PCB Copy in Zurich: Full Reverse-Engineering Without a Local Lab
PCB copy in Zurich works through a proven remote workflow: you ship the physical board from Switzerland to our engineering facility via DHL or FedEx, and we return a complete file package — Gerber data, bill of materials, and schematic — typically within 5–8 working days. No local cleanroom visit required, no customs headaches with Swiss export of sample boards, and every project runs under a mutual NDA signed before the board leaves your hands.
Why Zurich Engineers Need Remote PCB Copying
Zurich is home to medtech firms around the Technopark corridor, industrial-automation houses in Oerlikon, and dozens of ETH spin-offs pushing sensor and power-electronics designs. What it does not have is a dense ecosystem of PCB reverse-engineering labs. When a legacy board goes end-of-life or an OEM supplier disappears, local options are limited to a handful of prototype houses that focus on forward design, not reverse extraction.
Remote PCB copy fills that gap. The board travels roughly 9,000 km by express courier (Zurich → our facility), and the digital files travel back instantly. For a 4-layer FR-4 board of typical complexity, the total door-to-door turnaround including transit is 7–10 working days. A 10- or 12-layer HDI board with blind/buried vias may need 10–15 working days because cross-sectioning and impedance verification add steps.
What You Receive in the Deliverable Package
| Deliverable | Format | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Gerber files | RS-274X / Gerber X2 | All copper layers, solder mask, silkscreen, drill files (Excellon), board outline |
| Bill of Materials | Excel / CSV | Manufacturer part numbers, package footprints, values, quantities, reference designators |
| Schematic | PDF + editable (Altium / KiCad / OrCAD on request) | Net-verified against Gerber; hierarchical sheets for boards > 200 components |
| Centroid / Pick-and-Place | CSV | X-Y coordinates, rotation, side — ready for SMT placement |
| Stackup Report | Measured layer thicknesses, dielectric constants, impedance notes (boards ≥ 4 layers) |
All Gerber sets are DRC-checked before delivery. If your Zurich-based CM needs a specific panel format or IPC-356 netlist, we include that at no extra charge.
How the Remote Workflow Operates from Switzerland
Step 1 — Initial Assessment
Email or upload photos of both sides of the board plus a brief description (layer count if known, quantity of unique boards, any ICs of concern). We respond within one business day — typically by 10:00 CET, since our engineering window overlaps with Zurich mornings.
Step 2 — NDA and Quotation
We issue a mutual NDA (English-language, jurisdiction-neutral) and a fixed-price quote. Pricing depends on layer count, component density, and whether BGA or fine-pitch QFP devices require X-ray imaging. A standard 2-layer board with under 100 components typically starts around USD 350; a complex 8-layer board with 400+ components and controlled impedance runs USD 1,200–2,500.
Step 3 — Shipping from Zurich
Pack the board in antistatic bags with rigid foam. DHL Express from Zurich-Kloten typically delivers in 3–4 business days. Swiss customs classifies sample PCBs under HS 8534.00 — no export license required for standard commercial electronics. We provide our import reference number so the shipment clears without delay.
Step 4 — Engineering
Our process: high-resolution optical scan (1200 DPI per layer) → layer-by-layer de-lamination or non-destructive X-ray CT for boards you need returned intact → CAD reconstruction → BOM cross-referencing against distributor databases → netlist verification → DRC. For boards with impedance-controlled traces (common in Zurich RF and medtech designs), we measure stackup cross-sections and note Dk values in the report.
Step 5 — Delivery and Support
Files delivered via encrypted link. We hold project archives for 12 months. If your contract manufacturer in Switzerland or a fab partner in Shenzhen flags a question during production, we provide engineering support at no additional cost for 30 days after delivery.
Swiss-Specific Considerations for PCB Copy
Customs and VAT
Sending a sample board out of Switzerland for analysis is classified as temporary export for service. When the physical board returns (if requested), reimport is duty-free provided you declare it as a returned good with the original export documentation. The digital files themselves carry no customs duty. Swiss VAT on the service invoice applies under the reverse-charge mechanism — your Zurich company self-assesses VAT on the imported service.
Data Confidentiality
Swiss firms — especially those in medtech regulated under Swissmedic or those working with FINMA-adjacent fintech hardware — often have strict IP requirements. Our NDA covers design data, component choices, and firmware (if IC readout is part of the scope). We do not subcontract any engineering step. All work happens in-house, and project data is stored on encrypted servers with access limited to the assigned engineering team.
Timezone Overlap
Zurich is UTC+1 (CET) / UTC+2 (CEST). Our engineering team is available from 08:00 to 18:00 CST (UTC+8), which means real-time communication is possible between roughly 08:00–11:00 Zurich time. For urgent clarifications, we use a shared project channel on your preferred platform (email, Teams, or WeChat).
