Design Power, Inc. Announces New Release of Pipe-Routing Software for Process Plant Design.

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 1999--

AutoRouter(TM) 2.0 Features New Support for Intergraph

Corporation's DesignReview(R) Applications, Enhanced

Intelligent Piping And Equipment Placing Functionality

Design Power, Inc., a leading supplier of intelligent front-end plant design systems, today announced the release of a new version of its AutoRouter(TM) software for pipe routing and layout optimization. The new release, AutoRouter Version 2.0, includes enhanced functionality for manipulating pipeways and equipment, and features links to Intergraph Corporation's 3D visualization and walk-through applications for design review.

Engineers designing chemical process plants use AutoRouter in conjunction with a variety of computer-aided design (CAD) applications to configure miles of complex piping. The software finds the most efficient routes to connect the piping to plant equipment, places nozzles based on previously determined design rules and best practices, and automatically converts 2D information from process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) into 3D models.

In addition to functional enhancements, AutoRouter Version 2.0 includes direct links to Intergraph Corporation's DesignReview(R) and SmartPlant Viewer(R) applications. The application has menu options that allow MicroStation(R) users to export 3D models directly into DesignReview and SmartPlant Viewer. These popular applications are used to present design proposals and to promote design input from the engineering team and plant personnel.

"AutoRouter enables plant designers and engineers to rapidly configure a variety of conceptual designs, and optimize piping configuration to reduce cost," said Keith Denton, senior marketing manager of Industry Solutions at Intergraph Corporation. "With version 2.0, AutoRouter users can import their models directly into our powerful 3D walkthrough applications in order to better understand and communicate early design concepts."

The new version of AutoRouter also provides users with increased control of pipeway selection and more options for moving and manipulating equipment and piping manually.

A new pipeway selection option, available under the route menu, can override the automatically placed location where pipelines start and end, and changes to the pipeways can be removed by a simple click on the "Set to Default" button.

The manual manipulation enhancements to version 2.0 enable plant designers to work with AutoRouter from within their CAD software to translate, rotate or mirror groups of equipment and structures. AutoRouter 2.0 also includes enhancements to the software's equipment library.

"AutoRouter automatically determines the best routing solutions based on knowledge captured through work with veteran piping experts," said Ulf Strom, president of Design Power, Inc. "It enables plant designers and process engineers to rapidly create multiple 'what-if scenarios' to see how changes in equipment layout will impact project costs, and facilitates rapid and accurate quote generation."

AutoRouter is one module in a suite of Design Power applications that includes PlantBuilder(TM), for automatic generation of 3D plant layouts from equipment information, and PlantDrafter(TM), which automatically generates 2D drawings, such as plot plans, detached plans, piping drawings and isometrics directly from PlantBuilder and AutoRouter 3D models.

AutoRouter and the other applications in Design Power's front-end plant design suite are driven by the company's powerful Design++(TM) software engine, which captures engineering knowledge and enables software applications to make intelligent design decisions based on best practices and previously determined rules and interdependencies.

Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Design Power's knowledge-based design solutions are used by manufacturing, engineering, construction, and chemical process companies worldwide. Clients of Design Power include Fluor Daniel, Inc., Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems, Inc., Robertson Ceco Corporation, LG Engineering Company, Ltd., Toyo Engineering Corporation, Bayer AG, Selvaag Homes, and Snamprogetti Ltd. More information is available on the Design Power web site at http://www.dp.com.

Note to editors: An AutoRouter screen shot is available as a JPEG file on request.

TM and (R): AutoRouter, PlantBuilder, PlantDrafter and Design++ are trademarks of Design Power, Inc. SmartPlant Viewer and DesignReview are registered trademarks of Integraph Corporation. Any other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.