Quick Overview
- 1#1: Zuken E3.series - Comprehensive suite for electrical schematic design, cable and wiring harness engineering, and manufacturing automation.
- 2#2: Siemens Capital Harness - Advanced 2D and 3D platform for full lifecycle wiring harness design, validation, and production.
- 3#3: IGE+XAO SEE Electrical Harness - Integrated software for wiring harness schematics, 3D routing, and automated manufacturing outputs.
- 4#4: Siemens VeSys - Harness design tool offering schematic capture, routing simulation, and formboard generation.
- 5#5: SolidWorks Electrical 3D - Combines 2D schematics with 3D harness routing integrated into mechanical assemblies.
- 6#6: PTC Creo - CAD system with dedicated modules for wiring, cabling, and harness design in complex products.
- 7#7: Dassault Systèmes CATIA - High-end PLM platform featuring electrical harness installation and design within 3D models.
- 8#8: Siemens NX - Integrated CAD/CAM/CAE solution with electrical routing and wiring harness authoring tools.
- 9#9: Altium Designer - Unified electronics design environment supporting multi-board and harness interconnects.
- 10#10: Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical - Intelligent schematic toolset for electrical control systems and basic wiring diagrams.
These solutions were ranked by balancing feature depth, user experience, technical performance (including simulation and automation), and real-world utility, making them top choices for professionals across industries.
Comparison Table
Discover a comparison of top wiring harness software tools, featuring Zuken E3.series, Siemens Capital Harness, and others, designed to help readers assess functionality, integration, and suitability for their projects. Explore key differences and strengths to make informed decisions about selecting the right solution for their wiring harness development needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zuken E3.series Comprehensive suite for electrical schematic design, cable and wiring harness engineering, and manufacturing automation. | enterprise | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 2 | Siemens Capital Harness Advanced 2D and 3D platform for full lifecycle wiring harness design, validation, and production. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.6/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 3 | IGE+XAO SEE Electrical Harness Integrated software for wiring harness schematics, 3D routing, and automated manufacturing outputs. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Siemens VeSys Harness design tool offering schematic capture, routing simulation, and formboard generation. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 5 | SolidWorks Electrical 3D Combines 2D schematics with 3D harness routing integrated into mechanical assemblies. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 6 | PTC Creo CAD system with dedicated modules for wiring, cabling, and harness design in complex products. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 7 | Dassault Systèmes CATIA High-end PLM platform featuring electrical harness installation and design within 3D models. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 6.7/10 | 7.2/10 |
| 8 | Siemens NX Integrated CAD/CAM/CAE solution with electrical routing and wiring harness authoring tools. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 9 | Altium Designer Unified electronics design environment supporting multi-board and harness interconnects. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 10 | Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical Intelligent schematic toolset for electrical control systems and basic wiring diagrams. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.4/10 | 7.0/10 |
Comprehensive suite for electrical schematic design, cable and wiring harness engineering, and manufacturing automation.
Advanced 2D and 3D platform for full lifecycle wiring harness design, validation, and production.
Integrated software for wiring harness schematics, 3D routing, and automated manufacturing outputs.
Harness design tool offering schematic capture, routing simulation, and formboard generation.
Combines 2D schematics with 3D harness routing integrated into mechanical assemblies.
CAD system with dedicated modules for wiring, cabling, and harness design in complex products.
High-end PLM platform featuring electrical harness installation and design within 3D models.
Integrated CAD/CAM/CAE solution with electrical routing and wiring harness authoring tools.
Unified electronics design environment supporting multi-board and harness interconnects.
Intelligent schematic toolset for electrical control systems and basic wiring diagrams.
Zuken E3.series
enterpriseComprehensive suite for electrical schematic design, cable and wiring harness engineering, and manufacturing automation.
