Development
Creating something new together
We focus on you as a customer and your application right from the start
For over 35 years, Miltronik has specialised in realising individual requirements in a unique, high-quality design concept. Our customers stand out from the rest of the market with their customised products. We see ourselves as a service provider and part of your team with direct, consistent contact partners. Short response times and delivery routes are our quality promise. Especially for new project concepts, we work closely and agilely with you and support you from the creation of requirements to the final concept.
The experience of our development team from many cross-industry projects of varying scope provides the basis for every new project. Experience is shared internally across projects Our ten developers work together as a standardised team. We have divided the competences into hardware and embedded software. Depending on the project size and time pressure, more or less can be included in the project in a very flexible way. Buffer time is also planned in all project planning for short-term clarifications for existing products or for helping out in other projects.
Our development department defines important requirements for the further course of the project and series production as early as the concept design stage. You can find out more about our approach on the pageConcept phase. Our development services range from feasibility studies, standardisation checks, concept development, hardware design with or without software according to your requirements. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Project management
We support you individually in every project. Developments completely with us or together with your team ! Firstly, we clarify what requirements are placed on the project and therefore on the project management and documentation based on the required standards and the customer’s requirements. Project planning tailored to the scope of the project (e.g. SCRUM) with progress checks and milestones, as well as continuous communication, keep you up to date with the current status of the project and give you the opportunity to make adjustments or additions.
Due to the different project scopes, our development processes can be flexibly adapted to the work required in the project. Through the standardised process, we maintain high quality standards in our developments, especially the project implementation, technical realisation of the hardware and software, economic producibility of the end device, the tests and the documentation have priority in every project. This means that we only need a few project iterations and our customers often receive a product that is almost ready for series production with the first prototype.
Secure, smooth and audit-proof data exchange is essential in every project. There we have some of our own tools and possibilities (Cloud, Git, Enterprise Architect and much more), or we can use the tools provided by you, so that large setup times at the start of the project are eliminated.
For projects with functional safety requirements, we maintain close contact with consulting companies that support us in the projects as an external supervisory body and guarantee standard-compliant implementation.
Hardware
Our philosophy aims to create a technically and economically optimised product that offers exactly what is technically necessary without overdeveloping what is technically feasible. We focus on the highest quality and precision to ensure that each product meets the needs of our customers while remaining economically viable (series costs). Our products are proof of the harmonious balance between technical efficiency and economy.
The focus of hardware development is on the reliability of the components and therefore the longevity of the product. This minimises field failures and maintenance costs for the end customer. The technical realisation of the hardware can be divided into the following areas:
Component selection
We use many components across different assemblies and can draw on a large pool of tried and tested components. The series costs can be kept low, especially for small quantities. This can also significantly reduce development time, for example by reusing a processor and thus reducing software requirements (customised bootloaders). The focus is on the balance between technical efficiency and cost-effectiveness, especially when selecting components and thus the technical realisation of some of the project’s requirements. We maintain very close contact with our suppliers and manufacturers in order to be able to clarify technical details quickly, to be informed about new possibilities and to receive offers for new components at short notice.
Circuit diagram creation
Many end products contain similar field-proven circuit elements (e.g. power supply, output driver circuit, processor circuit), which are reused across projects. New requirements are also incorporated. With these synergies, project times, costs and errors can be minimised.
Layout of the printed circuit board
We work with the latest version of Altium Designer with the latest technical possibilities. Every circuit diagram and layout are checked according to the dual control principle and also coordinated with production to ensure manufacturability and low series production costs. Before the printed circuit board is ordered, the final details, especially the mechanics, are agreed with the customer. Our prototypes are already laid out to the highest standards so that as few redesigns as possible are necessary.
Mechanical construction
Due to our product diversity with different application areas, we support our customers in the mechanical design of the end device. Depending on the requirements, a PCB housing is needed, or a coating of the assembly, a construction for operating panels or foil designs, the integration of touch panels, or a cable assembly. We maintain very close contact with our suppliers and manufacturers in order to be able to clarify technical details quickly, to be informed about new possibilities and to receive offers for new components at short notice. Here, too, the focus is on technical and economic realisation.
Software
The software is planned, written, tested and documented by our software developers. Depending on the scope of the project, this is realised with one or more people. The most common and most resource-efficient programming language in embedded programming is C/C++, but there is also expertise in other programming languages. In addition, we support our customers with PC tools for their own production (e.g. HW flashing/configuration). We are experts in power control systems, display programming, communication systems with CAN, CAN Open, J1939, I²C, LIN, UART and much more!
Testing
We have many options for carrying out hardware tests in-house and utilise state-of-the-art equipment and software. Software tests of the source code can be tested with Vector Cast using static code analysis. For system tests, the devices can be tested and validated on an external control unit (HIL). For endurance tests, we create our own test setups specifically for this application. The use of 3D printing in combination with our in-house workshop enables us to set up these test assemblies at short notice.
We maintain close contact with external laboratories for standard-compliant approvals and provide support during commissioning at our customers’ premises.
Documentation
A technical description and documentation of the planned and realised work according to project requirements is an essential part of project implementation and completion. At the start of the project, we clarify which documentation is required and what documentation is included in the scope of delivery.
We create the production documentation in-house and liaise with our production department several times during the development phase.
