What Pulsonix does

Pulsonix is the PCB design software product line of WestDev Ltd, a privately held UK software company established in 1997 in Malvern (Tewkesbury-adjacent), United Kingdom. The platform is an integrated Electronic Design Automation (EDA) environment that combines schematic capture (Pulsonix SCM), PCB layout, Spice simulation (PulsonixSim, built on the SiMetrix/Simplis engine), 3D visualisation with clash detection, and manufacturing output generation (Gerber, ODB++, Excellon) in a single Windows-based application written primarily in C++. Add-on modules address high-speed design (DDR/PCIe/USB), flexi-rigid and embedded-component PCBs, RF design, thermal analysis (via ADAM Research TRM), FPGA design support, chip-on-board, design data management (Vault on PostgreSQL), corporate database connectivity (ODBC-based PDC), and PLM integration (via XPLM). The current release is Pulsonix 14.0, launched October 2025.

The company serves professional electronics engineers and PCB designers across industries including automotive, aerospace, medical devices, industrial, lighting, and electronics manufacturing. Its website displays customer logos such as Siemens, Apple, Volkswagen, Bosch, NASA, Xerox, Zeiss, and Deutsche Bahn, with documented case studies at Eschmann Equipment (50% efficiency improvement vs. prior Mentor system), Dürr Dental (ECAD-MCAD integration with SolidWorks), and Tridonic Atco. Pulsonix monetises through perpetual software licences (with annual maintenance contracts providing recurring revenue), paid instructor-led training courses, and consulting services. All sales are routed through a worldwide exclusive network of regional distributors and resellers, with no direct field-sales motion; a free trial of the full feature set capped at 100 component pins serves as the primary top-of-funnel acquisition mechanism.

Name

Pulsonix

Legal name

WestDev Ltd

Website

https://pulsonix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pulsonix is a UK-based EDA software vendor (WestDev Ltd) selling integrated PCB design tools — schematic capture, layout, simulation, and manufacturing outputs — to professional electronics engineers worldwide through an exclusive distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tewkesbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Pulsonix software is sold as a perpetual license product. The company also offers Schematic-only seats as a cost-effective separate purchase option. Additional professional services include training courses.
2. Maintenance and Support: Annual maintenance contracts provide technical support, product updates, and access to the customer portal and downloads. The company emphasizes its 5-star support as a key differentiator.
3. Training Courses: Pulsonix and its partners offer paid training courses including SCM/PCB Getting Started (1-day), SCM/PCB Fundamentals (3-day), Library Creation, High-Speed Design, Database Connection, Advanced Technology, Spice Simulation, custom courses, and specialist PCB design process courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pulsonix is a professional PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design software platform that unifies schematic capture (SCM), PCB layout, Spice simulation (PulsonixSim), 3D mechanical integration, design data management (Vault), and manufacturing output generation in a single Windows-based EDA environment. It is sold as a perpetual license product through a worldwide distributor and reseller network, with separate Schematic-only seats, optional recurring maintenance and support contracts, and paid training courses; the latest major release is Pulsonix 14.0 launched October 2025.

