IHS Announces New ESDU Engineering Analysis and Design Tools on CD-ROM.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 1998--

With the new ESDU CD-ROM research tools from IHS, engineers gain

immediate, desktop access to the world's most reliable, expertly

validated analysis and design data.

With its new ESDU Fluid Mechanics Internal Flow and Composites titles, IHS introduces the first in a series of desktop knowledge-based design guides containing validated data and interactive equations from prominent industry and academic experts.

The ESDU service helps engineers streamline the design research process and make decisions that will optimize design and reduce failures.

The new ESDU CD-ROM series is the first IHS service to provide desktop access to engineering analysis and design engineering data that has been validated by appointed committees of international industry and academic experts. It is developed by renowned London-based ESDU International, plc, which was acquired by IHS Engineering last June. Patrick Romich, president of IHS Engineering said, "We plan to convert the entire ESDU Engineering Collection from hardcopy to electronic media. ESDU offers our customers desktop access to a unique, expertly developed body of knowledge. Engineers are now able to base decisions on comprehensive research and data from the best minds in industry and academia."

The new Fluid Mechanics release gives engineers the opportunity to quickly optimize system designs for compressible and incompressible fluids, based on independently validated methods and procedures. The Composites collection focuses on practical applications of data covering topics such as buckling, sandwich panels, bonded joints, composite plates under pressure, failure criteria, and acoustic loading and vibration. Both collections include computer programs and data which will dramatically ease the design and performance analysis process.

The full complement of ESDU engineering data, addressing a wide range of specific aerospace, process/chemical, structural, and mechanical topics, is expected to be converted to CD-ROM by the fourth quarter of 1998. Introductions of new collections are planned for each of the summer months.

ESDU International, plc, has actively pursued excellence in design engineering for over 55 years. Guided by expert technical, volunteer committees, ESDU engineers gather, evaluate, process, and apply the world's knowledge on engineering topics spanning four broad fields: aerospace, process, structural, and mechanical. The ESDU knowledge base combines applicable data, equations, charts, graphs, and computer programs into concise Data Items that address specific engineering issues. Access to this expertly validated information promotes design optimization and greater understanding of the design process.

IHS Engineering is the worldwide leader for engineering, technical, and regulatory information published in a variety of media, from CD-ROM to Internet to intranet. IHS Group is a leading international publisher of information databases with annual sales of approximately $440 million. Its companies serve the vital information needs of customers across the world's technical, business, and professional sectors. IHS Group employs over 3,000 people worldwide. For additional information on ESDU and other IHS Engineering services, please call 1-800-716-3447, extension 170, fax [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]. For international inquiries, call [phone], or fax [phone].

CONTACT: IHS Engineering

Alana Smith, Product Manager

303-397-2391

[e-mail]