Hardware design

Custom PCB
design, from prototype
to production

We design custom printed circuit boards for electronic products: from the schematic to the multi-layer PCB layout, with care for RF, signal integrity, power and manufacturability. Not just a nice drawing: a board that works, that can be manufactured and that stays sourceable over time. Studio in Cavezzo, in the province of Modena, serving SMEs and startups across Italy.

Have your hardware project assessed

The problems
we solve

"I need to go from idea to board"

You have a function to build and a set of constraints (size, power, cost) but no circuit. We start from the requirements and arrive at the schematic and a production-ready PCB.

"My board is giving me trouble"

Noise, random resets, power issues or RF that won't pass the tests. We analyse the schematic and layout, pinpoint the cause and propose a revision.

"A component has gone out of production"

A chip has become obsolete or is impossible to find. We find the alternative, adapt the schematic and layout and put the board back into production.

"I need to industrialise the prototype"

It works on the bench but isn't ready for the factory. We review it for manufacturability (DFM), testability and cost, with complete BOM and documentation.

What we design

PCB capabilities
in detail

01

Schematic & architecture

Definition of the electronic architecture, schematic, choice of power topology and functional blocks. The foundation everything else rests on.

KiCadSchematicPower tree
02

Multi-layer layout

Multi-layer PCB layout with attention to signal integrity, ground returns, coupling and controlled impedance. Dense, reliable boards.

Multi-layerSignal integrityControlled impedance
03

RF and antennas

Design of radio-frequency sections (BLE, 2.4 GHz), antenna matching, critical placement and routing. Hands-on experience with BLE products in production.

RF 2.4 GHzBLEAntenna matching
04

Difficult packages & WLCSP

Routing of fine-pitch packages, BGA and WLCSP, handling of via-in-pad and advanced fabrication rules, in dialogue with the PCB manufacturer.

BGAWLCSPVia-in-pad
05

Components & obsolescence

Component selection with an eye on availability, second source and cost. Obsolescence management to keep the board in production for years.

BOMSecond sourceSourcing
06

In-house validation

Before the final PCB we verify the critical blocks on breadboard and prototype. Once the board is ready, bench testing with dedicated instruments.

PrototypeTestingDFM

Hardware and
firmware together

Most of a board's problems arise at the boundary between hardware and firmware. We design both: fewer hand-offs, fewer revisions, less time wasted.

A single point of contact

Schematic, PCB, firmware and app under one roof. See firmware development →

Designed for the factory

Design for manufacturing and testability from the start: the board must not only work, it must be manufacturable at a sustainable cost.

Full confidentiality

Every project under NDA. Schematic, layout and sources remain the client's property, delivered at the end of the project.

BLE hardware in a
marine housing

The SailSensor ecosystem is ultra-low-power BLE hardware designed to withstand the marine environment: compact PCBs, a carefully engineered RF section and IP67 housing. The same approach — hardware and firmware designed together — that we apply to our clients' projects.

Read the technical case study
Frequently asked questions

PCB design:
the questions

Do you design just the PCB, without the firmware?

Yes. We can handle the hardware alone — schematic and layout — if you or another supplier manage the firmware and app. The advantage of entrusting us with both is that hardware and firmware are born consistent, but it's not a requirement: we adapt to your context.

Do you manufacture the boards or only the design?

We deliver the complete, production-ready design (Gerber, BOM, assembly files) and support you in the dialogue with the PCB manufacturer and the assembler. We can handle prototypes and first production runs through trusted suppliers, or work with yours.

What software do you use and do you deliver the source files?

We work mainly with KiCad. At the end of the project we deliver the source files for schematic and layout, in addition to the production files: ownership of the design belongs to the client, with no lock-in on us.

Can you revise a board that has problems, even if you didn't design it?

Yes. We analyse the existing schematic and layout, reproduce the problem on the bench where possible, and propose a targeted revision. This often happens with power issues, noise, preliminary EMC or RF sections that don't behave as expected.

Where are you based?

The studio is in Cavezzo, in the province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna. We work with clients across Italy: design work is largely carried out remotely, with in-person meetings for projects that require them, especially during the testing phase.

Have a board to
design or fix?

Tell us the function, the constraints (size, power, cost, volumes) and where you are: an idea, a prototype to review or a board to industrialise. In the initial discovery, free of charge, we assess feasibility and risks and propose a path with defined costs and timelines.

Start with a free discovery

Firmware

The board comes to life with firmware: we develop it.

Firmware development →

Patents

If there's innovation in the hardware, we help protect it.

Patent consulting →

Case study

BLE hardware in an IP67 marine housing.

Read the case study →