Oregon State University Purchases 200 Licenses of SolidWorks Software for Education and Research.

CONCORD, Mass. -- SolidWorks Education Edition Prepares Students for Engineering Careers with SolidWorks 3D Mechanical Design and COSMOS Analysis Software

The Oregon State University College of Engineering has purchased 200 licenses of SolidWorks(R) Education Edition software to help engineering students more quickly master the design engineering tools they will use in their careers.

Students will use SolidWorks 3D mechanical design and COSMOS(R) design validation software, included in SolidWorks Education Edition, in their foundation engineering graphics and 3D modeling courses as well as in advanced manufacturing, mechanical, and nuclear engineering coursework. The university-affiliated Oregon Nanosciences and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) will also use SolidWorks and COSMOS software in its mesoscale device fabrication research.

OSU chose SolidWorks software to replace Pro/ENGINEER(R) software last fall, citing SolidWorks software's easy-to-learn interface, integrated analysis and collaboration tools, tight coupling with MasterCam prototyping software, popularity with companies sponsoring collegiate internships, and availability of on-site training workshops.

"We chose SolidWorks for many reasons, any one of which makes a significant difference to young men and women who are working hard to gain important engineering and solid modeling competence before they begin their careers," said Dean Jensen, Ph. D., an instructor in the university's Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. "As we build one of the nation's top 25 engineering programs, we want our students designing and engineering, not just learning software commands, and we want them using the tools they are likely to use in their careers."

One OSU student, Robert Wolcott, taught himself to design with SolidWorks and within days had designed a nine-cylinder radial airplane engine that won the spring 2003 International SolidWorks Student Design Competition.

"SolidWorks is the market leader in 3D design software, so it's important for my career goals that I be proficient with the tool that is so prevalent in the companies where I want to work," said Wolcott, a student member of both the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers as well as a former professional baseball pitcher. "SolidWorks software eliminates the artificial barrier between an engineer's vision and making it a reality."

Students will learn the fundamentals of 3D design analysis with COSMOSWorks(R), COSMOSMotion(TM), and COSMOSFloWorks(TM) software, which are included with each license of the SolidWorks Education Edition. In addition to mechanical design and design analysis products, SolidWorks Education Edition also gives students access to SolidWorks' eDrawings(TM) e-mail-enabled design communication tool; the PhotoWorks(TM) photorealistic rendering tool; the SolidWorks Animator design animation tool; and the SolidWorks Toolbox library of standard parts.

"Through the adoption of SolidWorks, the Oregon State University College of Engineering is showing its commitment to investing in students and in efficient innovation. These are values that professional engineers consider every day," said Rosanne Kramer, director of worldwide education markets for SolidWorks Corporation. "The efficiency of SolidWorks software helps students spend a greater portion of their time innovating with 3D design and less time figuring out the operation of the tools. As more and more colleges and universities are demonstrating, SolidWorks is an essential component in a modern engineering education, and in the development of today's students and tomorrow's workforce. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with the OSU community."

OSU relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller Shounco Design Studios for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.

About OSU

Oregon State University, one of only two land, sea, space, and sun grant universities in the United States, is home to the 22nd largest engineering school in the country. The OSU College of Engineering is home to the world's largest tsunami wave basin and is ranked No. 4 in the percentage of women faculty. For more information, visit OSU Engineering on the Web at: engr.oregonstate.edu.

About Shounco Design Studios

Shounco Design Studios, Inc. is the premier Northwest CAE/CAD/CAM company serving Oregon and Washington since 1995. Shounco Design Studios has its roots in the engineering consulting business and prides itself on being a "Complete Engineering Resource Center" for its customers. With SolidWorks authorized training centers, a toll-free hotline for support, and one of the most advanced support and eLearning Web sites in the industry, Shounco Design Studios puts a heavy emphasis on supporting its customers and making their success a priority. Visit the company's Web site at www.shounco.com.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for mechanical design, analysis, and product data management. It is the #1 supplier of 3D mechanical design software for the mainstream market. SolidWorks leads the market in number of users in production, customer satisfaction, and revenue. For the latest news, information, or a live online demonstration, visit the company's Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call [phone]).

SolidWorks is a registered trademark, and eDrawings and PhotoWorks are trademarks of SolidWorks Corporation. COSMOS and COSMOSWorks are registered trademarks, and COSMOSFloWorks and COSMOSMotion are trademarks of Structural Research and Analysis Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (c) 2005 SolidWorks Corporation.