Product Life Cycle Management News

SOUTHPOINTE, PA.Feb. 25 -- ANSYS, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANSS), a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, today announced that it has been included on the Forbes Fast 15 list, a first-ever formal compilation by Forbes magazine of attractive companies with potential to become rapidly growing Technology businesses in the future. ANSYS was the only engineering software provider to make the list.

To compile the Fast 15, researchers at Forbes scoured analyst reports and other news sources to identify strong performers among public U.S. companies in the Technology sector.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 19 -- Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kynogon SA, the privately held maker of Kynapse artificial intelligence middleware. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Kynapse has been used to develop more than 65 AAA game titles, including Alone in the Dark 5, Crackdown, Fable 2 and The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. Kynapse gives characters spatial awareness, enabling them to realistically navigate digital environments.

"The future of videogames is about sophisticated game play, with more believable characters and environments," said Marc Petit, senior vice president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. "Our goal is to simplify videogame development by providing cutting-edge tools to create, animate and integrate 3D assets into game engines. The acquisition of Kynogon is a key component in reaching this goal."

Successful execution of customer-centric business practices drives new measure of marketing effectiveness

Media Advisory – February 20, 2008 - PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company,® today announced that it has been rated in the top ten of the CMO Council’s Customer Affinity Index of Top 75 IT Brands Ranked by IT Buyer. The sole Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) company on the list, PTC outranked other globally recognized business-to-business Technology vendors including IBM, Microsoft, Dell Computer, and Oracle.

In its recent research study, “Profitability from Customer Affinity,” the CMO Council suggests that customer affinity surpasses brand awareness as the key predictor of purchasing decisions. It further states that customers identify alignment around the customer’s priorities and needs as the most important characteristic of customer-centric companies. The CMO Council challenges companies to adopt customer affinity as a primary measurement of marketing effectiveness and asserts that, by incorporating the customer focused metric, companies can strengthen customer relationships and improve business performance.

PTC Product Development System Replaces Legacy Data Management Systems

Needham, MA – February 19, 2008 – PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company®, today announced that Lockheed Martin’s Electronic Systems (ES) has selected Windchill®, PTC’s Product Lifecycle Management solution, to replace its multiple legacy Product Data Management systems. Windchill will allow Electronic Systems to move toward a consolidated Technology platform for managing all critical product information. Electronic Systems is one of Lockheed Martin’s four business areas.

Lockheed Martin Electronic Systems will use Windchill to support change and configuration management in the production of key military systems and to smooth the IT consolidation among its multiple lines of business. Additionally, Windchill will enable Electronic Systems to share design details early in the design process to better inform its decision makers and to provide visibility and traceability during the entire development effort.

New Packaged Offerings to Enhance Rural and Small Utilities’ Productivity and Performance

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., February 20, 2008 –Intergraph Corp. is bringing the benefits of its proven utility outage management, workforce management and geospatial information system (GIS) Technology to rural and small utilities and electric cooperatives (co-ops) through packaged solutions that are cost-effective for the smaller utility market.

By adding new packaged offerings for smaller organizations to its portfolio, Intergraph is now able to provide utilities of all sizes – from the smallest to the largest – with end-to-end solutions for the design and operations of the utility distribution network.

3DVIA MP - Cutting-edge Technology to Create, Customize and Deploy Video Games, from Meaningful Prototypes to a Finished Masterpiece

San Francisco, February 20, 2008 - Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D solutions, today announced the release of 3DVIA MP, a comprehensive development platform with a realistic real-time rendering engine for PC and Xbox 360™. 3DVIA MP will significantly improve the game development process by quickly bringing ideas into reality and aiding developers in producing high-end, 3D multiplatform games. 3DVIA MP for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) and Web deployments will become available in the summer of 2008.

