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Altium

Altium Limited is a multinational that develops and provides (EDA) tools, with a primary focus on (PCB) design and related development platforms. Originating in in 1985 as one of the world's first providers of PCB design software, the company has evolved into a global leader in unified design solutions, emphasizing cloud-based collaboration and integration across the . Headquartered in , , Altium serves engineers and organizations worldwide, accelerating innovation in through accessible, agile tools that connect , , , and processes. The company's flagship product, , is a comprehensive design software suite that unifies , layout, , and within a single environment, enabling efficient creation of complex electronic systems. Complementing this, Altium 365 serves as a cloud platform for team collaboration, , and , allowing sharing of designs and components across distributed teams. Additional offerings include Altium Develop for streamlined product creation and Altium Agile for enterprise-scale electronics development, all built on over 40 years of expertise in the field. These tools are widely used in industries such as , automotive, , and , supporting the shift toward software-defined hardware and . In a significant development, Corporation announced its intent to acquire Altium on February 15, 2024, and completed the transaction on August 1, 2024, for approximately A$9.1 billion, making Altium a wholly owned . This integration aims to combine Renesas' expertise with Altium's design software to offer end-to-end solutions, from chip to system-level design. As of November 2025, post-acquisition milestones include Altium's acquisition of firm Part Analytics in January 2025 and the September 2025 launch of new platforms Altium Discover, Develop, and Agile, further advancing integrated electronics system development.

Overview

Founding and early mission

Altium traces its origins to 1985, when electronics designer Nicholas founded Protel Systems Pty Ltd in , , . , who had been working as a technical officer at the , established the company to develop software tools for (PCB) design specifically targeted at IBM PC compatibles, making it one of the earliest providers in this emerging market. The inaugural product, Protel PCB version 1.0, was a DOS-based application released that same year, focusing on accessible PCB layout capabilities for personal computers. The early mission of Protel was to democratize design by delivering affordable and user-friendly software to electronics engineers, contrasting sharply with the prevailing high-end systems that cost tens of thousands of dollars and were inaccessible to many. aimed to empower the "average engineer" with high-quality tools that ran on standard , thereby lowering in electronic design and fostering among individual practitioners and smaller teams. This vision positioned Protel as a disruptor in an industry dominated by expensive, proprietary solutions, emphasizing practicality and cost-effectiveness from the outset. Initially, the company's software concentrated on core functionalities such as and layout, tailored to the needs of small to medium-sized enterprises that required efficient design processes without the complexity of enterprise-level systems. By prioritizing ease of use, Protel's tools enabled users to handle moderately complex designs on affordable , setting a foundation for broader adoption in the electronics sector and influencing the evolution toward integrated platforms like .

Current status and ownership

As of 2025, Altium operates as a wholly owned of Corporation, following the completion of a $5.9 billion acquisition on August 1, 2024. This transaction, valued at approximately A$9.1 billion, integrated Altium's electronics design software expertise with Renesas' semiconductor solutions to enhance end-to-end product development capabilities. Altium maintains its headquarters at 4225 Executive Square, Suite 800, in , , , with key additional offices in nearby , ; , (Philipp-Reis-Straße 3); and , (16F, Building E1, No. 938, Jin Shajiang Road). The company employs approximately 800 people globally as of 2024, supporting operations across these locations and remote teams. In the electronics design automation (EDA) market, Altium holds a leading position, particularly for (PCB) design software, serving over 100,000 engineers worldwide as of 2023. It caters to more than 30,000 businesses across industries such as automotive, , and as of 2023, emphasizing cloud-connected workflows through platforms like Altium 365 to enable collaborative, and .