Fully automated 2D-to-3D wiring harness flattening and routing with direct MCAD export for precise manufacturing
Zuken E3.series is a leading CAD/CAE suite for electrical engineering, specializing in 2D/3D wiring harness design, schematic capture, cable routing, and panel layouts. It streamlines the entire workflow from initial design to manufacturing outputs, including automated wire length calculations, error checking, and BOM generation. Renowned in automotive, aerospace, and heavy machinery sectors, it integrates seamlessly with MCAD systems for true concurrent engineering.
Pros
- Comprehensive end-to-end automation for wiring harness design, including 3D routing and manufacturing prep
- Advanced error detection, design rule checking, and standards compliance (e.g., automotive specs)
- Seamless integration with PLM/MCAD tools like CATIA and Teamcenter for collaborative workflows
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to its depth and customization options
- High upfront and ongoing costs, best suited for enterprises
- Resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware for large projects
Best For
Large-scale engineering teams in automotive, aerospace, or machinery industries needing robust, automated wiring harness solutions from design to production.
Pricing
Modular enterprise licensing; annual subscriptions start at ~$15,000+ per seat, with custom quotes based on modules and scale.
Siemens Capital Harness
enterpriseAdvanced 2D and 3D platform for full lifecycle wiring harness design, validation, and production.
Concurrent 3D physical routing synchronized with electrical schematics for real-time design validation and optimization
Siemens Capital Harness is an enterprise-grade software solution for the complete design, engineering, and manufacturing of wiring harnesses, supporting industries like automotive, aerospace, and heavy machinery. It provides advanced 3D routing, automated flattening, topology management, and integration with MCAD/PLM systems for seamless multidisciplinary collaboration. The tool excels in handling complex variants, compliance standards, and generating precise manufacturing outputs such as cut lists, tape reports, and digital twins.
Pros
- Comprehensive end-to-end workflow from logical design to manufacturing prep
- Superior 3D integration with mechanical CAD and PLM ecosystems
- Advanced automation for branching, splicing, and variant handling
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring extensive training
- High enterprise-level pricing not suited for small teams
- Interface can feel dated compared to newer competitors
Best For
Large-scale manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors needing robust, integrated harness design for complex, high-volume production.
Pricing
Enterprise subscription-based licensing; contact Siemens for quotes, typically starting at $20,000+ per user/year depending on modules and scale.
IGE+XAO SEE Electrical Harness
specializedIntegrated software for wiring harness schematics, 3D routing, and automated manufacturing outputs.
Automated 3D-to-2D flattening with precise wire length calculation and twist protection
IGE+XAO SEE Electrical Harness is a specialized CAD software for designing, simulating, and manufacturing wiring harnesses, supporting the full lifecycle from electrical schematics to 3D routing and production outputs. It excels in industries like automotive, aerospace, and machinery with tools for automatic wire sizing, bundling, flattening, and compliance with standards such as IPC/WHMA-A-620. The software integrates seamlessly with other SEE Electrical modules and third-party PLM systems for collaborative workflows.
Pros
- Comprehensive 3D harness modeling with automatic routing and flattening
- Robust manufacturing outputs including BOMs, cut lists, and CNC data
- Strong standards compliance and integration with PLM/ERP systems
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-expert users
- High licensing costs with modular pricing
- Limited native support for some emerging CAD formats
Best For
Experienced electrical engineers in automotive or aerospace firms handling complex, high-volume harness production.
Pricing
Modular perpetual licenses starting at €10,000+ per workstation, plus annual maintenance (~20%); custom enterprise quotes.
Siemens VeSys
enterpriseHarness design tool offering schematic capture, routing simulation, and formboard generation.
Fully automated 3D formboard generation and manufacturing documentation from integrated 2D/3D designs
Siemens VeSys is a comprehensive suite of CAD tools for wiring harness design and manufacturing, spanning 2D schematic capture, 3D modeling, and automated production outputs. It supports the full lifecycle from logical design to physical formboard generation and tape layouts, with strong integration into Siemens' broader PLM ecosystem. Ideal for complex electrical systems in automotive, aerospace, and heavy machinery sectors, it emphasizes accuracy and manufacturability.