Product overview

Pulsonix is a professional PCB design software solution developed by WestDev Ltd (UK, established 1997, first release 2001). The product is a unified, fully integrated EDA environment combining schematic capture (Pulsonix SCM), PCB layout, Spice simulation (PulsonixSim using the Simetrix/Simplis engine), and manufacturing outputs in one platform. Key add-on modules include High-Speed Design, Flexi-Board/Flexi-Rigid PCB Design, Interactive 3D Design with MCAD integration, RF Design, Thermal Analysis, FPGA Design, Embedded Component Technology, Chip-on-Board Design, Pulsonix Vault (design data management), Pulsonix Database Connection (ODBC), PLM Interface (via XPLM), and Data Migration Tools (free import filters from over 30 competing EDA systems). The platform supports a scripting interface (VBScript/JavaScript/Python) and is delivered digitally with training courses available. Version 14.0 launched October 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pulsonix SCM/PCB Design Software Platform Core EDA platform combining schematic capture, PCB layout, Spice simulation (PulsonixSim), 3D ECAD-MCAD integration, design data management (Vault), and manufacturing output generation in a single Windows-based environment. Sold as a perpetual license through worldwide distributors and resellers to electronics engineers and PCB designers.
• Pulsonix SCM (Schematic-only Seats) Schematic-only seats sold separately as a cost-effective solution for teams needing only schematic entry, with the built-in Spice library for simulation and support for hierarchical design, cross-probing, electrical rules checking, and forwards/backwards annotation.
• Pulsonix Training Courses Paid instructor-led and custom training courses covering SCM/PCB Getting Started (1-day), SCM/PCB Fundamentals (3-day), Library Creation and Management, High-Speed Design, Database Connection (PDC), Advanced Technology, Spice Simulation, and specialist PCB design process courses, delivered directly and through regional training providers.
• Pulsonix Online Tools (Component Search Engine and Online Gerber Viewer) Web-based tools accessible from the Pulsonix site: the Component Search Engine (powered by SnapEDA) provides search of over 15 million electronic parts with drag-and-drop into Pulsonix designs and STEP 3D models, and the Online Gerber Viewer lets users review manufacturing files directly in the browser.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% improvement in electronic design department efficiency compared to previous Mentor system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AnsyscoreTechnology or IntegrationAnsys SIwave is a specialized design platform for power integrity, signal integrity, and EMI analysis of electronic packages and PCBs, integrated with Pulsonix for advanced simulation workflows.
• CST (Dassault Systèmes)coreTechnology or IntegrationCST Studio Suite is a high-performance 3D electromagnetic analysis software package for designing, analyzing, and optimizing electromagnetic components and systems, offered as an integration option for Pulsonix users requiring EM simulation.
• SiMetrixcoreTechnology or IntegrationSiMetrix and Simplis Spice simulation solutions are integrated with Pulsonix, providing advanced Spice simulation capabilities for schematic design verification.
• SolidWorks (Dassault Systèmes)coreTechnology or Integration3D MCAD software with bi-directional STEP I/O from Pulsonix and IDX collaboration interface. Enables mechanical engineers to import PCB designs directly into SolidWorks for enclosure design and mechanical validation.
• UcamcocoreTechnology or IntegrationUcamco is the home of the Gerber format, the industry-standard PCB manufacturing output format. Pulsonix maintains integration with Ucamco for manufacturing data integrity.
• XPLM SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationXPLM provides PLM integration from Pulsonix to industry PLM solutions, enabling Pulsonix designs to be managed within enterprise Product Lifecycle Management systems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Altium (Renesas Electronics): Altium is the closest direct competitor to Pulsonix, offering PCB design software (Altium Designer) for schematic capture, layout and manufacturing output to professional electronics engineers. Pulsonix explicitly supports Altium import filters, confirming direct overlap in target customer and product category.
• Zuken: Zuken is a specialist PCB and electrical design software vendor (e.g., CR-8000, CADSTAR) serving the same electronics engineer and enterprise design-department persona as Pulsonix. Pulsonix explicitly supports Zuken import formats, evidencing direct overlap.
• Autodesk EAGLE: Autodesk EAGLE is a PCB design tool (schematic + layout) targeting professional and prosumer electronics designers, directly overlapping Pulsonix's customer segment. EAGLE is included among the 30+ EDA import filters Pulsonix supports for migration.

Broad incumbents

• Cadence Design Systems: Cadence is a global EDA incumbent whose OrCAD and Allegro PCB platforms compete with Pulsonix in schematic capture and PCB layout. While Cadence offers a much broader EDA portfolio, its PCB products target the same electronics engineer persona.
• Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics): Siemens EDA offers PADS, Expedition and other PCB design tools that compete head-to-head with Pulsonix. Pulsonix customers such as Eschmann have publicly migrated from Mentor to Pulsonix, confirming overlapping target markets and direct competitive substitution.
• Ansys: Ansys provides SIwave and broader electronic simulation tools that are integrated with Pulsonix for signal/power integrity analysis. While primarily a simulation incumbent, Ansys overlaps with Pulsonix in serving electronics engineers doing PCB-level analysis.
• Synopsys: Synopsys is a global EDA leader offering chip-to-system design tools that intersect with Pulsonix's PCB-level design footprint at the system-design and verification layer. Comparable as a broad EDA incumbent with overlapping electronics design customer base.
• Dassault Systèmes (SolidWorks / CST): Dassault's SolidWorks MCAD and CST Studio Suite EM simulation tools integrate with Pulsonix for ECAD-MCAD collaboration. The overlap is at the mechanical-electrical co-design layer rather than direct PCB schematic competition, making it a broad incumbent partner/competitor.
• Keysight Technologies: Keysight provides electronic design automation tools (PathWave, EEsof) for RF, microwave and high-speed design that overlap with Pulsonix's RF and high-speed design modules. Comparable as an incumbent serving electronics engineers with adjacent EDA workflows.

Emerging players

• KiCad: KiCad is a fast-growing open-source EDA suite for schematic capture and PCB layout, serving hobbyists, academia and increasingly commercial users. Pulsonix already lists KiCad in its import filter roadmap, reflecting it as a credible alternative at the lower end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/companies/pulsonix
• Xx.com/pulsonixpcb

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 Pulsonix