History

1985–2000: Protel origins and initial growth

Protel Systems Pty Ltd was founded in 1985 in , , , by electronics designer Nicholas Martin, with the initial mission to develop affordable personal computer-based software for (EDA), particularly () layout tools accessible to individual engineers and small firms. The company released its first product, Protel 1.0, in 1985 as a DOS-based design system, marking one of the earliest such tools for PC-compatible computers and emphasizing ease of use over the expensive mainframe-based systems dominant at the time. This software focused on and board layout, enabling hobbyists and professionals to design circuits without specialized , and it quickly gained traction in through direct and local distribution. Building on this foundation, Protel expanded its offerings in the late 1980s. In 1987, the company introduced Protel Schematic, a DOS-based editor that complemented the tool by allowing integrated entry and transfer to . Concurrently, Protel entered the U.S. market by rebranding its PCB software as Autotrax for DOS, distributed through HST Technology, which facilitated international adoption and tied into the company's early legacy products for broader compatibility. The 1990s saw significant evolution as Protel shifted toward Windows-based platforms to capitalize on the operating system's rising popularity among engineers. In 1990, Protel released Protel PCB, a refined DOS version with advanced routing algorithms and auto-placement features, but the pivotal transition occurred with the 1991 launch of Advanced Schematic and Advanced PCB 1.0 for Windows—the world's first fully integrated Windows-native PCB design system—enabling graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop functionality, and better integration with Windows applications like spreadsheets for bill-of-materials management. This included an enhanced version with improved library management and hierarchical design support, addressing growing demands for complex multi-sheet schematics in electronics prototyping. Subsequent iterations, such as Advanced Schematic/PCB 2.x (1993–1995) and 3.x (1995–1998), introduced multi-layer support, design rule checking, and 3D viewing previews, targeting professional electronics design for consumer and industrial applications. By the mid-1990s, Protel had grown from a small Tasmanian operation with fewer than 20 employees to an international entity with offices in North America and Europe, achieving annual revenues exceeding AUD 20 million through partnerships and reseller networks that expanded its reach to over 50 countries. This period was not without challenges, as Protel faced intense competition from established EDA giants like , whose Board Station and Expedition tools dominated high-end markets with robust and high-speed capabilities suited for large corporations. Protel differentiated itself by prioritizing affordability and simplicity for mid-tier users, but market pressures prompted internal restructuring, including the 1998 acquisition of Design Systems to bolster Windows and the of North American operations via the 1999 purchase of , which enhanced and modules. These moves streamlined product lines and prepared the company for public listing, culminating in its (IPO) on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in August 1999 as Protel International Limited, raising approximately AUD 30 million at AUD 2.00 per share to fund further global expansion and R&D. The IPO, under the ticker PRI, valued the company at around AUD 150 million and marked the culmination of its pre-2000 growth from a regional innovator to a competitive player in the EDA industry. In 1999, Protel released Protel 99, a comprehensive Windows suite that integrated , PCB layout, and basic FPGA support, further broadening adoption in by offering collaboration previews and export options for files, solidifying its position ahead of the new .

2001–2010: Rebranding to Altium and IPO expansion

In August 1999, Protel Systems Pty Ltd completed its (IPO) on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the ticker PRI, raising AUD 30 million at AUD 2.00 per share to fund further acquisitions and product development in (EDA). The IPO capitalized on the company's growing portfolio of PCB design tools, enabling expansion beyond its Australian base. Following the listing, the company pursued strategic acquisitions, including Tasking in 2001, which broadened its offerings into development. In , Protel International rebranded to Altium Limited, a move that unified its corporate identity and reflected a strategic shift toward providing integrated EDA solutions as a single-source supplier for professional engineers, encompassing , , and embedded systems. The ASX ticker was updated to ALU shortly thereafter, aligning with the new branding. This rebranding occurred amid the post-dot-com recovery, as Altium stabilized its operations and focused on consolidating its acquired technologies under a cohesive platform. The change emphasized a departure from siloed tools toward a more holistic approach to , while retaining existing product brands like Protel and P-CAD for continuity. During this period, Altium advanced its product lineup with the release of Altium Designer 6.0 in 2005, which introduced a unified environment integrating schematic capture, PCB layout, and FPGA design functionalities, streamlining workflows for engineers. To support global growth, the company expanded its international presence by establishing a European headquarters in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2002 and enhancing its U.S. operations with additional office space in 2005 to meet rising customer demand in North America. These developments positioned Altium to capitalize on recovering market conditions in the EDA sector. By fiscal year 2010 (ended June 30), Altium's revenue had declined to US$45 million, reflecting an 11% decrease in sales from the prior year and heightened adoption of subscription-based licensing models, which boosted deferred revenue to US$12.2 million through flexible purchasing options for ongoing software access and updates. This financial progress occurred against the backdrop of the global economic recovery following the , with Altium emphasizing recurring revenue streams to enhance stability and customer retention in its core and systems design markets. Despite an overall net loss of US$10.4 million due to investments in expansion, the company's cash position stood at US$4.8 million, underscoring its resilience and focus on long-term growth.

