Creator of Award-Winning Food Processing Machine Recognized for February 2006

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Planet Products, an innovative manufacturer of food processing and automation machinery, was named Autodesk's Inventor of the Month for February 2006. The 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 AutoCAD software users.

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Recognized around the world for innovation in precision equipment design, Planet Products used Autodesk Inventor software to develop the SP3 Next Generation Loader -- a machine that places hot dogs into packaging. The SP3 was developed in response to customer demand for smaller machines with fewer parts. The ability to easily disassemble and clean the machinery was of paramount importance, given the stringent sanitation demands of the food industry. Working with IMAGINiT Technologies, a leading provider of CAD/CAM/CAE solutions to the manufacturing industry, Planet Products relied on the 3D environment and sophisticated automation in Autodesk Inventor to test out new ideas and come up with a fresh design that would set the industry standard.

"The depth of detail captured in Autodesk Inventor 3D models makes it dramatically easier to eliminate quality problems and costly delays, ultimately enabling us to design smaller machines," said Bill Harrison, the manager of engineering and R & D for Planet Products, and part of the team responsible for designing the SP3. "With Autodesk Inventor, I had the ability to do a virtual fly-through of the 3D model and zoom right into the middle of the assembly. Having that perspective is tremendously helpful, particularly in helping to remove interferences."

Thanks to Autodesk Inventor, the SP3 now has 50% fewer total components and the least amount of surface area of any available hotdog unscrambling or collating system. This comes in conjunction with the added ability to disassemble the entire unit for cleaning in minutes without tools, significantly improving sanitation. The SP3's combination of high performance and hygienic design means that a steady flow of clean, safe franks are available for the "dog days" of summer, when Americans consume 7 million hot dogs.

"Planet Products' work with Autodesk Inventor is impressive, allowing them to create a product that raises the bar for speed, performance and sanitation within their industry," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions Division. "It is a pleasure to name them as our February Inventor of the Month."

To view a model of the SP3 Next Generation Loader, please visit www.autodesk.com/inventorofthemonth

Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than 500,000 worldwide Autodesk Inventor users. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation that changes the way we live, work, or play. For more information on the Autodesk Inventor of the Month program, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.

About Planet Products

Planet Products has been recognized around the globe for ground-breaking machine design. For more than 50 years, Planet Products has been an innovator in precision equipment design. As an international supplier of equipment for packaging processed meats and ready-to-eat foods, the company's outstanding sanitary designs have been recognized and honored. The American Meat Institute's 2004 Supplier of the Year, the equipment supplier was selected for significant contributions to the meat and poultry industry. For more information on Planet Products, visit: www.planet-products.com.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the world's leading software and services company for the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media 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 by becoming more productive, streamlining project efficiency and maximizing profits.

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

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

Contact: Jeannie Hornung, 415-318-4118

Email: hornungj@fleishman.com
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
CONTACT:
Jeannie Hornung for Autodesk, Inc.,
+1-415-318-4118,
or hornungj@fleishman.com.
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
(ADSK)