Smiths Aerospace Uses SolidWorks Software to Design Flight Control Systems and Actuation Equipment.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2003

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Smiths Aerospace, one of the world's largest aerospace manufacturers, is using more than 100 licenses of SolidWorks(R) software to design aircraft flight control systems and actuation equipment for global companies making commercial airliners, private jets, helicopters, and military aircraft, SolidWorks announced today.

Smiths Aerospace Actuation Systems designs equipment such as thrust reversers, high lift systems, primary flight controls, and landing gear actuation systems (the mechanical systems that raise and lower the landing gear) for civilian and military aircraft using a range of technologies. With SolidWorks 3D mechanical design software, Smiths engineers produce designs faster than with the 2D design software they previously used. The division is also deploying SMARTEAM(R) product data management (PDM) software to ensure design accuracy while effectively managing the millions of design files it generates across five global sites. SMARTEAM allows engineers to securely vault, search for, and retrieve design data while maintaining accurate design history and enabling concurrent design.

"Safety, precision, cost, and weight optimization are paramount in our industry, so designs naturally go through many iterations," said Richard Hall, engineering director for mechanical actuation systems at Smiths. "SolidWorks' ability to automate changes throughout a design, coupled with its overall ease of use, means that we can react quickly to design changes no matter how significant, and still meet aggressive production schedules."

David Knapick, supervisor of N/C (numerical control) programming at Smiths Aerospace Los Angeles operations, uses SolidWorks software to troubleshoot problems that could arise in the machining process. For example, he and his team can simulate the machining process for a SolidWorks-generated solid model of a hydraulic valve used to operate a cargo bay door. The simulation reveals such problems as mis-cuts and part interference before production begins.

"Getting the design right before the machining process begins is a constant challenge, and it takes time," said Knapick. "With SolidWorks, we've been able to create solid models that let us quickly see where problems may occur, and then fix them without having to reconstruct the design from scratch. That lets us cut the time needed to finalize pre-production designs from three days to only a few hours."

Aside from ease of use and timesaving 3D solid modeling capabilities, Smiths chose SolidWorks because it provides all of the functionality it needs at a fraction of the cost of other 3D design packages.

"There are Smiths Aerospace products on almost every major civilian and military aircraft in use today," said Simon Booker, SolidWorks sales and marketing director for the U.K. and Ireland. "SolidWorks software gives the actuation systems business the ease of use and design flexibility it needs to produce reliable, safe parts for aircraft. SMARTEAM will help engineers share 3D design data while maintaining version control around the world."

Smiths Aerospace works with SolidWorks reseller NT CADCAM and SMARTEAM reseller DesignRule for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.

About Smiths

Smiths Aerospace is the leading transatlantic aerospace equipment company, with its 11,000 staff and $2 billion revenues split equally between Europe and North America. Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in electronic systems, actuation systems, precision components, and detection systems.

About NT CADCAM

NT CADCAM has offices in five locations across the U.K. and Ireland, and has in-house expertise in the fields of FEA, CAM, PDM, ERP, and the integration of all these disciplines. A SolidWorks Solution Partner, NT CADCAM provides complete end-to-end design and manufacturing solutions by offering SolidWorks software. Supporting a wide range of SolidWorks Gold Partner and Solution Partner products, NT CADCAM is in a unique position to provide organizations with a total solution, including support, training, consulting services, and API programming. For more information, visit the Web site at www.ntcadcam.co.uk.

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 (PDM). Founded in 1993, SolidWorks' mission is to unleash the power of 3D for everyone in product development and foster a collaborative user community. In seven years of delivering product, SolidWorks has shipped more than 268,000 total seats of software worldwide. SolidWorks has offices around the globe and sells, distributes, and supports its products through a worldwide reseller network. 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 of SolidWorks Corporation. SMARTEAM is a registered trademark of SmarTeam Corporation Ltd. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (C) 2003 SolidWorks Corporation.