2011–2023: Strategic acquisitions and product evolution

During the period from 2011 to 2023, Altium pursued a strategy of targeted acquisitions to enhance its offerings in (EDA), focusing on parts management, cloud capabilities, and integration with broader management (PLM) systems. This approach complemented organic growth following the company's and IPO in the previous decade. Although no major acquisitions occurred in 2011, the company began laying groundwork for expanded ecosystem integration through partnerships, such as those aimed at bridging ECAD and MCAD workflows. In 2015, Altium acquired Octopart, a New York-based for components that provided access to over 30 million parts from multiple suppliers, enabling better component sourcing and management within design workflows. Concurrently, the company acquired Ciiva, a UK-based firm specializing in cloud-based component lifecycle intelligence, which added on availability, pricing, and to Altium's tools. These moves strengthened visibility, a critical need amid rising complexity in PCB designs driven by IoT proliferation. In 2016, Altium further expanded integration capabilities by acquiring Perception Software, a provider of enterprise PLM solutions, for approximately $7.9 million; this facilitated seamless data exchange between Altium Designer and leading PLM systems like Siemens Teamcenter and PTC Windchill. The acquisition momentum continued in 2017 with Upverter, a Toronto-based design platform, purchased to bolster collaborative, browser-based design tools accessible to distributed teams. This acquisition aligned with industry shifts toward remote engineering amid increasing complexity from multi-layer boards and embedded systems in devices. Acquired technologies from these deals were progressively integrated into , enhancing features like automated part selection, reliability checks, and . By 2019, Altium launched Altium 365, a -based platform that unified design , reviews, and insights, marking a pivotal evolution from standalone desktop software to an interconnected suite. This period saw Altium pivot toward a "connected " model, emphasizing end-to-end management of , , and data to address challenges like component shortages and IoT-driven design intricacy. The integrated acquired assets into Altium 365, enabling features such as shared workspaces and automated outputs. Financially, these efforts drove robust growth, with annual exceeding US$200 million and reaching US$263.3 million in 2023, reflecting a 19.2% year-over-year increase primarily from recurring subscriptions and cloud adoption. This expansion positioned Altium as a key player in streamlining development for complex, connected products.

2024–present: Acquisition by Renesas and recent developments

On February 15, 2024, Renesas Electronics Corporation announced its intention to acquire Altium Limited for approximately A$9.1 billion (USD 5.9 billion), aiming to integrate Altium's electronic design automation (EDA) and cloud-based platforms with Renesas' semiconductor portfolio to enhance end-to-end electronics system development and accelerate innovation for broader market accessibility. The deal received unanimous board approval and was subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, with the transaction structured as a scheme of arrangement under Australian law. The acquisition was completed on , 2024, with Altium becoming a wholly owned of Renesas and its shares delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Following the merger, Altium's CEO, Pawela, was appointed as Senior of Renesas, overseeing the combined entity's focus on unified ecosystems that bridge , software, and lifecycle . This integration positioned Renesas to offer standardized tools for , simulation, and component sourcing, reducing development times for embedded systems. In the post-acquisition period, Altium, under Renesas, expanded its capabilities through strategic purchases. On January 21, 2025, Altium acquired Part Analytics, a Milwaukee-based provider of AI-powered analytics, to embed intelligent parts management and real-time sourcing insights directly into its ecosystem, enhancing for designers. As of November 2025, key developments include the launch of Renesas 365, powered by Altium 365, announced on March 6, 2025, which integrates Renesas' embedded solutions with Altium's collaborative to enable seamless flow across , verification, and stages. This emphasizes AI-driven automation, such as automated component selection and optimization, to support software-defined products and reduce iteration cycles in complex systems like automotive and industrial . In July 2025, Renesas established a new U.S.-based as a for its software and digitalization businesses, including Altium, to consolidate operations and accelerate innovation in these areas. Additionally, on September 4, 2025, Altium introduced three new solutions—Altium Discover, Altium Develop, and Altium Agile—available starting October 2025, aimed at empowering engineers with advanced tools for system and lifecycle management as part of Renesas' digitalization strategy. These advancements reflect Renesas' broader digitalization strategy, fostering innovation in AI-enhanced workflows while maintaining Altium's independent brand operations.