Pros
- Robust 2D/3D integration for seamless design-to-manufacturing workflow
- Advanced simulation and analysis for complex harnesses
- Excellent enterprise scalability and Siemens PLM compatibility
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- High licensing costs
- Limited flexibility for small-scale or custom projects
Best For
Large enterprises in automotive or aerospace needing end-to-end harness design integrated with PLM systems.
Pricing
Enterprise subscription licensing; typically $15,000+ per seat annually, with custom quotes required.
SolidWorks Electrical 3D
enterpriseCombines 2D schematics with 3D harness routing integrated into mechanical assemblies.
Real-time 3D harness routing and automatic flattening integrated directly into SolidWorks assemblies
SolidWorks Electrical 3D is a powerful add-on to the SolidWorks CAD suite that integrates 2D electrical schematics with 3D mechanical design for comprehensive wiring harness creation and routing. It automates harness routing along 3D paths, calculates wire lengths, generates flattened drawings, and produces manufacturing outputs like nailboard diagrams. This makes it suitable for complex electromechanical assemblies in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and machinery.
Pros
- Seamless integration with SolidWorks 3D CAD for unified mech-elec design
- Advanced automated 3D routing, flattening, and BOM generation
- Extensive component libraries and manufacturing outputs
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-SolidWorks users
- High cost with required base SolidWorks license
- Limited standalone functionality outside SolidWorks ecosystem
Best For
Engineering teams in automotive or aerospace already using SolidWorks, needing integrated 3D wiring harness design.
Pricing
Annual subscription for Electrical 3D starts at ~$6,000 USD, requires separate SolidWorks CAD license (~$4,000+/year).
PTC Creo
enterpriseCAD system with dedicated modules for wiring, cabling, and harness design in complex products.
Unified 3D parametric environment that associates harness designs directly with mechanical assemblies for real-time updates
PTC Creo is a comprehensive 3D CAD platform with dedicated modules like Wiring and Harnessboard for electrical wiring harness design, enabling schematic capture, 3D routing, flattening, and manufacturing outputs. It integrates seamlessly with mechanical design workflows, supporting complex assemblies in industries such as automotive and aerospace. The software emphasizes parametric modeling and automation for design validation and documentation.
Pros
- Seamless integration of wiring harnesses with 3D mechanical models
- Robust tools for automated routing, flattening, and manufacturing reports
- Parametric and associative design for design changes and validations
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to complex interface
- High cost and resource demands
- Overkill for simple harness designs compared to specialized tools
Best For
Large engineering teams in automotive or aerospace requiring integrated MCAD/ECAD environments for complex product development.
Pricing
Subscription-based; core modules start at ~$2,500-$5,000/user/year, with wiring extensions adding $1,000+; enterprise licensing required for full features.
Dassault Systèmes CATIA
enterpriseHigh-end PLM platform featuring electrical harness installation and design within 3D models.
Contextual 3D electrical harness installation that automatically adapts routing to dynamic mechanical assemblies
CATIA from Dassault Systèmes is a comprehensive CAD/PLM platform with dedicated modules for electrical wiring harness design, enabling 3D routing, bundling, and flattening within full product assemblies. It supports complex harness engineering for industries like aerospace and automotive, including automated manufacturing outputs and integration with simulation tools. The software excels in collaborative environments via the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, ensuring design consistency across mechanical and electrical domains.
Pros
- Seamless 3D integration with mechanical designs for accurate routing
- Advanced automation for harness flattening and manufacturing prep
- Robust PLM collaboration via 3DEXPERIENCE platform
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring extensive training
- High cost prohibitive for small teams
- Resource-heavy performance on standard hardware
Best For
Large aerospace and automotive enterprises requiring fully integrated 3D wiring harness design within complex product development workflows.
Pricing
Enterprise subscription licensing via 3DEXPERIENCE; typically $10,000+ per user/year for relevant modules, with custom enterprise pricing.
Siemens NX
enterpriseIntegrated CAD/CAM/CAE solution with electrical routing and wiring harness authoring tools.
