IC Blue
IC Blue Ltd is a Leeds-based distributor and Siemens EDA reseller serving the global electronics manufacturing industry through electronic component sourcing, AS9120-accredited excess stock asset management, and design automation software, with approximately 80% export revenue across 20+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IC Blue does
IC Blue Ltd, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, operates three integrated business lines serving the global electronics manufacturing industry. The first is electronic component distribution, providing shortage, obsolescence, and excess-inventory solutions with AS9120B-accredited warehousing at its 10,000 sq ft Yeadon logistics hub. The second is an Excess Stock Asset Management division, scaled up in 2020 to help OEMs and CEMs liquidate slow-moving or obsolete inventory confidentially. The third is Design Automation Software, in which IC Blue acts as a Siemens Silver Expert Partner reselling and supporting Siemens EDA products (Xpedition Enterprise and Standard, Capital Essentials Suite, Capital X Panel Designer, HyperLynx, FloTherm) alongside Downstream Technologies DFM tools (CAM350, DFMStream, Blueprint).
The company's go-to-market is sales-led and export-oriented: approximately 80% of turnover comes from exports, of which roughly 70% derives from EU markets served via a Dutch logistics hub, multilingual in-country representatives (Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Hungary, and Nordic territories), and a Siemens partnership channel. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional distribution margins on components and recurring license/support fees on software. Aerospace and defense certifications (AS9120B since 2014, SC21 Bronze since 2015, ISO 9001:2015, Cyber Essentials, ERAI membership) underpin the company's positioning in regulated supply chains and provide a defensible trust credential with named enterprise customers including Mercedes F1, Triumph Motorcycles, Arrival, Terma, Carraro Group, and Navistar.
IC Blue firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IC Blue
- Legal name
- IC Blue Ltd
- Website
- https://icblue.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- IC Blue Ltd is a Leeds-based distributor and Siemens EDA reseller serving the global electronics manufacturing industry through electronic component sourcing, AS9120-accredited excess stock asset management, and design automation software, with approximately 80% export revenue across 20+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IC Blue industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Component Distribution and EDA Software Resale
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EDA Software Platforms (Digital Implementation, Verification & Signoff) (HDAHAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)
Keywords
Where IC Blue is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
IC Blue business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Electronic Component Distribution: Global electronic component procurement services including shortage solutions, obsolescence solutions, price reduction strategies, and excess stock solutions. Serves the electronics manufacturing industry with components at the right time and price.
- Excess Stock Asset Management: Helping companies liquidate slow moving or redundant electronic component inventory, realising asset value and supporting legacy production. Provides tailored and confidential services.
- Design Automation Software Resale and Support: Resale and support of Siemens EDA software solutions (Xpedition, Capital, HyperLynx, FloTherm) and Downstream Technologies products (CAM350, DFMStream, Blueprint) as an authorized Siemens partner.
- Export Revenue: International sales operations with 80% of turnover from export, of which 70% is from EU markets including Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Greece, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Capital X Panel Designer Essentials - Cloud-based electrical design tool with basic automation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Capital X Panel Designer Standard - Full-featured with on-premises and cloud options |
| Other | Annual | Sales Executive/Account Manager Compensation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Volume and Partner Discounts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
IC Blue product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IC Blue is a wholesale distributor of board-level electronic components supplying electronics manufacturers globally, combined with authorized resale and technical support for Siemens EDA design automation software (Xpedition, Capital, HyperLynx, FloTherm) and Downstream Technologies DFM tools (CAM350, DFMStream, Blueprint). The company also operates a dedicated excess component inventory/asset management service that helps firms liquidate slow-moving or obsolete stock under confidential, AS9120B-certified warehousing.
Product overview
IC Blue Ltd operates three core divisions serving the electronics manufacturing industry: Electronic Component Sourcing, Excess Stock Asset Management, and Design Automation Software. The Design Automation Software division resells and supports Siemens EDA products including Xpedition (Standard and Enterprise) for PCB design, Capital Essentials Suite for electrical and harness design (comprising Capital Wiring Designer Essentials and Capital Harness Designer Essentials), and Capital X Panel Designer for cloud-based electrical panel design. Additional products include verification tools (HyperLynx, FloTherm) and manufacturing tools (CAM350, DFMStream, Blueprint from Downstream Technologies). The company acts as a Siemens Solution Partner providing the complete electronics design workflow from schematic through to manufacturing documentation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Electronic Component Sourcing
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue growth from £9m (2019/20) to £39.5m (2021/22) during Covid-19 supply chain challenges
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use IC Blue
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
IC Blue technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability6 records
Feature8 records
IC Blue partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and legacy.
- Department for International Trade (DIT)strategicDIT provided invaluable support throughout EU exit period, helped frame the decision for Dutch logistics hub, facilitated connections, aided investment into overseas tradeshows, and provided Internationalisation Fund grant for Matelec exhibition in Spain.
- Dutch Logistics HubcoreEstablished a Dutch logistics hub for EU customers with DIT support, enabling intra-EU shipments free of taxes and duty. The hub handles all requirements and costs brought on by importing into the EU, benefiting EU customers.
