Case studies > Control unit cost savings by switching to Silicon Labs

Control unit cost savings by switching to Silicon Labs

Optimization of Control Unit Design – Transition to Silicon Labs and Cost Savings

We were approached by a major company, globally recognized in its field, with an already developed product that we were tasked with bringing into mass production. They planned to produce tens of thousands of units annually. At ASN Plus, when starting a collaboration, we always perform a detailed analysis and review of the project to identify any possible weaknesses and imperfections, aiming to minimize potential issues in the future.

The original control unit design used a combination of an STM32 microcontroller and an external Bluetooth module. Our hardware revision led to replacing these components with a new microcontroller from Silicon Labs, which is highly energy-efficient and integrates all necessary functions, including the Bluetooth chip, into a single compact component. By transitioning to the Silicon Labs microcontroller, we not only reduced component costs but also simplified the board design, resulting in substantial material and manufacturing savings.

At ASN Plus, we have extensive experience in firmware development not only for ST microcontrollers but also for Silicon Labs microcontrollers. Consequently, we were entrusted with the software reimplementation of the control unit, which we successfully completed. Our ability to efficiently adapt and optimize firmware across different platforms allowed us to deliver a solution that meets high standards of quality and reliability.

Thanks to our redesign of the control unit, we achieved significant reductions in production costs for mass production. We realized a savings of $6 per unit by transitioning to the Silicon Labs microcontroller compared to the original design. This step significantly reduced manufacturing costs, resulting in savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

If you are looking for a partner capable of delivering innovative and cost-effective solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to help you achieve the success of your project.

NOTE: A non-disclosure agreement prevents us from disclosing further details.