault Insertion Units, and Low-leakage Switched Guard modules. The simulation lineup includes PXI Simulation Modules for sensor simulation including Programmable Resistor Modules, Thermocouple Simulators, LVDT/RVDT/Resolver Simulators, Current Loop Simulators, Strain Gauge Simulators, and Battery Simulators. Supporting infrastructure includes LXI/USB Modular Chassis in 6, 12, and 15-slot configurations, PCI cards, Reed Relays, and Software offerings such as IVI-compliant drivers, Switch Path Manager signal routing software, and the Test System Architect design tool. The company also provides Connectivity & Cabling Solutions including custom cable assemblies with no minimum order. All products are backed by a three-year standard warranty and 15-20 year product lifespan commitment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BRIC: Large PXI Matrix Modules featuring high-density packaging and integrated backplanes for automated test systems
• Test System Architect
• TESS
• Microwave Switch Design Tool (MSDT)

Products and services

• PXI/PXIe Switching Modules Modular signal switching modules in PXI and PXIe formats offering over 1,000 configurations including multiplexers, matrices, RF/microwave switches, optical switches, and fault insertion units for automated test systems in aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor and medical device industries.
• BRIC Large PXI Matrix Modules High-density packaging PXI matrix modules with integrated backplanes offering highest crosspoint density available, supporting up to 1 Amp and 2 Amp scalable matrices in 2, 4, 8 and 12-slot 3U PXI formats for automated test systems.
• RF and Microwave PXI Switch Modules 400+ RF/Microwave switch modules covering frequency spectrum from 100MHz to 110GHz including SPDT, Transfer, MUX and Matrix switches available on PXI, LXI and USB platforms for high-frequency test applications.
• PXI Fault Insertion Units Fault injection switch products designed for safety-critical hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation and test applications, scalable from 0.3A to 40A current handling including MEMS-based 10GBase-T1 Ethernet fault insertion.
• PXI Simulation Modules Sensor simulation modules including programmable resistors, thermocouple simulators, LVDT/RVDT/Resolver simulators, strain gauge simulators, battery simulators, current loop simulators and switch simulators for test system sensor emulation.
• PXI/PXIe LVDT/RVDT/Resolver Simulator Modules High-speed resolver simulator modules capable of simulating resolvers up to 130,000 RPM for aerospace, automotive and defense motion/position measurement testing, with 150 configurations available.
• PXI/PXIe Battery Simulator Modules Battery stack and power supply emulation modules for electric vehicles, portable devices, and energy storage systems with high-density configurations, current sourcing/sinking, and high isolation voltage barriers.
• PXI Low-leakage Switched Guard Modules Very low current-driven guard measurement modules for semiconductor parametric test applications such as wafer acceptance testing (WAT), with isolation resistances up to 10^13 ohms and loop-thru functionality for test system scalability.
• LXI/USB Modular Chassis Ethernet-controlled and USB-controlled modular chassis platforms for Pickering switching and simulation modules, available in 6-slot, 12-slot, and 15-slot configurations.
• PCI Switch Cards and Simulation Cards PCI-format switch cards including general purpose relays, matrices, multiplexers, RF cards, fault insertion, and simulation cards for programmable resistors and digital I/O.
• Reed Relays High-voltage reed relays with sealed vacuum contacts for hipot testing applications, offering low leakage (up to 10^14 ohm insulation resistance), galvanic isolation, and sub-millisecond operate times.
• Connectivity and Cabling Solutions Standard and custom cable assemblies, connectors, and modular breakout systems with no minimum order required, including RF cable assemblies and mass interconnect solutions.
• Switch Path Manager (SPM) Signal Routing Software Signal routing software enabling entire switching subsystems to be virtually defined using a graphical interface, allowing function calls that connect inputs to outputs without managing individual switch states.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost savings of up to 40% on electronic test system deployment
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Integration PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGlobal network of integration partners that help augment engineering resources and assist with test system deployment. Partners provide expertise in system integration, helping customers reduce integration time and increase throughput.
• Solution PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorldwide network of solution partners with unique skills, services and expertise to help develop solutions meeting specific customer needs. Partners directory available for customers to find local experts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marvin Test Solutions: Specializes in PXI-based modular test solutions for military, aerospace, and commercial manufacturing test. Directly comparable to Pickering in form factor (PXI/PXIe), customer segments (defense/aerospace), and switching/simulation product categories.
• Astronics Test Systems (formerly Racal Instruments): Provides PXI and VXI-based switching, instrumentation, and test programs for aerospace, defense, and commercial customers. Competes directly with Pickering in modular switching subsystems and offers comparable platform-based test solutions.
• Virginia Panel Corporation: Manufacturer of mass interconnect and receiver solutions for ATE systems, complementary to Pickering's switching and cable/connectivity offerings. Frequently specified together with PXI switching systems in defense and aerospace test programs.
• National Instruments (NI): Originator of the PXI standard and the largest direct competitor in modular PXI/PXIe switching and simulation. Now part of Keysight, NI offers overlapping switch modules, chassis, and software — competing head-to-head with Pickering across aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor test.

Broad incumbents

• Teradyne: Major supplier of automated test equipment for semiconductors and electronic systems, including PXI-based instruments via its LitePoint and Universal Instruments lines. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Pickering's semiconductor and wireless test adjacencies.
• Keysight Technologies: Global leader in electronic test and measurement with a broad portfolio of instruments, software, and services. Following its acquisition of National Instruments, Keysight directly competes with Pickering in PXI-based modular switching and is the dominant incumbent in the broader T&M market Pickering serves.
• Rohde & Schwarz: Global T&M vendor with extensive PXI and standalone instrumentation offerings for wireless, aerospace, and automotive test. Competes with Pickering's RF/Microwave switching modules and chassis-based test solutions in higher-frequency applications.
• AMETEK (Programmable Power & VTI Instruments): Industrial and electronic instrument manufacturer whose VTI and Programmable Power lines compete with Pickering in PXI-based data acquisition, signal conditioning, and switching for test applications across aerospace, defense, and industrial markets.

Emerging players

• Konrad Technologies: Provides PXI-based test systems and integration services for automotive, aerospace, and RF test applications. Comparable to Pickering in target verticals and platform choice, with stronger systems-integration services and emerging automotive test focus.
• Giga-tronics: Specialty provider of RF/microwave test instruments and switching products for defense and aerospace customers. Smaller-scale direct competitor to Pickering's RF switching portfolio, focused on radar, EW, and electronic warfare test.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Pickeringtest
• Facebookfacebook.com/PickeringInterfaces
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pickering-interfaces-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Pickering Interfaces