Zuken Announces CADSTAR 9.0 for Improved Usability & Flexibility

September 12th, 2006 – Munich, Germany and Westford, MA , USA –

Zuken, the engineering consulting company, has announced the latest version of the desktop PCB design solution, CADSTAR 9.0. This release features major usability and flexibility enhancements, along with functionality for adopting new technology. Simultaneously, Zuken has introduced the latest version of CADSTAR 3D, with advancements that follow this same theme of increased usability.

In response to customer demand, making CADSTAR even easier to use has been the primary focus for version 9.0. Improvements to the GUIs have resulted in graphical representations of every function assignment, making the tool both easier to work with while allowing the user to develop their design skills – in turn increasing their design efficiency. ‘Trunk’ routing functionality, within P.R.Editor XR, has also been further enhanced to allow more flexibility. This includes providing designers with the ability to swap equivalent pins quickly and easily to improve routability. In addition, general usability developments have been made to the report generator, post drill files, DXF post processing, general menu and tool bars, plus much more.

One significant development that has been welcomed by users is the enhancement of the back annotation function, which makes file transfer from PCB design into the schematic smoother and simpler. This is of particular benefit when creating high-speed PCBs, due to the frequent ECOs (engineering change orders) associated with high-speed design. Furthermore, as many companies now have more operations in the Asian market, there is an increasing importance placed on complying with traditional Eastern design practices where in contrast to the West, the PCB design stage is dominant, making smooth back annotation to the schematic essential.

CADSTAR SI Verify, which offers a complete post-layout signal integrity simulation toolset with seamless integration into CADSTAR, also features many new functions for ease of use and accuracy. This includes upgrades to the via modelling function, to provide more in-depth analysis details and user defined n-port circuit models to take into account components such as filters and ferrite beads. Both of these enhancements are also supported by Zuken’s Scenario Editor, a “what-if” simulation scratch pad.

CADSTAR 3D

With more and more CADSTAR designers needing to overcome traditional design issues while exploring new approaches in creating smaller, lighter, 'function- shaped' products or assemblies, Zuken has expanded upon this theme of improved ease of use into the very latest optimized solution for the verification of PCB layout in a 3D environment - CADSTAR 3D version 5.0. For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com/cadstar3d

As standard, CADSTAR 9.0 works seamlessly with the online parts library, CADSTAR Exchange. This extensive library features over 200,000 ready to use parts available for download within the CADSTAR environment.

CADSTAR 9.0 will be available from autumn 2006 with modules starting from $/€1,000. For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com/cadstar9

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About Zuken:
Zuken is trusted globally by leading companies to optimize their electrical and electronic engineering design and related manufacturing processes. Our unique combination of proven experience, technological expertise and agility, creates electronic design automation (EDA) solutions as well as computer aided engineering (CAE) solutions that are innovative, dynamic and powerful.

With over 30 years experience, Zuken has grown to become the world’s leading provider of EDA software and electronic product lifecycle management (e-PLM). Our solutions optimize the efficiency of electronics and electrical R&D, engineering, manufacturing, new product introduction (NPI), component purchasing and component engineering in the PCB/MCM/HIC market. Listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Zuken improves product quality and profitability for electrical and electronics manufacturers globally, from automotive to aerospace, communications to consumer electronics, power to heavy machinery and medical to military markets. With headquarters in Japan, we have development and support centers in 10 countries – including the US, Germany, UK, France, Italy, China and Taiwan – and are a trusted partner of more than 4,800 organizations, with over 45,000 individual licenses, worldwide.

About CIM-Team:
CIM-Team GmbH (www.cim-team.de) headquartered in Ulm, Germany with more then 20 years experience, is a leading provider of software solutions for electrical engineering, fluidics, and logical cabling. With its products and services, the company concentrates on the development, sales, and integration of E-CAE systems. They work with more than 1,700 customers with 12,700 plus licenses across the globe.

CIM-Team’s mainstay solution, is the flagship electrical CAD package, the E³.series, which is an integrated Windows based portfolio of design tools that comprises of modules for the creation of control schematics, terminal plans, BOMs and wire lists; control panel design including wiring and layouts; and the development of detailed wiring, cabling and harness designs.

CIM-Team’s customers include industry leaders in the fields of mechanical and automotive engineering as well as vehicle and aerospace design.