PIPEPAK 7.02 OFFERS UNPRECEDENTED EASE-OF-USE AND MODELING FLEXIBILITY FOR PIPING DESIGN AND ANALYSIS

Algor’s PipePak 7.02 boosts ease-of-use with improved context-sensitive help messages, pull-down menus, streamlined, Windows-based data input screens and the choice of generating reports in HTML or ASCII. By adding a CAESAR II import extender, Algor customers have access to more piping design software and an unprecedented level of modeling flexibility.

PITTSBURGH, PA – May 10, 2000 – Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, today introduced the all-new PipePak 7.02, which provides unprecedented ease-of-use and the flexibility for piping system designers to access geometry defined in nearly all other piping design packages.

PipePak 7.02 features user-friendly, Windows-based data input screens that allow designers to cut and paste information from other applications such as spreadsheets. System designers can move quickly through the streamlined data input process, thus reducing the overall time necessary to design and analyze any piping system.

"Now designers will be able to save time and money when assembling and analyzing piping systems," said Michael Bussler, president of Pittsburgh-based Algor. "PipePak 7.02 provides piping engineers with a fast and versatile modeling and analysis system."

In addition to the ease-of-use features, an all-new CAESAR II import extender provides direct access to import files from the CAESAR II piping design software and all other piping packages that support CAESAR II neutral files.

"The ability to import CAESAR II neutral files also makes it simpler and faster for consultants using PipePak to analyze and review clients’ piping system designs regardless of which software the client used to model the geometry of the original system," Bussler said. "PipePak 7.02 makes it easier for those designers looking to make the jump to Algor technology to do so without losing investments of money or effort."

Further ease-of-use and modeling flexibility improvements in PipePak 7.02 include:

• Enriched context-sensitive help for all data fields to prevent input errors.
• Option to model common piping components – cylinders, nozzles, elbows – more quickly with Superdraw III’s 3-D modeling capabilities.
• Automatic recognition and conversion of unit information between Superdraw III and PipePak 7.02 to save time and avoid data entry errors.

This release furthers Algor’s commitment to customers who prompted past changes to PipePak, including enhanced visibility of the frequency and mode shape output, full visibility of flange and anchor intersection points during post-processing and cost-saving, concurrent-user access.

PipePak 7.02 reflects other customer input, which led to the extension of Algor’s HTML Report Wizard to include ASCII report files. PipePak 7.0 introduced an automatic HTML report capability, and PipePak 7.02 gives designers the option to generate reports in either HTML or ASCII, depending on a designer’s preferences. The HTML Report Wizard creates formatted, fully customizable reports that can include specified graphics and be displayed using any web browser.

Algor customers with current technical support and maintenance agreements can request a PipePak 7.02 update through Algor’s Web sites (www.algor.com or www.pipepak.com) or an Algor account representative. PipePak works with Windows NT/95/98/2000.

Algor has been a leader in the engineering software industry since introducing FEA for PCs in 1984 and interfacing with CAD systems in 1985. The company provides innovative, affordable and easy-to-use software products that have enabled 20,000 engineers in 60 countries to create safe, efficient, cost-effective designs. Algor also offers superior educational support and customer service that includes the use of state-of-the-art Internet audio/video technology for "Web Courses," which provide step-by-step software instruction, and free public "Webcasts" in live demonstration format.

Algor’s product line features FEA-based Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software. Accupak/VE reduces the need for physical prototyping and eliminates the need to input dynamic loads by determining the motion, flexing and resulting stresses of a part or assembly at each instant of an event. Algor’s proprietary kinematic element technology makes performing Mechanical Event Simulations using CAD solid parts and assemblies practical for realistic, accurate results. Engineers can use Algor’s InCAD^Plus and InCAD DesignPak products to seamlessly capture exact CAD geometry from popular CAD systems within Algor. The company also offers linear stress, vibration, heat transfer, electrostatic, fluid flow, composite materials and piping systems analysis tools. Algor’s software interchanges data with products from ANSYS, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANSS), Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), CADKEY Corporation, MSC.Software Corporation (NYSE:MNS), Parametric Technology Corporation (Nasdaq:PMTC), Structural Dynamics Research Corporation, Unigraphics Solutions, Inc, SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq:DASTY) company, and others.