Electronic Design
Our electronic design turns requirements into resilient PCBs and systems: low-power architectures, EMC-aware layouts, smart component choices, and clear paths to manufacture and service. We design for real-world use, not just lab success.
Summary
This page highlights our approach to specification, schematic capture, layout, simulation and validation, along with examples where design decisions improved reliability, costs, and longevity – and how those choices simplify downstream build and support.
Our electronic design service covers everything from creating circuit schematics to selecting the ideal components for your system. We specialise in:
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- Power optimisation – Minimising energy usage for devices in remote or low-maintenance environments.
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- Component selection – Balancing performance and cost for the best return on investment.
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- Scalability – Designing electronics that can evolve alongside your business needs.
From the first pencil sketch to the final PCB layout, electronic design at TAD is about creating resilient, high-performance systems tailored to real-world applications. Whether we’re building rugged IoT devices for remote environments or crafting intelligent embedded systems for high-volume products, our engineering team brings a deep understanding of hardware design, systems integration, and long-term reliability.
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Click here to get in touchTailored designs for demanding use cases
We design electronics that go beyond off-the-shelf limitations. Every circuit, component, and enclosure we create is guided by the specific requirements of the application. Whether it’s long-term deployment in the field or integration within tightly constrained environments, we engineer for performance, durability, and simplicity:
- Low-power solutions to maximise battery life and reduce maintenance.
- EMC and environmental resilience, ensuring reliability in challenging conditions.
- Compact, efficient layouts that simplify integration.
Our designs are built for longevity and are always considered in the context of manufacturability and serviceability.
Solving real-world problems
Design at TAD is always in service of a practical solution. For example, when BT approached us with the issue of copper cable theft, we designed the TAD-220 – a covert GSM-triggered alarm system housed in an IP-rated enclosure. It needed to be extremely low-power, resilient to outdoor conditions, and discreet in operation. Our custom PCB and power-efficient design ensured that the device could operate for years on a single battery, silently protecting infrastructure without ongoing maintenance.
In another case, Mosquito Loitering Solutions came to us with performance and failure issues in their ultrasonic anti-loitering device. We reverse-engineered and re-specified the control PCB, sourcing more suitable components and refining the board layout. The outcome was a significant drop in returns and a more dependable, production-ready solution that now performs consistently across varied environments.
These examples highlight our commitment to understanding the real-world context of each design. It’s not about lab performance – it’s about reliability where it counts.
Design thinking meets engineering discipline
Our electronic design process balances creative exploration with engineering rigour. We explore multiple concepts before refining a final solution, always validating against key use-case metrics. Collaboration is fundamental: our design team works alongside firmware engineers, mechanical designers and the manufacturing team to ensure cohesion and efficiency across every stage.
We start with specification reviews, moving quickly into:
- Functional block diagrams
- Component selection and evaluation
- Schematic capture and PCB layout
- Simulation and validation
Throughout, we apply ‘design for manufacture’ and ‘design for maintenance’ principles to avoid common pitfalls in production or after-sales support.
Case Studies
Designs for the future
Every product is designed with a long operational life in mind. That means selecting components with strong supply chain support, designing firmware updates and expandability, and avoiding obsolescence wherever possible. We always consider how a product will evolve, how it can be maintained in the field, and how it can scale.
If a client doesn’t yet have a defined technical spec, we work with them to shape one. If they do, we interrogate it carefully to make sure the design does what it’s supposed to do – and nothing it shouldn’t.
Electronic Design in the TAD process
Electronic design sits at the heart of what we do at TAD. It’s the foundation of everything that follows: from firmware and software integration, to prototype testing and final product manufacture.
Because we manage all of these disciplines in-house, we can design with the full lifecycle in mind. Our engineers aren’t just trying to get a design to work once; they’re thinking about how it will be used, built, supported and improved in the years to come.
Whether you need a full system designed from the ground up, or a specialist PCB to fit into an existing product, our team are ready to support your goals with technical expertise and clear, collaborative communication.