Shanghai SimuCAD Info Tech implements in-house testing to improve product quality

Building capacity with gold standard validation

Shanghai SimuCAD Info Tech (SimuCAD) is a solution consulting service provider focused on computer-aided engineering (CAE) software and high tech instruments and equipment. The company is experienced in R&D, design, manufacturing, capacity expansion and testing. It leverages its experience for customers in industries such as aerospace and defense,
engineering, automotive and transportation and semiconductor and electronics
customers.

SimuCAD recognizes that customers need to streamline their R&D processes to remain competitive in the industry. The company identifies digitalization plans for each customer to help expand R&D capacity and improve testing and development efficiencies while remaining cost effective. SimuCAD earned its Siemens Expert Partner status by specializing in using Simcenter™ Micred™ software and hardware, which is part of the Siemens Xcelerator business platform of software, hardware and services. Siemens Digital Industries Software recognizes partners that demonstrate expertise in its solutions. These Siemens Expert Partners are validated by customers and Siemens for demonstrating their business and technical acumen.

The need for validated test procedures

One of SimuCAD’s customers designs and manufactures power semiconductor devices for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The customer relied on third parties to provide thermal resistance and power cycle testing services. However, most testing centers were expensive, lacked experience working at the level required for highly regulated vehicle testing standards
and often failed to meet the company’s requirements. It needed an experienced service provider to establish in-house testing capabilities to address its growing demands.

The customer learned about SimuCAD from other leading semiconductor customers.
SimuCAD’s knowledge in thermal resistance and power cycle testing for high-power semiconductor devices influenced the company to contact SimuCAD to solve its issues around vehicle regulation level testing.

After detailed technical consultations, SimuCAD suggested the company use Simcenter Micred and its precise thermal response and verification features to aid vehicle regulation-level insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) thermal resistance and power cycle testing. After implementing Simcenter Micred-PWT products, SimuCAD helped the customer configure
its hardware to ensure accurate testing, transforming the company’s liquid cooling system and optimizing the testing space.

With its testing capabilities established, the customer was able to improve product performance using efficient development iterations and effective quality control.

“The project for this customer is one of the largest in the history of Siemens’ channel
business in China,” says James Qiu, Siemens head of channel business. “It highlights the outstanding capabilities of Shanghai SimuCAD as a Siemens Expert Partner using Simcenter Micred.”

Using Simcenter Micred to extend product life

Another SimuCAD electronics and semiconductor customer designs and manufactures high-power IGBT modules for power electronics. The company needed to carefully monitor all design aspects, especially circuit design, which created a slow, costly process. The company
identified development costs as a key area for improvement.

The customer already had a working relationship with SimuCAD and wanted help increasing product reliability and reducing costs caused by trial and error.

SimuCAD suggested that the company use Simcenter Micred to bring testing in-house, which helped reduce costs and shorten development time by eliminating the need for third-party product testing. In addition to using Simcenter Micred, the company also established a comprehensive digital twin that reduced its reliance on physical prototypes. SimuCAD provided the tooling, fixtures and extensive training to ensure test benches were equipped to provide the thermal testing that the customer needed.

Overall, bringing testing in-house helped the customer lower development costs by 50 percent and using the thermal testing abilities of Simcenter Micred resulted in a 20 percent product life extension.

The future of simulation

SimuCAD looks forward to continuing its partnership with Siemens to bring additional
capabilities and solutions to its customers. SimuCAD plans to offer more product lines as Siemens continues pushing the boundaries of its digitalization portfolio.

“Using Simcenter Micred and the support of the Siemens team, along with our efforts, have helped us make some significant achievements,” says Henry Zhao, general manager of SimuCAD. “We will keep expanding our businesses with Siemens to provide better services and value to our customers.”