Dassault Systèmes and Wing Tai’s Zymmetry Group Deliver Apparel Industry’s First Integrated Global Development and Sourcing Solution

LOWELL, Mass., February 19, 2008 — Dassault Systèmes (NASDAQ: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, and Zymmetry Group, the leading manufacturing and sourcing solutions provider focusing on the apparel industry, today announced an agreement which will address the entire scope of the product delivery cycle from initial design through sourcing to retailing for the global footwear and apparel industry. The partnership gives the two software vendors a lead in providing solutions that will connect the entire apparel supply chain, linking front and back end design and development processes from planning to sourcing, pre-production and production.

Delivering Improved Virtual Reality Capabilities and New Artificial Intelligence Libraries for Augmented Performance

Paris, France, February 18, 2008- Dassault Systèmes (DS) (NASDAQ: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065. DSY. PA) a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the release of Virtools 4.1, the latest version of its comprehensive platform for creating highly interactive 3D applications, also part of DS’s 3DVIA lifelike experience brand. Highlights of this revamped version include better platform support, improved Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) libraries, as well as key usability enhancements.

Delivering Improved Virtual Reality Capabilities and New Artificial Intelligence Libraries for Augmented Performance

Paris, France, February 18, 2008- Dassault Systèmes (DS) (NASDAQ: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065. DSY. PA) a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the release of Virtools 4.1, the latest version of its comprehensive platform for creating highly interactive 3D applications, also part of DS’s 3DVIA lifelike experience brand. Highlights of this revamped version include better platform support, improved Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) libraries, as well as key usability enhancements.

Industry First Includes Enhanced Version of Product Planning and Roadmapping Software

Sopheon, the international software and services company, announced today the introduction of a Sopheon software solution that enables companies to synchronize strategic product planning and innovation process execution. The offering is the first in the history of Product Life Cycle Management to tie product, market and Technology roadmapping directly to the operational aspects of product development. The solution was created by integrating Sopheon’s Accolade® product portfolio and process management software with a recently completed new version of the company’s strategic product planning software, Vision Strategisttm.

Key Research Center of global De Beers Group moves to PTC Windchill® to better manage and control product development data across the enterprise

NEEDHAM, MA.PTC, the Product Development Company®, today announced that Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Research Center, based in the UK, has expanded its use of PTC solutions to include Windchill to better manage all product development data, improve change management processes and expand data accessibility across all departments. Part of the global De Beers Group, DTC designs and manufactures machines for sorting, weighing, authenticating and hallmarking diamonds. A long-standing Pro/ENGINEER and Pro/INTRALINK® customer, DTC needed to expand the capabilities of its existing implementation to make more use of its product development data by sharing it across the enterprise. The objective was to gain greater control by implementing a single data platform with an auditable workflow driven change management process.

Best-in-Class performers bring their products to market up to 2.9 times faster than their competitors and under budget twice as often

BOSTON, MA Market demand is driving manufacturers to develop more products that blend mechanical, electro-mechanics, digital control systems and electronic design elements, but this compounds the inherent complexity of product development. Coordinating the disparate engineering disciplines on a single design presents a set of demanding challenges. However, simply ensuring all these systems work together adds new layers of difficulty. In a new study by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks company (NYSE:HHS), System Design: New Product Development for Mechatronics, it was revealed that leading companies are bringing these products to market both on time and under budget. The difference lies in how they approach mechatronic product development.

Companies with established PLM implementations improving sell-through, increasing sales, and reducing discounts -

BOSTON, MA Aberdeen Group’s benchmark report PLM for the Fashion, Apparel, and Footwear Industries: Enabling Speed and Responsiveness, Delivering Higher Profitability finds that the fashion, apparel, and footwear industry faces intense pressure from demanding deadlines, constant change orders, and complex global supply chains. To address this, Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE:HHS), reports that the Best-in-Class apparel and footwear companies are 54% more likely than Industry Average to have an integrated Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) implementation in place. Manufacturers are using this Technology to manage the rapid response times and short product lifecycles that are a reality in the fashion, apparel, and footwear market.

