Streamlining In-house PCB Design with Sanden Vendo: An IoT Case Study

• Processors & Edge Intelligence - Microcontrollers & Printed Circuit Boards
• Sensors - Electrical Conductivity Sensors

• Electronics
• Glass

• Product Research & Development
• Quality Assurance

• Last Mile Delivery
• Visual Quality Detection

• Hardware Design & Engineering Services
• Training

Sanden Vendo America Inc., a Dallas-based company known for designing, manufacturing, and selling innovative vending equipment, faced a significant challenge. The company, which has been in operation for nearly a century, had always relied on specialized vendors and contractors for the design of their machinery. However, to maintain their leading position in the market, they realized the need to move their electronic design process completely in-house. This transition required finding electronic design automation tools that would not only facilitate their innovative designs but also avoid production delays or compromises in quality control. The challenge was compounded by the fact that they were first-time users of electronic design software, and the software would be used by their existing engineering department staff, not a dedicated PCB design specialist. Therefore, the software needed to be intuitive and easy to use, with excellent customer support from the vendor.

Sanden Vendo America Inc. is a Dallas, Texas-based company that has been designing, manufacturing, and selling vending equipment for close to a century. The company is known for its technically innovative products, including programmable electronic vending machines, high capacity machines that accommodate plastic bottles in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and machines that accept debit cards and smart cards. The company's product line has evolved significantly since the first appearance of beverage vending machines in the 1930s, with today's machines incorporating a variety of motor-driven mechanisms, sensors, and electronic control modules.

In their search for the ideal software solution, Sanden Vendo evaluated several PCB software design packages, including Altium Designer. After careful consideration, they found Altium Designer to be the clear winner amongst the evaluated packages in terms of quality, ease of use, price, and after-sales service. The software's reputation in the marketplace and its unique combination of excellence in these four key areas made it the perfect fit for Sanden Vendo's needs. With their new design software in place, Sanden Vendo's engineers found Altium Designer to meet their expectations in all of the critical areas, without the need for technical support or additional training. Equipped with the latest version of Altium Designer, Sanden Vendo was able to approach its most ambitious vending machine design, the Glass Front Vendor, with confidence.

• The implementation of Altium Designer software allowed Sanden Vendo to successfully transition their electronic design process in-house. This move not only facilitated the company's innovative designs but also eliminated the need for external vendors and contractors, thereby reducing production delays and ensuring better quality control. The software's ease of use and intuitive interface enabled the company's existing engineering staff to use it without the need for additional training or technical support. This resulted in a more efficient design process and the successful creation of their most ambitious vending machine design, the Glass Front Vendor. The machine's unique features, such as its robotic product selection system and open display design, set it apart in the market and underscored Sanden Vendo's commitment to innovation and quality.