SYDNEY -- Dassault Systèmes will introduce a new version of its SolidWorks design engineering software based on Altium's PCB design software, the companies announced today.

Under the agreement, the companies will attempt to tie the mechanical capabilities of SolidWorks to Altium Designer, the PCB software company's flagship suite. They will do so by natively connecting the respective suites, Altium said in a press release.

Altium has reengineered its Unified Design Platform to include SolidWorks' data architecture in its native form, Altium added.

"We are marrying our 30 years of experience in PCB; it’s built on Altium DNA," Lawrence Romine, Altium director of new business development, told PCD&F.

Two products are involved in the collaboration. The CAD tool, which was built by Altium, will be sold by Dassault and called SolidWorks PCB. According to Romine, it involves real-time native integration, including pushing and pulling design changes, complete with notifications and change history.

Also, Altium's MCAD Co-Designer tool is being used as the basis for an add-in product that will enable the same level of integration as with Altium Designer. The firms have not disclosed what it will be called. The official product should be ready in a matter of months, Romine said.

In a statement, Altium CEO Aram Mirkazemi said, “Dassault Systèmes’ selection of Altium’s PCB software technology is the most powerful endorsement of Altium’s bid for market leadership and is a clear indication that Altium is seen by industry leaders as the future of PCB design software.”

"Intelligent design tools are critical for the creation of smart connected products," Mirkazemi said. "Design tools need to play across multiple engineering disciplines to deliver effective system-level engineering."

Altium and Dassault share channel partners, and according to Romine the moves are "an opportunity to develop something that is more complementary" to Dassault's product offerings. The companies did not disclose additional details, including financial considerations. 

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