- Downstream TechnologiescoreIC Blue entered a partnership with Downstream Technologies in 2019 to provide DFM (Design for Manufacturing) tools including CAM350, DFMStream, and Blueprint to the UK market. The partnership extends IC Blue's software portfolio for the electronics manufacturing industry.
- Siemens Digital Industries SoftwarecoreIC Blue was appointed exclusive UK distribution and support rights for Mentor Graphics EDA solutions in February 2016. Following Mentor Graphics acquisition by Siemens in 2018, IC Blue became a Siemens Solution Partner and Expert Partner for Electronic and Electrical design tools including Xpedition, Capital, HyperLynx, and FloTherm. The partnership provides comprehensive software sales, support, and training services.
- Mentor Graphics (now part of Siemens)legacyOriginal partnership established in February 2016 for UK distribution and support rights for Mentor Graphics EDA solutions. Mentor Graphics was acquired by Siemens in 2018.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IC Blue competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SolidCAD: SolidCAD is a Siemens Digital Industries Platinum Partner covering CAD/CAM/CAE and EDA across North America. Comparable to IC Blue as a Siemens Solution Partner reselling Xpedition, Capital, and Solid Edge, with both software and engineering service offerings.
- EMA Design Automation: EMA Design Automation is a value-added reseller of electronic design automation (EDA) software including Cadence and Siemens EDA tools, with parallel design services. Comparable to IC Blue's design automation software division in providing software, support, and engineering consulting to electronics manufacturers.
Broad incumbents
- Arrow Electronics: Arrow Electronics is a global Fortune-500 broad-line electronic component distributor with services across components, enterprise computing, and embedded solutions. Comparable to IC Blue on the components side as a large authorized distributor with global logistics, though with vastly broader catalog and scale.
- Avnet: Avnet is a major global electronic component and embedded solutions distributor with both broad-line and specialty offerings. Comparable to IC Blue on the components side as a large authorized franchised distributor serving OEMs and EMS providers across multiple regions.
- RS Components: RS Components is a major UK-headquartered broad-line electronic and industrial component distributor serving design engineers and procurement with similar SMB and mid-market focus. Comparable to IC Blue on the components side in customer profile, geographic base, and breadth of electronics manufacturing supply.
- Farnell / element14: Farnell (element14) is a UK-rooted global electronic component distributor owned by Premier Farnell/Avnet, serving design engineers and production buyers. Comparable to IC Blue on the wholesale distribution side with a focus on board-level components for electronics manufacturers and similar design-engineer customer base.
- Mouser Electronics: Mouser Electronics is a global authorized electronic component distributor with deep inventory, broad catalog, and strong design-engineer marketing. Comparable to IC Blue on the components side as a newer-generation broad-line distributor serving electronics manufacturers, though at significantly larger scale.
- Digi-Key Electronics: Digi-Key is one of the world's largest broad-line electronic component distributors, focused on design-to-production supply for engineers and OEMs. Comparable to IC Blue on the components side with similar focus on board-level parts, shortage/obsolescence solutions, and global shipping, though at very different scale.
Others
- Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens Digital Industries Software (formerly Mentor Graphics) is the OEM whose EDA products — Xpedition, Capital, HyperLynx, FloTherm — IC Blue resells and supports as an Expert Partner. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than competitor; defines IC Blue's product roadmap and partner economics.
Emerging players
- Transfer Multisort Elektronik (TME): TME is a Poland-rooted, Pan-European electronic component distributor serving small and medium-volume buyers with broad catalog and fast shipping. Comparable to IC Blue on the components side in European scope, multi-country presence, and similar size tier of European accounts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IC Blue social profiles
Digital presenceIC Blue compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
IC Blue financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IC Blue leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
IC Blue funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IC Blue M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IC Blue
What does IC Blue do?
IC Blue is a wholesale distributor of board-level electronic components supplying electronics manufacturers globally, combined with authorized resale and technical support for Siemens EDA design automation software (Xpedition, Capital, HyperLynx, FloTherm) and Downstream Technologies DFM tools (CAM350, DFMStream, Blueprint). The company also operates a dedicated excess component inventory/asset management service that helps firms liquidate slow-moving or obsolete stock under confidential, AS9120B-certified warehousing.
Is IC Blue a public or private company?
IC Blue is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was IC Blue founded?
IC Blue was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is IC Blue based?
IC Blue is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does IC Blue make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Electronic Component Distribution is the primary driver. The others are excess Stock Asset Management, design Automation Software Resale and Support and export Revenue.
Who are IC Blue's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SolidCAD and EMA Design Automation. Broad incumbents are Arrow Electronics, Avnet, RS Components, Farnell / element14, Mouser Electronics and Digi-Key Electronics. Siemens Digital Industries Software is listed as an others. Transfer Multisort Elektronik (TME) is listed as an emerging player.
Does IC Blue have an API?
No public API is recorded for IC Blue.
What industry is IC Blue in?
IC Blue's product category is Electronic Component Distribution and EDA Software Resale. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAFAA, EDA Software Platforms (Digital Implementation, Verification & Signoff), with a secondary code of IMAHAHAH, Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 5065.