MSC.Software Helps Leach USA Cut Physical Prototyping in Half and Reduce Design Time From Weeks to Hours.

Business Editors

SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2001

Leading Refuse Truck Manufacturer Uses MSC.visualNastran4D,

Saving Months of Design Time and Dramatically Reducing Costs

MSC.Software Corp. (NYSE: MNS), the leading global provider of simulation software, services and systems, today announced that the Leach Company, the world's leading manufacturer of rear loading refuse trucks, cut the number of prototypes in half and saved weeks of design time through use of the MSC.visualNastran4D.

MSC.visualNastran4D is a Windows(R) based, desktop simulation tool that applies physics-based motion to design models and uses those results to run preliminary stress analysis.

"Industrial manufacturers in many industries are benefiting from the lessons learned by their counterparts in the aerospace and automotive industries and increasingly looking to simulation to help them build better products in less time and for less cost," said Frank Perna, chairman and chief executive officer of MSC.Software. "MSC.Software is excited to support companies like Leach in their pursuit of driving down the time and costs associated with product design and testing and look forward to continuing success with other small and medium-sized companies."

Based in Oshkosh, Wis., Leach USA was attempting to redesign the mechanism on a refuse truck that lifts and dumps containers, such as dumpsters. Due to the complex interactions and shifting loads, the design and testing of the new mechanism is a time-consuming and expensive process, including building and testing physical prototypes. By using MSC.visualNastran4D, Leach was able to dramatically reduce physical testing and save both time and money during the design and testing process.

"As a result of using vN4D, we cut the number of prototypes in half, now we're making only two prototypes for a design, instead of three or four, which has reduced the time to get a new product into production by 3 months and reduced costs," said Mark Wittak, senior design engineer for Leach. "More importantly, we're able to figure out if a mechanism will work and how it will work before we ever build it. That gives us a strategic advantage over our competitors, increasing our speed to market with better 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 1,200 people in 22 countries. For additional information about MSC.Software's products and services, visit www.mscsoftware.com.

About Leach Company

Leach Company is a world leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of rear loader packer bodies. Leach Company's primary products are in the solid waste collection field. For additional information about Leach Company, visit www.leachusa.com.