AEA Technology - Hyprotech Announces Release of HYSYS.CAPE-OPEN.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2000

CAPE-OPEN Standards Permit Seamless Integration of Simulation

Components From Various Suppliers of Process Engineering Software

AEA Technology - Hyprotech today announced the release of HYSYS.CAPE-OPEN, the result of combining its leading process simulator, HYSYS, and HYP/CAPE-OPEN-kit v1.0. The released product, HYSYS.CAPE-OPEN, is a fully CAPE-OPEN-compliant Simulation Executive.

CAPE-OPEN is a co-operative project sponsored by the European Union and aimed at defining software interfaces which allow plug-and-play simulation components within the various process simulators currently on the market (i.e. commercial, academic or "in house" simulators).

The capabilities of CAPE-OPEN interfaces in HYSYS deliver a number of benefits to the industry, such as the ability to:

      --  plug existing CAPE-OPEN-compliant Thermodynamic Packages and
        Unit Operation Models into HYSYS.

      --  include company-specific models and process knowledge into the
        process simulator following standard specifications.

      --  encapsulation of legacy code within standard components, ready
        to be used in HYSYS, keeping corporate best practices
        confidential.

      --  reduce software maintenance and training costs for process
        simulation.

HYSYS.CAPE-OPEN contains all the necessary features to work in co-operation with CAPE-OPEN-compliant simulation components (Unit Operations and Thermo Property Packages/Systems). HYP/CAPE-OPEN-kit v1.0 installs the necessary sockets where the Unit Operation and Thermodynamics CAPE-OPEN plugs are connected to assemble a CAPE-OPEN-based process simulation platform.

A full working version of Hyprotech's HYP/CAPE-OPEN-kit v1.0 may be downloaded from Hyprotech's webpage www.hyprotech.com/cape-open by all AEA Technology-Hyprotech's customers, thus upgrading the current version of HYSYS into HYSYS.CAPE-OPEN.

"The open architecture of HYSYS has not only been crucial to, but has also greatly simplified the implementation of, CAPE-OPEN's standards. During the CAPE-OPEN project, Hyprotech was a key member, and in fact the HYSYS.CAPE-OPEN prototype was used as its validation platform", said Wayne Sim, Vice President of R&D at AEA Technology-Hyprotech. "With this release, Hyprotech continues to prove its commitment to implement the standards that the process industry requires for future growth"

"The Global CAPE-OPEN Project welcomes the practical commitment to CAPE-OPEN open simulation principles shown by Hyprotech in the release of the HYSYS.CAPE-OPEN simulator." said Bertrand Braunschweig, Global CAPE-OPEN project manager. "We see this release as a major step towards software interoperability in process engineering, and we appreciate Hyprotech's continued active participation in the project, which is refining and extending these interfaces in order to meet the increasing simulation needs of the process industries."

About CAPE-OPEN and Global CAPE-OPEN

The objective of the Global CAPE-OPEN (GCO) project is to deliver the power of component software and open standard interfaces in computer-aided process engineering. GCO uses CAPE-OPEN (CO) results and therefore capitalizes on further opportunities that can subsequently be gained from open standard interfaces for process simulation.

A consortium representing a wide range of users, researchers and vendors from three continents is exploring these opportunities by developing the "second stage" of the CAPE-OPEN initiative.

CAPE-OPEN and Global CAPE-OPEN are funded by the European Community under the Industrial and Materials Technologies Programme (Brite-EuRam III), and under contracts BRPR-CT96-0293 and BPR-CT98-9005. In addition, Global CAPE-OPEN follows the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems initiative promoting collaboration between six international regions. For more information on CAPE-OPEN and Global CAPE-OPEN, visit its website at www.global-cape-open.org.

About AEA Technology - Hyprotech

AEA Technology - Hyprotech is a business unit of AEA Technology Engineering Software, a leading supplier of engineering solutions for the process and mechanical manufacturing industries. The business operates from a network of 20 offices worldwide, with subsidiaries in Canada, USA, Germany, Spain, France and Japan. Its range of software products includes process simulation (HYSYS), chemical and pharmaceutical process design (BaSYS), computational fluid dynamics (CFX), separation process design (SPS) heat transfer (HTFS), plant lifecycle data management (AXSYS), as well as operator training and fatigue and lifetime prediction solutions (nCode). The business aims to provide an unequalled software environment for the management of knowledge and design throughout the engineering and operational lifecycle within its expanding customer base.

AEA Technology Engineering Software is part of AEA Technology plc, one of the world's leading science and technology businesses supplying innovative technical, safety and environmental solutions to a broad range of industries worldwide. AEA Technology plc (LSE:AAT) employs nearly 4,500 people in 26 locations around the world, bringing science to the marketplace through consultancy, technical services, hardware and software systems, research and development and technology transfer. For more information on Hyprotech and AEA Technology Engineering Software, visit their websites at www.hyprotech.com and www.software.aeat.com.

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