Autodesk Inventor 3D Modeling Capabilities Help Firm Modernize Canal Locks of Busiest Waterway in North America

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Bosch Rexroth Canada, a leading provider of drive and control solutions, has been named as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for September 2006. The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community of customers using Autodesk Inventor software, the world's best- selling 3D mechanical design software and best choice for 3D design.

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Bosch Rexroth Canada provides solutions in the major technology areas of industrial hydraulics, electric drives and controls, linear motion and assembly technologies, pneumatics, service and mobile hydraulics. The company used Autodesk Inventor to successfully navigate one of its most ambitious projects yet: a complete modernization of the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway's Welland Canal.

The St. Lawrence Seaway is the main artery for shipping in North America, covering a distance of 3700 km and connecting the Midwest with the Atlantic Coast. The Welland Canal, a vital part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, provides safe passage around Niagara Falls via eight locks that overcome the 100 meter height difference between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Bosch Rexroth Canada was retained by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation to modernize the canal locks, which had 70 year old electromechanical drives, gears, chains, and steel cables.

Using Autodesk Inventor, Bosch Rexroth Canada was able to design all-new hydraulic systems for the canal in 3D, resulting in dramatic reductions in design times and drawing errors. Autodesk Inventor's immersive 3D design environment allowed the company to increase the details included on its designs and improve visualization for everyone from the client to the shop floor.

"By modeling a frame or a weldment in 3D using Autodesk Inventor, we can give our fabrication shop a much clearer understanding of the design, which facilitates expedient manufacturing times," said Jim Lambert C.E.T., the design engineering manager of the Hydraulic Business Unit of Bosch Rexroth Canada. "In this way, we've been able to leverage the power of 3D all the way down to the manufacturing shop floor. That kind of efficiency helps us keep this project on schedule so that we can provide the canal with more efficient and reliable lock operations."

"Bosch Rexroth Canada's use of Autodesk Inventor has helped them move beyond the limitations of 2D design to reap the benefits of 3D," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "We are thrilled to name them as our Inventor of the Month for September."

Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than 500,000 users of Autodesk Inventor, its best-selling 3D mechanical design software. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and ground breaking innovation. For more information on Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com. For a full list of all Inventor of the Month recipients, visit http://mfgcommunity.autodesk.com/ .

About Bosch Rexroth Canada

Bosch Rexroth Canada is the Canadian partner company of Bosch Rexroth, the worldwide leader in "Drive & Control". Bosch Rexroth AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, achieved sales of approximately 4.1 billion Euros in 2004 with 26,400 employees. Under the brand name of Rexroth the company offers all relevant drive, control and motion technologies: from mechanics, hydraulics and pneumatics through to electronics and the associated services.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company, wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the world's leading 2D and 3D software company for the manufacturing, infrastructure, building, media and entertainment, and wireless data services fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their data and digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage, become more productive, streamline project efficiency and maximize profits.

Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.

NOTE: Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Contact: Carly Herrig 312.233.1356 Andrew Favreau 312.297.7587
Email: carly.herrig@edelman.com andrew.favreau@edelman.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc. 09/27/2006

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8610 09/27/2006 16:30 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com