Major MSC Announcements - Dassault/MSC Alliance and MSC Acquires AES
by Richard Bush (MSC) and Bill Abramson

The seemingly innocent butterfly of chaos theory is often quoted as the cause of change across the world. Indeed constant change, driven by and driving accelerating innovation, is what makes life interesting. So what happened in the last three weeks to have me talking about butterflies and looking forward to an interesting future?

Well, the wings started flapping just over one week ago. The brief announcement came of a strategic alliance between Dassault Systemes and MSC Software. It was highlighted as the coming together of the world's leading PLM company the world's leading simulation company. So often announcements of this type amount to paper and news, the fruits of imaginative marketing departments and are immediately forgotten by our readers. Then on Wednesday of this week, MSC Software announced the acquisition of AES Inc., the most successful of IBM's business partners selling and supporting PLM technology in the SME market. Now this is where life gets interesting. As part of the deal, Dassault Systemes has taken a nine percent equity stake in the success of MSC Software.

As a long time observer and commentator on our industry, and someone who can see an opportunity when it hits me in the face, I approached the companies and asked the questions that needed asking. The story is obviously still unfolding, but here is my first report, which focuses on why they did it.

Why did Dassault Systèmes (DS) and MSC.Software enter into a strategic alliance?

"The two companies have agreed to work together to deliver the largest and most advanced PLM integrated analysis and simulation portfolio available on the market," said Richard Bush, Director, Marketing Communication, MSC.Software. "The alliance has three broad facets. MSC.Software has immediately started developing its new generation of simulation solutions using DS' Version 5 Architecture. However, we will not only integrate our technology, but will also act as a strategic distribution channel for the joint Version 5 Analysis and Simulation portfolio. In this area, our dedicated and specialized skills will strongly complement the existing IBM PLM channel for DS' products. Finally, DS and MSC.Software are committed to leverage the power of Internet to establish and deliver pervasive and collaborative Version 5 simulation environments. Together we expect that these initiatives will dramatically increase the beneficial impact of simulation for our existing and future customers."

Why has DS chosen to make an alliance with MSC.Software?

There were many reasons. DS and MSC.Software have a recognized track record of working together and have built common respect at the technical and managerial levels. Indeed, DS and MSC.Software share many key customers that constantly require the two companies to work together and provide the better product integration. On the business level, MSC.Software's leadership position in the CAE market and the value of the industries largest pool of specialist related to shared vision and the fact that both companies have a customer driven approach. These were vital to our customers and not negotiable.

I asked the same of MSC.Software...

Their answer was identical, however, in addition to the above, MSC.Software intends to leverage DS' leadership in the Product Lifecycle Management market to expand the benefits of simulation to more people than ever before. DS is a leader in many industrial verticals, such as shipbuilding, electronics and consumer products, and in the automotive and aerospace sectors in particular. MSC.Software felt that DS is the only PLM player to consider simulation as critical for customers' product development processes, and as a consequence, has made it a key foundation of its Version 5 Architecture. This decision means that MSC.Software is able to develop advanced products faster than before, fully integrated in the PLM processes with DS's new generation Version 5 Architecture. The fact that DS is the only PLM player to deliver an open, multi-CAD, multi-platform, object-based system to create applications for various industries was critical. DS also offers a dedicated CAE infrastructure to support multi-disciplinary CAE applications. MSC.Software will use DS' open environment to maintain its product strategy

The complimentary nature of both companies' large, multidisciplinary portfolios, was "icing on the cake."

Now life is getting to be increasingly interesting. Watch this space for constant updates as the story unfolds. In my next note, I will talk to MSC.Software and ask "just what value is simulation anyway?"

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IBM and Dassault Systemes Launch CATIA Version 5 Release 6
By Todd McCall, IBM

CATIA Version 5 Release 6 is now available worldwide on both the Windows and UNIX platforms. This release introduces 17 new products and major improvements to existing products. The CATIA V5 family now totals 78 products.

CATIA Human Modeling capabilities are some of the all new functions introduced with Release 6. CATIA Human Modeling products allow users to create digital manikins for the purpose of simulating man-machine interaction, to assess comfort, to evaluate field of vision, to create optimal conditions for manufacture and maintenance, to check accessibility to controls, to maximize operator productivity and much more. Piping and instrumentation diagram and AVAC diagrams deliver new AEC functionality to CATIA V5, while new Tolerance Analysis of Deformable Assembly and Multi-Axis Surface Machining 2 modules enhance V5's analysis and manufacturing capabilities.

CATIA V5 R6 also delivers the new Component Application Architecture (CAA), an open architecture that allows users to integrate their own know-how into specialized CATIA applications. The CAA Rapid Application Development Environment (RADE), and its development workbench, make use of industry-standard tools and methodology guides to support the application development lifecycle. This robust and flexible tool set enables users and technology partners to expand the CATIA application portfolio by developing new applications and extensions to existing applications.

CATIA V5 R6 also incorporates significant enhancements and improvements to existing products. These enhancements extend the capabilities of existing modules by adding new function and improving usability.

Complete details on the CATIA V5 R6 announcement are available at: http://www-3.ibm.com/solutions/engineering/escatia.nsf/Public/v5r6_landing

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IBM and Dassault Systemes Announce ENOVIA Version 5 Release 6
By Todd McCall, IBM

IBM and Dassault Systemes have announced ENOVIA Version 5 Release 6. This release introduces major new and enhanced PLM solutions to transform the product development process.

With ENOVIA Portal V5 R6 you can:

• Quickly integrate product data from multiple CAD, PDM and legacy systems into a user window
• Improve product knowledge through Web-based access to all product-related information
• Easily and quickly search multiple enterprise sources for product information
• Reduce the number of physical prototypes and mock-ups by using advanced virtual reality, visualization, analysis, and simulation capabilities
• Assess how individuals will interact with products using human modeler solutions
• Access a knowledge base of scientific effects and their applications
• Easily generate high-quality photo-realistic images of parts and products
• Access ENOVIA data from Windows-based clients with improved support

In addition, IBM and Dassault Systemes have announced CATIA and ENOVIA Web-based learning Solutions V5 R6 that enhances and extends coverage with User Companion for Digital Mock-up.

Details of these announcements can be found at: http://www-3.ibm.com/solutions/engineering/esenovia.nsf/public/enovlandv5r6

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CATbench 2001
CATIA Workstation Benchmark by CATIA Solutions Magazine
Press Release

CATbench® 2001, the CATIA® Workstation Benchmark by CATIA Solutions Magazine is now available for free download on www.CADbench.com. The 3rd annual CATbench, reviewed by COE's own Phil Harrison, was published in the May/June issue of CATIA Solutions Magazine and tested 9 workstations. Editorial coverage of CATbench 2001 is also provided on www.catiasolutions.com.

Numerous marketing and advertising opportunities are available. Please contact advertising@catiasolutions.com for advertising and marketing information.

ConnectPress Ltd. publishes three international software magazines, SOLID Solutions, CATIA Solutions and Pro/E: The Magazine, including corresponding websites, benchmarks and email newsletters. For further information on ConnectPress, Ltd. please go to www.connectpress.com or contact publisher Nadine Choppin at +1 505/670-6236 or Nadine.Choppin@connectpress.com

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