MUNICH, Germany, and WESTFORD, MA, May 9, 2025 – Zuken has announced the release of the 2025 updates for CR-8000 Design Gateway and Design Force, introducing enhancements focused on signal integrity, accelerated schematic and layout workflows, high-density PCB designs and improved handling of high-speed.
The updated CR-8000 Design Gateway introduces key enhancements to schematic design workflows. It supports auto-generation of connectors and standard circuits, such as filters and ESD protection, guided by signal-aware design rules. Engineers can populate schematics using predefined functional blocks, improving design consistency and efficiency. Additionally, integrated rule-based checks and automated validation tools evaluate factors such as component lifespan, thermal performance, and voltage stability, enabling early detection of design issues and improving design integrity.
CR-8000 Design Force includes delay-aware routing and AI-assisted layout functions designed to optimize physical design workflows. The enhancements automate tasks such as bus routing and decoupling capacitor placement, supporting timing compliance while reducing manual intervention. Together, they improve design consistency, shorten development time, and support first-pass success in advanced PCB designs.
“With the 2025 release, we’ve focused on taking the pressure off engineers—whether they’re racing to meet timing margins or cleaning up schematics. The new automation features in Design Gateway make it easier to get reliable circuits in place without all the repetitive work, and Design Force keeps high-speed routing tight and efficient. It’s all about getting to a clean, manufacturable board faster – with fewer headaches along the way,” said Francesco De Cet, head of business, Zuken Europe.
Accelerating Schematic Design with Intelligent Auto-Generation of Connectors and Standard Circuits
The 2025 release of CR-8000 Design Gateway introduces enhancements to Automated Circuit Generation, aimed at improving schematic design efficiency and consistency. The tool supports automatic connector generation for unconnected pins and insertion of standard circuit blocks, such as RC filters, pull-up/down networks, and ESD protection, based on signal and component attributes. A configurable rule engine, along with context-aware recommendations, helps streamline repetitive design tasks. Integrated simulation feedback within the design environment enables engineers to validate voltage levels, net connectivity, and rule compliance during schematic creation, facilitating early detection and correction of potential issues.
Automated Reliability Checks with a Rule-Based Verification Engine
The 2025 release of CR-8000 Design Gateway includes expanded functionality in Circuit Adviser, the tool’s rule-based verification engine. Enhancements support reliability checks during schematic design, including automated validation for thermal and electrical performance. New features include component lifespan assessment relative to the target product lifecycle, thermal analysis to identify parts operating near or beyond defined thresholds, and updated Power IC analysis covering voltage margins and power dissipation. These additions enable engineers to identify potential reliability concerns earlier in the design process, supporting a robust system development and reducing the likelihood of design revisions later in the workflow.
Delay-Aware Routing and Intelligent, AI-Enhanced Automation
The 2025 update to CR-8000 Design Force introduces delay-aware routing features to support high-speed PCB layout. These include real-time routing balloons, skew visualization, and topology-driven routing guidance, which assist in meeting timing requirements for interfaces such as DDR4 and PCIe. In addition, AI-assisted tools automate specific layout tasks, including decoupling capacitor placement, bus routing, and the insertion of standard connection circuits. The capabilities are intended to augment manual layout efforts by improving efficiency and reducing repetitive work, while maintaining designer oversight and control throughout the process. Together, the capabilities improve first-pass success rates and reduce overall design cycle time.
Release Date and Availability
The CR-8000 2025 release is available to customers through Zuken’s Global Support portal, and to qualified prospects via guided evaluations and interactive demonstrations.
Source: Zuken
About CR-8000
CR-8000 is an electronic design automation (EDA) suite developed by Zuken. Introduced in 2011, CR-8000 offers a platform for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrated circuits (ICs), supporting the product development lifecycle from system planning to manufacturing. Its modular architecture includes tools for system-level design, schematic capture, 2D/3D PCB layout, signal and power integrity analysis, and design for manufacturing (DFM). Industries such as automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, and industrial electronics utilize CR-8000 for complex, multi-board designs requiring high reliability and performance. The suite’s integration capabilities allow collaboration between electrical and mechanical design teams, enhancing efficiency and reducing time-to-market. CR-8000 is evolving with AI-driven optimization and new tech support to meet modern electronic design needs.
About Zuken
Zuken Inc., established in 1976, is a software company headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. The company provides advanced design solutions for printed circuit boards (PCBs), electrical and fluid systems, and 3D cabinet and wire harness layouts, serving industries such as electronics manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and telecommunications. As of March 31, 2024, Zuken reported annual revenues of ¥38.47 billion. The company employs approximately 1,578 individuals globally. Zuken collaborates with leading companies worldwide to optimize their engineering design processes. For nearly 50 years, Zuken has focused on providing advanced technology solutions to meet the changing needs of the manufacturing industry.