What Can Go Wrong — and Honest Limits
- Boards with conformal coating or potting compound: Removal adds 1–2 days and carries a small risk of trace damage on ultra-fine-pitch areas (< 4 mil trace/space). We photograph before and after removal so you can assess.
- Proprietary or obsolete ICs: If a component is no longer in distributor databases, we document the package, pinout, and markings but cannot guarantee a drop-in replacement suggestion. We may recommend a cross-reference approach used on projects from Seoul where substitute sourcing was critical.
- Flex and rigid-flex boards: Flex sections require careful handling during scanning. We have processed rigid-flex up to 4-flex-layer / 8-rigid-layer combinations, but3-D folded assemblies need to be shipped unfolded or with clear photos of the folded state.
- Non-destructive requirement: If you need the original board returned functional, we use X-ray CT instead of de-lamination. This works well up to 6 layers; beyond that, resolution limits may require a sacrificial sample for full accuracy.
Zurich-Area Industries We Frequently Support
| Industry | Typical Board Profile | Common Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Medtech (Technopark, Bio-Technopark) | 4–6 layer, fine-pitch BGA, impedance-controlled | IPC Class 3 documentation, full netlist verification |
| Industrial automation (ABB, Siemens suppliers) | 2–4 layer, high-current paths, through-hole + SMD mix | Legacy board replication for obsolete PLCs |
| Sensor / IoT (ETH spin-offs) | 4-layer RF with matched traces | Impedance report, stackup Dk values |
| Railway signaling (SBB supply chain) | 6–8 layer, conformal-coated | Non-destructive extraction, IPC-6012 Class 3 stackup notes |
Engineers working on legacy industrial boards may also find our PCB copy service used by teams in Melbourne relevant — similar obsolete-equipment challenges, similar remote workflow.
How PCB Copy Zurich Compares to Local Alternatives
| Factor | Local Zurich Prototype House | Remote PCB Copy (Our Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse-engineering capability | Limited; focused on forward design | Dedicated RE facility with X-ray CT, optical scanning, cross-sectioning |
| Turnaround (4-layer board) | 2–4 weeks (often outsourced anyway) | 7–10 working days door-to-door |
| Cost | CHF 2,000–5,000+ (high local labor rates) | USD 600–1,500 typical for 4-layer |
| NDA / IP protection | Standard Swiss NDA | Mutual NDA, encrypted delivery, no subcontracting |
| Deliverable completeness | Varies; often Gerber only | Gerber + BOM + schematic + centroid + stackup report |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ship a PCB sample from Zurich without customs delays?
Use DHL Express or FedEx with a commercial invoice listing the board as “printed circuit board sample for engineering analysis” under HS code 8534.00. Include our facility’s import reference number (provided after quote acceptance). Transit from Zurich-Kloten is typically 3–4 business days with no export license required for standard commercial electronics.
Can you copy a board without destroying it?
Yes. For boards up to 6 layers, we use X-ray computed tomography to image internal layers non-destructively. The board is returned functional. Beyond 6 layers, X-ray resolution may not capture every trace at full accuracy, so we recommend sending a sacrificial duplicate if available.
What if some components on my board are obsolete?
We document every component by package, markings, and measured pinout. For obsolete parts, we flag them in the BOM with suggested cross-references where a functional equivalent exists. If no drop-in replacement is available, we note that clearly so your design team can plan a respin. Teams handling similar challenges in Dubai-based equipment maintenance have used our BOM cross-reference data to source from specialty distributors.
Is PCB copying legal for boards I own?
Reverse-engineering a board you own — for maintenance, repair, second-sourcing, or interoperability — is legal in Switzerland and most jurisdictions. We require proof of ownership or authorization before starting work, and every project runs under NDA. We do not copy third-party IP without the rights holder’s consent.
Do you handle boards with embedded firmware or programmed ICs?
If firmware readout is part of the scope and you are the authorized owner of the code, we can attempt extraction depending on the MCU’s protection level. This is assessed during the initial feasibility review. Authorization documentation is required before any IC-level work begins.
Ready to start your PCB copy project from Zurich? Upload board photos or ship your sample — we respond with a fixed-price quote within one business day.
Check feasibility for your project
Send the chip marking or board details and tell us what you need to recover. Add clear photos if available.
Request a feasibility reviewEngineers across Europe and Asia-Pacific use the same remote workflow. See how teams in Tokyo ship boards for duplication or how Istanbul-based firms handle legacy equipment recovery through our service.
Working on a board like this?
Send the chip marking or two photos. You get feasibility, lead time and price within 24 hours, and the check costs nothing.
Get a free quote