Products

Altium Designer

Altium Designer is the flagship (EDA) software developed by Altium, providing a unified platform for (PCB) design and related tasks. It integrates multiple design disciplines into a single environment, enabling engineers to handle complex projects from concept to production without switching tools. Released initially as version 6.0 in 2005, it has evolved into a comprehensive solution supporting advanced features for modern electronics development. The software's core functionalities revolve around a seamless for , PCB layout, and verification. allows for the creation of multi-sheet designs with hierarchical components, supporting automated annotation and cross-probing between schematics and layouts. PCB layout tools include interactive routing modes such as push, walkaround, and any-angle routing, facilitating high-density board designs while adhering to electrical and physical . Native enables direct visualization and manipulation of components, enclosures, and mechanical integrations within the PCB editor, introduced in version 16 in 2016 to enhance with mechanical CAD systems. analysis is embedded through impedance calculators, reflection simulations, and crosstalk checks, ensuring reliable high-speed performance. operates via a centralized manager that defines layered rules for spacing, widths, and clearances, automatically validating compliance during editing. Additionally, it supports multi-board designs, allowing system-level assembly of interconnected PCBs with mating and , and harness designs for wiring bundles, including pin-to-pin connections and . Key versions mark significant advancements in functionality. Version 6.0 established the unified interface, replacing earlier Protel tools with integrated schematic and PCB editors. Subsequent releases built on this foundation: version 16 introduced the native 3D PCB engine for real-time mechanical validation, while version 18 enhanced it with improved STEP export and variant support. Active BOM management, debuted in version 17, provides dynamic bill-of-materials handling with supplier integration, cost analysis, and variant configurations directly in the design environment. The 2025 release, version 25, includes performance boosts for large designs. These updates have progressively added support for rigid-flex boards, mixed-signal simulation, and automation tools. Altium Designer integrates with simulation tools like for analog and mixed-signal analysis, allowing direct schematic-to-simulation workflows with PSpice, LTspice, and xSpice models to verify circuit behavior and tolerances. For manufacturing, it generates standard outputs including Gerber files for layer plots and apertures, as well as job files encapsulating full board data like stackups and drill files. These capabilities make it suitable for demanding industries such as , where secure, high-reliability designs are critical, and , enabling rapid prototyping of compact devices. Cloud extensions through Altium 365 allow sharing of designs and BOMs for team collaboration.

Cloud and collaboration platforms

Altium 365, launched in 2019, serves as the foundational cloud for Altium's collaborative ecosystem, enabling real-time design sharing, , and insights across distributed teams. This includes managed workspaces that centralize data storage and access, allowing engineers to track project history, compare bills of materials (BOMs), and facilitate ECAD-MCAD without local file transfers. By integrating with the underlying engine, it supports seamless synchronization of design files while maintaining security through zero-trust architecture, (SSO), and (MFA). In 2023, Altium introduced Altium Develop, targeted at small- and mid-sized teams, which builds on Altium 365 to provide tools and agile workflows for faster iteration in product . This solution offers unlimited access to multidisciplinary design capabilities, including built-in commenting, , and real-time project updates, reducing manual processes and enabling functional experts to contribute directly. For enterprise-scale operations, Altium Agile extends these features with advanced management (PLM) integrations, supporting end-to-end system from concept to . It emphasizes adaptive workflows, prototype management, and feedback loops to accelerate hardware innovation in complex environments. In September 2025, Altium announced Altium Discover, a solution-oriented platform that enables engineers to capture design requirements, engage with suppliers and field application engineers (FAEs), and select complete solutions through informed workflows integrated with the . Available starting October 2025, it complements Altium Develop and Agile by focusing on early-stage discovery and decision-making. Key collaborative elements across these platforms include shared component libraries that provide access to millions of verified parts with up-to-date data, automated compliance checks for regulatory standards, and bidirectional integrations with (ERP) systems to streamline and inventory synchronization. Following Renesas's acquisition of Altium in 2024, enhancements have focused on co-design, exemplified by the announcement in March 2025 of Renesas 365—powered by Altium 365—which bridges and system-level development through cloud-connected hardware, software, and lifecycle , with availability expected in early 2026. This integration facilitates seamless transitions from chip selection to full realization, enhancing efficiency for embedded solutions.