With Oracle’s Agile Product Lifecycle Management, Oracle is Achieving Industry Validation, Strong Customer Momentum and Enabling Adoption of Enterprise PLM

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Oracle today announced that since acquiring Agile Software Corporation in July 2007, the company has been positioned as a PLM leader by industry research firm Gartner, as well as ahead of its competitors, by AMR Research, solidifying its leadership position among Enterprise Product Lifecycle Management vendors. With Oracle's Agile Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Oracle is capitalizing on opportunities to provide Enterprise PLM solutions to new organizations around the world, and has experienced significant customer momentum across multiple industries including consumer goods, life sciences, high-tech and industrial manufacturing.

NEEDHAM, MA. – February 4, 2008 - PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company®, today announced that Tait Electronics Limited, a leading provider of advanced voice and data radio communications solutions, used the PTC Product Development System (PDS) including Pro/ENGINEER® to design and develop its TP8100 series 2-way hand portable radios. Using PTC software, the new radios were designed, developed and delivered to the market in just under 20 weeks, a reduction of more than 60 weeks from previous new product introductions.

Tait Electronics Limited began as a small company in 1969 and has grown to over 1,000 staff dispersed around the globe. Over the years, Tait has evolved into a successful multinational organization whose name is synonymous with innovation, flexibility and relentless commitment to customer satisfaction in the radio communications market. With up to 100,000 custom units being manufactured each year, Tait required a PLM system that would allow for the equipment design to be adaptable to meet unique customer requirements and delivered to the market in the shortest time possible.

01consulting, PLM/CAE Specialist, Evaluates the State of the Industry

SOUTHPOINTE, Pa., Jan. 9 -- ANSYS, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANSS), a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, today announced that it has been cited as Europe's leader in engineering simulation software sales in a report by 01consulting, which specializes in evaluating the industry on the continent. Of nearly a dozen computer-aided engineering (CAE) software vendors tracked in Europe, ANSYS came out as the overall leader in software sales and as a leading supplier in every European geography and industry sector.

ZENN uses Arena to control product information, change management, and Compliance while it changes the world with its electric vehicles

FOSTER CITY, Calif., January 30, 2008 — Arena Solutions, the leading provider of on-demand Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software for manufacturers of all sizes, today announced that the nimble, upstart ZENN Motor Company, a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of innovative zero-emission electric vehicles, has adopted Arena PLM to help it leap-frog traditional automotive company competition and deliver transportation solutions that positively impact our environment and significantly reduce operating costs for drivers. ZENN Motor Company uses on-demand Arena PLM to manage its entire product record, control engineering changes, comply with industry regulations, and improve collaboration with the company’s supply chain.

NEEDHAM, MA. – January 28, 2008 – PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company®, today announced that Sony’s Professional Services Division, based in Basingstoke, UK is using PTC Pro/ENGINEER as its standard 3D design tool to produce tailor-made Outside Broadcast (OB) vehicles. Deploying Pro/ENGINEER, PTC’s integrated 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software, supports Sony’s strategic initiative to significantly reduce the development time of its Outside Broadcast (OB) vehicles through design automation.

Sony creates OB vehicles for a wide variety of customers in the broadcast industry based on custom-built trailer chassis or truck chassis provided by various OEMs. These special purpose vehicles are fitted with leading-edge Technology from Sony and customized to each customer’s requirements. By enabling the design team to transfer the basic Spreadsheet of customer requirements into Pro/ENGINEER, which automatically creates a complete and accurate 3D model of the rack-mounted units, Sony’s Professional Services team has succeeded in significantly reducing the development time of each build. By showing the customer what their vehicle is going to look like very early on in the development process, the team of engineers not only benefits from faster decision-making but also has more time to focus on delivering other parts of the build.

NEEDHAM, MA. – February 4, 2008 - PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company®, today announced that Tait Electronics Limited, a leading provider of advanced voice and data radio communications solutions, used the PTC Product Development System (PDS) including Pro/ENGINEER® to design and develop its TP8100 series 2-way hand portable radios. Using PTC software, the new radios were designed, developed and delivered to the market in just under 20 weeks, a reduction of more than 60 weeks from previous new product introductions.

