Press Release
MSC.Software Strengthens Strategic Agreement with nCode To Provide Durability Solutions
SANTA ANA, Calif. - April 8, 2003 - MSC.Software Corp. (NYSE: MNS), the leading global provider of virtual product development (VPD) tools including simulation software, services and systems, today announced an expanded partnership with nCode International to provide manufacturing customers worldwide with durability and fatigue software tools. nCode International is the world's largest provider of commercial durability technology and software, with analysis tools for all areas of engineering including the automotive, offshore, rail, power generation and aerospace industries.
Under the terms of the agreement, the MSC.Software sales force will be the primary channel for fatigue and durability simulation software to customers worldwide. The MSC.Software and nCode durability technologies will be combined to provide customers with durability and fatigue solutions for whatever modeling environment they prefer. The nCode durability technology will also be embedded within MSC.Patran, MSC.ADAMS, MSC.visualNastran V5i and new vertical applications. The MSC.Software and nCode product development and support teams will work together to provide training and support for customers.
"Manufacturers around the world must be able to accurately predict how durable and reliable their products are under normal and abnormal use conditions. The best way to do that is through the use of fatigue and durability simulation software. Our new agreement with nCode gives our customers the best tools to predict the durability of their products, increase the effectiveness of VPD and reduce the potential for warranty costs," said Frank Perna, chairman and CEO, MSC.Software Corp. "The newly combined MSC.Software and nCode teams provide unmatched technical expertise that will benefit customers. Our goal is to be the leading vendor for every type of engineering discipline and this strengthened relationship cements MSC.Software's role with nCode as a leading provider of durability and fatigue solutions."
nCode Chairman, Brian Dabell, added, "This new and exciting opportunity will dramatically increase the global awareness of nCode within the CAE community. We are leveraging our technical skills by a sales force that is many times the size of our own. nCode is expanding its support organization to manage the anticipated step change in durability business levels."
MSC.Fatigue, used by customers in conjunction with MSC.Patran and FE-Fatigue, used by customers with modeling environments other than MSC.Patran, enable users of popular CAE products, including MSC.Nastran, MSC.ADAMS, ABAQUS, ANSYS, HyperMesh, I-DEAS and Medina, to accurately predict and manage product life, durability and fatigue directly from finite element models. By accurately predicting the expected life of a product, MSC.Fatigue and FE Fatigue help companies save money by reducing or eliminating costly redesigns and product recalls. These savings can be enormous and include the ability to prolong the life of a product and dramatically reduce testing costs before physical prototyping and manufacturing.
For more information on the combined MSC.Software and nCode product portfolio, please visit http://www.mscsoftware.com/products/
About MSC.Software Corporation
MSC.Software (NYSE: MNS) is the leading global provider of simulation software, with related services and systems, that helps companies make money, save time and reduce costs associated with designing and testing manufactured products. MSC.Software works with thousands of companies in hundreds of industries to develop better products faster by utilizing information technology, software, services and systems. MSC.Software employs more than 1500 people in 22 countries. For additional information about MSC.Software's products and services, please visit www.mscsoftware.com.
About nCode International
nCode International is the world's leading supplier of engineering solutions for durability, with major customers in the ground vehicles, aerospace and offshore industries. Many major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) use nCode solutions for durability management, including Ford, General Motors, Volvo, DaimlerChrysler, and John Deere. For more information on nCode International visit their website at www.ncode.com. nCode is an AEA Technology plc company.
| Contact: Joanne Keates Vice President, Investor Relations MSC.Software 714.444.8551 joanne.keates@mscsoftware.com |
Contact: Catherine Meek Media Relations MSC.Software 714.445.5647 catherine.meek@mscsoftware.com |