Community and professional tools

Altium offers CircuitMaker as a , community-oriented PCB design tool launched in 2015, built on the core technology of to provide accessible and PCB layout capabilities. Designed for hobbyists, students, educators, and individual makers, it features a streamlined with support for up to 16 signal and 16 plane layers, native , interactive with obstacle avoidance, and hierarchical multi-sheet schematics. CircuitMaker emphasizes , allowing users to maintain up to five private projects while optionally sharing designs with the community for feedback, modification, and reuse, thereby promoting innovation through collective contributions. A key aspect of CircuitMaker is its robust component ecosystem, including a vast community-driven library with hundreds of thousands of parts sourced from the database, enabling users to search, place, and customize components efficiently. The tool also integrates dedicated forums where users discuss projects, troubleshoot issues, and exchange best practices, creating a supportive environment that mirrors open-source development principles while leveraging professional-grade engines for reliable outputs like Gerber files and design rule checks. For professional individuals seeking more advanced yet affordable options, CircuitStudio provides a paid, standalone design solution released in , optimized for solo engineers and occasional users with a unified similar to but without enterprise complexities. It supports professional features such as multi-layer boards, pair routing, topological autorouting, and rendering in an intuitive interface, available via perpetual license or subscription starting at a low cost to lower barriers for independent designers. Complementing these, Altium supplies utility tools like the Altium Designer Viewer, a free standalone application that allows non-designers to inspect, print, cross-probe, and navigate schematics, , and project files in a read-only format for review and validation purposes. Additionally, the MCAD CoDesigner plugins facilitate seamless integration with mechanical CAD environments, enabling direct synchronization of PCB data—such as component placement, clearances, and board outlines—with tools like and to support iterative ECAD-MCAD workflows. These utilities enhance accessibility for individual users while optionally scaling to team environments through Altium 365.

Legacy and discontinued products

Altium's legacy products trace back to the company's origins under Protel Systems, with early tools that pioneered accessible design on personal computers. Autotrax, released in the mid-1980s as a DOS-based autorouting tool, was one of the first professional (CAD) applications available for PC compatibles. Developed by Protel, it supported multi-layer board design up to 6-8 layers and featured automated routing capabilities, making complex layouts feasible for engineers without high-end workstations. Autotrax's native , PCB File 4, became a standard for early digital PCB data exchange. Complementing Autotrax, Easytrax emerged in the early as a simplified, entry-level version tailored for novice designers. It retained core schematic and layout functions but omitted advanced features like the full autorouter, requiring no hardware for operation unlike its predecessor. Protel later released Easytrax as , broadening access to design tools during the transition from to Windows environments. Both Autotrax and Easytrax laid foundational concepts for and board layout that influenced subsequent Altium offerings, though they are no longer supported and are available only via legacy downloads. The Protel series, spanning 1985 to 2000, evolved from these roots into early Windows-based suites that integrated schematic design, layout, and simulation. Protel , launched in 1985, initiated this lineage as a tool for personal computers. By 1999, Protel 99 introduced the industry's first integrated visualization for assemblies, enhancing design verification. Protel 99 SE, released in 2000, provided a comprehensive end-to-end board design environment optimized for , including libraries and output generation for manufacturing. These products were superseded by upon the company's 2001 rebranding, with support ending thereafter; they remain accessible through archived installers for historical or compatibility purposes. In the embedded software domain, Altium acquired TASKING in 2001 to expand into compiler technologies for microcontrollers and automotive systems. TASKING offered high-performance C and C++ compilers, notably for TriCore and PowerPC architectures used in real-time embedded applications. The suite included debugging tools and ISO 26262-certified variants for safety-critical designs. By 2020, Altium divested TASKING to private equity firm FSN Capital for up to $146 million, classifying it as a discontinued operation to refocus on core PCB and cloud platforms. Altium's foray into cloud-based design included the 2017 acquisition of Upverter, a browser-based for collaborative and PCB layout. Upverter emphasized modular, web-accessible tools for and team workflows, targeting and hardware startups. Post-acquisition, its technologies were integrated into Altium 365, the company's unified ecosystem, rendering Upverter as a standalone discontinued product by 2020.

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