From prototype to series
Electronics prototyping &
industrialisation
The same design office designs your prototype, industrialises it and manufactures it in series — with no break between design and production.
A working prototype
isn't industrialisable yet
Many electronics projects hit the same wall: a prototype that works in the lab, but can't be manufactured in series without starting over — obsolete components, unmanufacturable routing, no test points, incomplete documentation.
At Codium, the design office that designs your prototype is the same one that manages its industrialisation and manufacture. Moving from prototype to series isn't a reset: it's a continuity planned from the very first line of the schematic.
You arrive with a specification, an idea or an existing prototype — we take you all the way to series production, with no intermediary between design and the production line.
From specification
to series
Transparent lead times, communicated from the first discussion — no optimistic estimates that don't hold.
Analysis of your specification or existing files (Gerber, BOM, schematic). Detailed quote and schedule within 48 h on a complete file.
Schematic, PCB layout, firmware, first prototypes manufactured and tested on our line. Duration varies widely with complexity (simple module vs multilayer RF PCB with certification).
Testing in a real environment on your side. We incorporate your feedback within 1 to 2 weeks per iteration, until the board is ready for production.
Component procurement, industrialisation file, SMT assembly, AOI/ICT and functional testing, packaging. Stable for 50 to 5,000 boards; 10 to 12 weeks beyond that.
What changes between
prototype and series
A design that works as a prototype is often too expensive or not reliable enough to reproduce in series. Our industrialisation pass (Design for Manufacturing) fixes that before production starts.
Replacement of obsolete or single-source components with equivalents available in volume, from the industrialisation phase onwards.
Sharing components across several designs or versions to simplify stock and reduce procurement costs.
Reducing the number of PCB layers where possible, removing through-hole components that are costly to assemble in series.
Adding test points for automated testing (ICT, bed-of-nails) — impossible to retrofit on a design that is already frozen.
Arranging boards into panels for automated assembly, for a production throughput compatible with your target volumes.
Complete documentation (routings, test procedures, traceability) delivered with the board — you remain in control of the files.
No minimum threshold,
no ceiling
Our production line is sized to be competitive where large contract manufacturers (EMS) no longer are — on medium series — without turning away small start-up volumes.
A few boards to validate a design, a few hundred for a first series, up to 10,000 boards per batch in large series: the same line, the same quality controls, the same point of contact.
| Segment | Volumes | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Small series | < 50 boards/year | Craftsmen, fab labs |
| Medium series | 50 – 100,000 boards/year | Codium segment |
| Large series | > 100,000 boards/year | Large EMS contract manufacturers |
Design and manufacturing, under one roof
Prototyping and industrialisation aren't stand-alone services: they rely on our design office for design and on our production line for series manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions — prototyping & industrialisation
Everything you need to know before launching a project.
What is the difference between a prototype and a pre-series?
A prototype validates the electronic and firmware operation, often in 1 to a few units, sometimes with temporary components. A pre-series (or small validation series) is built with the final components and process, in a few dozen units, to validate repeatability before series production is launched.
Can I entrust you with industrialisation only if I already have a prototype?
Yes. If you arrive with a prototype or an already functional design, we can take over the files (Gerber, BOM, schematic) and optimise them for production (DFM): replacing obsolete components, reducing the number of part numbers, simplifying the routing, adding test points, before series manufacturing starts.
How long between prototype and series?
The quote is sent within 48 h on complete files. The design and prototyping phase lasts 2 to 12 months depending on the complexity of the project. Once the go-ahead for production is validated, series production starts in 8 weeks for volumes of 50 to 5,000 boards, 10 to 12 weeks beyond that.
What minimum or maximum volume do you accept?
No minimum threshold and no fixed ceiling. Codium is positioned on medium series (1,000 to 5,000 boards per year per project), with a line able to go down to a few dozen boards for a first series or up to 10,000 boards per batch.
Is the prototype built on the same line as the series?
Yes. Our prototypes go through the same quality controls (AOI, functional tests) as series production, on the same assembly line. This avoids nasty surprises when scaling up: what works as a prototype works in series.
A project to prototype or industrialise?
Quote within 48 h on a specification or existing files — first discussion with no commitment.