SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct 2, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Autodesk, Inc., (Nasdaq: ADSK) the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced that DCS Manufacturing has become more than 35 percent more productive in their design phase and saved more than 100 manufacturing hours per vehicle produced since it began using Autodesk Inventor(R) software -- the cornerstone of the Autodesk Inventor(R) Series 3D mechanical design software -- 18 months ago. After evaluating other 3D software options including SolidWorks and deciding against them, DCS Manufacturing, a Melbourne, Australia-based specialized vehicle and equipment manufacturer used by contractors and plumbers, replaced its AutoCAD LT(R) 2D design technology, which the company had been using for about four years, with Autodesk Inventor Series. In addition, DCS Manufacturing recently upgraded to Autodesk Inventor(R) Professional software, a superset of Autodesk Inventor Series software created specifically for electromechanical engineers and designers to create hydraulic circuitry and electrical schematic designs.

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"We've saved an average of 35 percent on the design phase as a result of Autodesk Inventor modeling, primarily by using standard components and reducing the amount of manual commands. These savings are passed on to our clients, giving DCS Manufacturing a more competitive edge in the marketplace," said Tom Williams, managing director, DCS Manufacturing. "Autodesk Inventor gives us absolute confidence that everything we produce is going to line up and fit the first time. It removes the doubt associated with manufacturing processes and enables us to work to a 'just in time' system-translating into huge cash flow benefits."

DCS Manufacturing produces specialized high-pressure, truck-mounted sewer and drain cleaning equipment used by councils, contractors, and plumbers. Due to the complex nature of specialized vehicles manufacturing, the processes involved in organizing the design and production are highly detailed and time-consuming.

"Autodesk Inventor software is the ideal choice for organizations that need a simple-to-implement and affordable solution for advanced design of machinery," said Andre Pravaz, Asia Pacific regional director of Autodesk. "Compared to what our competitors such as SolidWorks and PTC offer, customers get a comprehensive solution with Autodesk's manufacturing technology, rather than pieces and parts of a solution that customers need to link together in hopes of achieving an ROI," added Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Solutions Division at Autodesk.

DCS Manufacturing received support from Autodesk reseller, CADCentre Asia Pacific. As a participant in the Autodesk(R) Subscription Program, DCS Manufacturing is able to stay current with the latest design technology and to benefit from simplified software management and easy budgeting. The program provides a timely cycle of new releases with rich new content as soon as it becomes available.

Autodesk Manufacturing's Design and Data Management Solutions

The Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions Division offers companies the most complete selection of 2D and 3D design and data management solutions to help customers solve critical business challenges by giving them the tools to innovate, increase productivity, optimize processes, and bring higher quality products to market faster for less cost. Unlike other offerings on the market today, Autodesk's design and data management solutions solve problems for small and medium-sized manufacturers, especially those that cannot tolerate large-scale product lifecycle management installations. Autodesk's design and management solutions are easy to install and use, providing rapid results without complex, costly installations. These solutions include AutoCAD(R) and AutoCAD(R) Mechanical software, the Autodesk Inventor Professional and Autodesk Inventor Series 3D mechanical design packages that are integrated with the new Autodesk(R) Vault functionality which is available to subscription users only, and the Autodesk Streamline(R) collaboration service. In addition, customers can take advantage of widely available third-party applications purpose-built for Autodesk software and they can utilize Autodesk Professional Services to garner greater value from their software.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com or www.autodesk.com.au.

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

Contact: Elizabeth Marchant, +61 2 9994 4452, or emarchant@webershandwick.com, or Cindi Goodsell, +1-415-507-8452, or cindi.goodsell@autodesk.com, both for Autodesk, Inc.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

Elizabeth Marchant, +61 2 9994 4452, or
emarchant@webershandwick.com, or Cindi Goodsell, +1-415-507-8452, or
cindi.goodsell@autodesk.com, both for Autodesk, Inc.
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