Tait Electronics Limited began as a small company in 1969 and has grown to over 1,000 staff dispersed around the globe. Over the years, Tait has evolved into a successful multinational organization whose name is synonymous with innovation, flexibility and relentless commitment to customer satisfaction in the radio communications market. With up to 100,000 custom units being manufactured each year, Tait required a PLM system that would allow for the equipment design to be adaptable to meet unique customer requirements and delivered to the market in the shortest time possible.

Digital Prototyping Helps Auto Racing Team Optimize the Speed and Performance of Its Racecar

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced that Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia (Triple Eight Australia) has been named as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for January 2008. The Inventor of the Month program (http://www.autodesk.com/inventorofthemonth) recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Autodesk Inventor software, which provides the foundation for Digital Prototyping (http://www.autodesk.com/digitalprototyping).

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the 17th consecutive year, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) is sponsoring the 2008 FIRST Robotics Competition. In addition to donating $17 million in software, mentoring resources and funds, Autodesk's goal is to inspire enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among high-school aged students across the globe and encourage the next generation of engineers to collaborate as a team in designing a robot for a specific purpose. By using Autodesk software to complete their projects, students receive the exposure and training they need to compete for the engineering and design jobs of the future.

Execution Industry First Includes Enhanced Version of Product Planning and Roadmapping Software.
Sopheon, the international software and services company, announced today the introduction of a Sopheon software solution that enables companies to synchronize strategic product planning and innovation process execution. The offering is the first in the history of Product Life Cycle Management to tie product, market and Technology roadmapping directly to the operational aspects of product development. The solution was created by integrating Sopheon’s Accolade® product portfolio and process management software with a recently completed new version of the company’s strategic product planning software, Vision Strategisttm.

First Customers Experiencing Value of PLM Online for All with V6

Paris, France, January 24, 2008- Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced PLM 2.0 and its new V6 platform. PLM 2.0 – PLM online for all, is a 3D online environment for everybody to experience products virtually where all user interactions generate Intellectual Property (IP). V6 is DS’s next generation platform for PLM 2.0.

“PLM 2.0 is to PLM what Web 2.0 is to the Web, harnessing collective intelligence from online communities. Any user can imagine, share and experience products in the universal language of 3D. PLM 2.0 brings knowledge, from idea to product experience (IP), to life. It merges the real and virtual in an immersive lifelike experience,” explains Bernard Charlès, president and CEO, Dassault Systèmes. “With V6, IP can be put to use immediately via ‘networked’ PLM solutions, so that anybody can ‘test drive’ a virtual product in the real world.”

ARMONK, NY - 01 Feb 2008: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced support for Dassault Systèmes' (NASDAQ: DASTY) new Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) V6 offering. This new version provides the basis for future PLM applications designed to improve productivity across enterprises and help shorten time-to-market for products.

The V6 platform will ease use of PLM applications across multi-disciplinary engineering and business groups. Based on a single, open and scalable service-oriented architecture (SOA), the V6 platform allows global teams to collaborate on the development of a new product line including product specifications, design and development.

First Available V6 Technology to Implement PLM 2.0

Lowell, MA, January 24, 2008, Dassault Systèmes (DS) (NASDAQ: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the availability of ENOVIA MatrixOne 10.8. ENOVIA MatrixOne 10.8 is a major step in DS’s ENOVIA strategy and the first V6 enabled solution in support of PLM 2.0[1]. ENOVIA MatrixOne 10.8 is the foundation of DS’s single PLM platform for all customer business processes in all industries.

“ENOVIA MatrixOne 10.8 is the foundation for DS’s V6 platform - central to our long term vision and future PLM offerings and services,” said Joel Lemke, CEO, ENOVIA, Dassault Systèmes. “By adopting ENOVIA MatrixOne 10.8, existing and future customers will be V6 ready.” ENOVIA MatrixOne 10.8 is a significant step in DS’s SOA strategy for PLM, to manage and federate any PLM related IP in the extended enterprise.