PCBWorks Integrates with SOLIDWORKS for Improved Collaboration 

MILWAUKEE, WI May 18, 2015 – Graphics Systems Corp. announces an expansion to their solution portfolio with a new PCB design tool from Altium, the creators of the industry-leading PCB design software Altium Designer. PCBWorks is created specifically for collaboration with mechanical designers using SOLIDWORKS®, and includes a number of features to link design data between electrical and mechanical environments. PCBWorks is available now to purchase through Graphics Systems Corp.

“This solution offers a new level of functionality through an integrated design process for designers, from either the Mechanical or Electrical side of the PCB design cycle,” says Clare Schaeffer, Electrical Product Manager at Graphics Systems. “PCBWorks bridges a long-standing engineering and communication gap that has existed in the electro-mechanical design field.  For the first time, we are able to offer to our customers a complete solution using SOLIDWORKS and PCBWorks.” 

Product Experience Evolution

While the customer experience of a product is all about the electrical and mechanical elements of a design intersecting together to create a seamless whole, the underlying design processes have remained relatively unchanged and separate for years.

Mechanical and electrical designers have often been at odds with each other in the design process, having battled with the necessity for collaboration, yet always lacking the proper tools to achieve this balance. PCBWorks improves upon this traditionally separate workflow process between designers by providing a common link that unites both design domains under a collaborative process.

“The design process is finally following the unified product experience, where all of the separate variables are treated as one universal whole,” said Lawrence Romine, Director of Global New Business Development at Altium. “PCBWorks is pushing this vision forward, allowing the experts in either design domain to maximize their efficiency while maintaining that common connection with the larger design process."

New Design Collaboration Possibilities

PCBWorks includes a number of features that intelligently connect design data with mechanical designers in SOLIDWORKS®. Designers no longer have to struggle with current collaboration methods such as STEP importing/exporting. Electrical and mechanical designers can both work in their own workflows while actively pushing design revisions back and forth to keep each other on the same page as the design process progresses towards completion.

While PCBWorks focuses heavily on collaboration, it includes all of the latest PCB design technology from Altium, with a unified design environment between schematic capture and PCB layout and a streamlined interface.

To learn more about PCBWorks, please contact Graphics Systems Corp. at 800-454-2233 or visit gxsc.com.

About Altium

Altium Limited is an Australian multinational software corporation that focuses on electronics design systems for 3D PCB design and embedded system development. With a unique range of technologies Altium helps organizations and design communities to innovate, collaborate and create connected products while remaining on-time and on-budget. Products provided are Altium Designer®, Altium Vault®, CircuitStudio®, PCBWorks®, CircuitMaker® and the TASKING® range of embedded software compilers.

Founded in 1985, Altium has offices worldwide, with US locations in San Diego and Boston, European locations in Karlsruhe, Amersfoort, Kiev and Zug and Asia-Pacific locations in Shanghai, Tokyo and Sydney. For more information, visit www.altium.com.

About Graphics Systems Corp.

Graphics Systems Corp. assists companies in implementing 3D engineering capabilities for design, simulation, data management, technical documentation, and 3D printing. A local engineering technology expert since 1989, Graphics Systems Corp. partners with companies in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan to improve product design and engineering efficiency.

Graphics Systems is the Midwest's leading provider of Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS and Stratasys solutions, consulting, support, and training.  Their world-class team of dedicated professionals provide thousands of companies with unparalleled sales, service, training, and support.

For more about Graphics Systems and to learn more about our support offerings, please visit our website, www.gxsc.com, or call 800-454-2233.