Fully associative 2D schematic to 3D harness modeling with automatic pathfinding and conflict detection
Siemens NX is a high-end CAD/CAE/CAM suite with dedicated modules for electrical wiring harness design, allowing users to develop 2D schematics, create fully associative 3D harness models, and automate routing along mechanical paths. It supports advanced formboard flattening, tape simulation, and manufacturing outputs like cut lists and nailboard drawings. Integrated with Teamcenter PLM, it's optimized for complex, collaborative projects in industries like automotive and aerospace.
Pros
- Seamless integration of electrical harness design with 3D mechanical CAD
- Advanced automation for routing, branching, and manufacturing prep
- Robust PLM integration for enterprise-scale collaboration
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to comprehensive feature set
- High licensing costs unsuitable for small teams
- Resource-intensive performance on standard hardware
Best For
Large engineering firms in automotive or aerospace requiring end-to-end integrated CAD and harness design within a PLM ecosystem.
Pricing
Subscription-based; starts at ~$15,000/user/year for core NX with electrical modules, scaling up with add-ons and Teamcenter integration.
Altium Designer
specializedUnified electronics design environment supporting multi-board and harness interconnects.
Unified multi-domain environment allowing simultaneous PCB and harness design with direct 3D model import/export
Altium Designer is a comprehensive electronic design automation (EDA) platform primarily known for PCB design but with robust extensions for wiring harness development through its Harness Design features. It enables users to create detailed harness schematics, define bundles, wires, connectors, and splices, and generate manufacturing outputs like flattened harness drawings and wire lists. The tool integrates seamlessly with 3D mechanical models and PCB designs for system-level engineering. Altium 365 provides cloud collaboration for team workflows.
Pros
- Seamless integration with PCB and multi-board design workflows
- Advanced 3D visualization and routing simulation for harnesses
- Comprehensive outputs including nailboard drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing files
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to complex interface
- High cost may not justify for harness-only projects
- Less specialized than dedicated wiring harness tools like Capital Harness
Best For
Engineering teams already using Altium for PCB design who need integrated harness capabilities in complex electromechanical systems.
Pricing
Annual subscription starting at approximately $10,000 per user; volume discounts and custom quotes available via altium.com.
Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical
specializedIntelligent schematic toolset for electrical control systems and basic wiring diagrams.
Automated project-wide wire and terminal numbering with real-time error checking
Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical is a CAD-based toolset extension of AutoCAD optimized for electrical design, including schematic creation, panel layouts, and basic wiring harness documentation. It automates tasks like wire numbering, component tagging, and report generation for BOMs, wire lists, and cross-references, which are crucial for wiring harness prototyping and manufacturing. While versatile for control systems, its harness-specific features are more 2D-focused and rely on the broader AutoCAD platform for drafting precision.
Pros
- Extensive electrical symbol libraries and automation for schematics
- Comprehensive report generation tailored to harness manufacturing needs
- Strong integration with Autodesk ecosystem like Inventor for 3D workflows
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to complex AutoCAD interface
- Limited advanced 3D harness routing and formboard capabilities compared to specialized tools
- High cost without proportional harness-specific depth
Best For
Experienced CAD users in electrical engineering firms needing schematic-to-harness documentation within the Autodesk suite.
Pricing
Annual subscription starting at $1,975 for standalone, or included in Product Design & Manufacturing Collection (~$2,940/year).
Conclusion
The curated list of wiring harness software highlights tools with diverse strengths, from comprehensive lifecycle management to seamless 3D integration. Leading the pack, Zuken E3.series emerges as the top choice, offering a robust suite that excels across schematic design, cable engineering, and manufacturing automation. Strong alternatives like Siemens Capital Harness and IGE+XAO SEE Electrical Harness prove valuable, each catering to distinct needs such as advanced lifecycle validation and automated routing.
Step into optimized wiring harness design by exploring Zuken E3.series first, or dive into its top rivals to find the perfect fit for your workflow.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison