Siemens buys ASTER to boost PCB test design software

Siemens has acquired ASTER Technologies, a French supplier of printed circuit board assembly test verification and engineering software, as it expands its electronic design automation and manufacturing software portfolio.

The deal adds design-for-test software to Siemens' Xpedition and Valor product lines. Siemens said the acquisition integrates ASTER's "shift-left" approach into its workflow for printed circuit boards. The focus sits on test planning earlier in the design cycle and test coverage analysis across design and manufacturing.

ASTER operates from Cesson-Sévigné, France. The company launched in 1993 and has supplied software used in printed circuit board fabrication, assembly and test. Siemens described ASTER as a market leader in test verification and engineering software for printed circuit board assemblies.

Shift-left testing

Siemens said electronics makers face higher design complexity as automotive electronics volumes rise and 5G integration increases across products. These trends raise expectations for safety, reliability and compliance with tighter standards. Siemens also pointed to the cost of design changes and the impact of defects that escape into production and the field.

Companies in these markets increasingly look for design-for-test functions inside board design software, according to Siemens. That approach places test strategy alongside design decisions, rather than treating test as a downstream engineering activity.

Siemens said ASTER's tools add test coverage analysis and test programming features. It also said the combined offering links PCB design engineering to manufacturing. Siemens framed this link as a digital thread driven by test coverage analysis across the process.

Product integration

ASTER's main product is TestWay. Siemens said the software covers design-for-test planning and implementation. It described TestWay as a tool that engineers use when preparing designs and establishing test strategies earlier in the PCB assembly manufacturing process.

Siemens said TestWay complements the Valor portfolio, which it positions around design for fabrication and assembly. The company also said the integration places ASTER's design-for-test functions into Xpedition, its PCB design platform.

The acquisition also sits inside Siemens' broader industrial software packaging under the Siemens Xcelerator brand. Siemens said it will embed manufacturing-related functions within its PCBA design portfolio as it broadens its electronic design automation offering.

Customer focus

Siemens linked the move to demand for more structured test engineering strategies in sectors where product reliability requirements remain high. It said a more comprehensive approach to test engineering can reduce the likelihood of design re-spins and lessen the risk of returns and failures after deployment.

ASTER's customer base centres on complex designs in computing and high-performance computing, automotive and networking, Siemens said. These applications often require high levels of test coverage and process discipline across manufacturing steps.

"The addition of ASTER Technologies is a game-changer for our customers in the PCB design and manufacturing space. By integrating ASTER's market-leading test engineering software, we are empowering our customers to optimize designs much earlier in the design cycle," said AJ Incorvaia, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Electronic Board Systems at Siemens Digital Industries Software.

"This can dramatically reduce costs, accelerate time-to-market and helps to ensure the highest levels of product quality and reliability. It's about giving our customers a complete, integrated solution that sets them up for success from the very first design concept through final production," said Incorvaia.

ASTER's roadmap

ASTER said it expects wider distribution for its tools inside Siemens' portfolio. The company has positioned its software around test coverage analysis and engineering checks in PCB assembly workflows.

"Joining forces with Siemens is an incredibly exciting next chapter for our team and our customers. We've always been passionate about helping engineers create flawless PCB designs through advanced test coverage analysis," said Christophe Lotz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ASTER Technologies.

"Now, as part of Siemens, we have an unparalleled opportunity to integrate our expertise into a broader, industry-leading portfolio. This means our innovative solutions can reach more customers, enabling them to achieve even greater efficiency, quality and competitive advantage. We are thrilled to contribute to Siemens' vision of a truly integrated digital thread for electronics design and manufacturing with just enough test," said Lotz.

Siemens said it will expand its design-for-manufacturing offering for the global PCB market, with the ASTER product line integrated into its Xpedition and Valor portfolios.