Wireflow and Pickering Interfaces Launched Testblox AB
The joint venture has released 30 miniature testing modules designed to shrink floor space requirements in semiconductor labs.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Semiconductors
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Wireflow and Pickering Interfaces have formed a joint venture called Testblox AB to provide modular automated test hardware. The company has launched a series of over 30 miniature modules, now available for use in test fixtures.
Why it matters
By adopting a compact architecture, Testblox AB seeks to minimize the physical footprint of laboratory instrument racks while improving signal integrity via shorter signal paths. This approach addresses the increasing complexity of space-constrained automated testing environments.
Each module is roughly the size of a playing card and provides individual isolation to ensure ground plane consistency. The units utilize standard D-Sub connectors or custom interface boards to reduce cabling and support management via USB through the Brygga software environment.
The players
Testblox AB
A joint venture firm focused on manufacturing miniaturized modular hardware for automated testing environments.
Wireflow
A Swedish engineering firm specializing in multi-function I/O systems and power supplies for industrial automation.
Pickering Interfaces
A UK-based developer of modular signal switching and instrumentation systems for electronic test and simulation.
The details
Testblox modules operate by integrating directly into edge connectors or custom interface boards, which eliminates the bulk associated with long cabling runs in standard rack systems. These units leverage Pickering Interfaces' technology in switching and digital multimeters, alongside Wireflow’s multi-function I/O and power supply designs. To facilitate integration into existing lab workflows, the system includes APIs for Python, C#, and NI LabVIEW, allowing for automated management of test parameters.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: The formation and product launch of Testblox AB were officially announced.
The Tech Race
Testblox AB is positioning its compact modules as an alternative to larger, rack-based modular standards like PXI. This launch signals a broader competitive effort to reduce the physical and signal-path overhead inherent in complex semiconductor automated test fixtures.
Engineers can now integrate these modules into existing test fixtures using standard D-Sub connectors and Python, C#, or NI LabVIEW APIs. The products carry a three-year warranty and are currently manufactured and designed within Europe.
The takeaway
Testblox AB is prioritizing reduced signal path length to enhance testing precision for lab environments. Prospective users should monitor the company's planned expansion of the product ecosystem to see if the interface range meets specific high-density testing requirements.
Further reading
For more on the hardware driving modern chip development, visit our Semiconductors section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Electronics Weekly.
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