SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Dec 7, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Autodesk Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), today announced that Mark Richey Woodworking and Design, Inc., a leading manufacturer of quality, high-end architectural millwork, has standardized manufacturing operations on Autodesk Inventor(R) Series, the #1 best-selling 3D design software. The company uses Autodesk Inventor Series to create, manage, and share high-quality designs for custom architectural millwork. With the ability to develop lifelike 3D solid models of complex design concepts, which Autodesk Inventor Series provides, Mark Richey has been able to streamline production, reduce errors, and accelerate client approvals for greater productivity and outstanding customer service.

Massachusetts-based Mark Richey Woodworking helps bring the visions of architects and interior designers to life, in high-end millwork for multimillion-dollar retail, restaurant, corporate, university, and museum projects. Much of the company's work is for interiors that are under construction and prone to changes that impact Mark Richey's products, even as they are made. Using Autodesk Inventor Series, Mark Richey can produce designs that are dynamically updated as project data changes, enabling accuracy and greater productivity from staff who no longer labor over 2D drawing modifications. On installation, field crews now have up-to-date information to complete projects as smoothly as possible.

"Three-dimensional concepts are difficult to render, much less communicate, in 2D, and something always gets lost in translation," said Greg Porfido, chief operating officer, Mark Richey Woodworking. "We see great value in using Autodesk Inventor Series to address this fundamental challenge. The transition to 3D has improved our client and partner collaboration with intuitive models of sophisticated concepts and has cut the need to 'build up' 2D drawings into 3D, prior to production."

Migration from 2D to 3D Speeds Drawing Creation, Cuts Errors

Autodesk Premier Solutions Provider M2 Technologies, Inc. is helping Mark Richey incorporate Autodesk Inventor Software into its production process, including integration with EdgeCAM from Pathtrace for computer numerically controlled (CNC) manufacturing. Prior to adopting Autodesk Inventor Series, Mark Richey employees had to modify 2D drawings manually to achieve 3D approximations necessary to set up machining equipment. Autodesk Inventor Series speeds the creation of accurate 3D models by automating some of the most difficult drawing tasks such as curved surfaces and channels. These design files are easily translated by CAD/CAM equipment into machine commands that control tooling, which improves quality, accuracy, and responsiveness.

Autodesk Inventor Series also helps Mark Richey keep pace with changing project specifications. Installation site measurements often change as floors, walls, and ceilings are built. Because Autodesk Inventor Series captures the relationships among parts in a design, as site changes are entered into the system, associated aspects of millwork design and relevant drawings are updated automatically.

"Mark Richey Woodworking makes a complex, custom product, so the company has to balance design quality and precision with the fact that specifications do change over the course of a project," said Robert Kross, vice president of Autodesk's Manufacturing Solutions Division. "Autodesk Inventor Series gives manufacturers like Mark Richey the 3D design tools to make any number of changes, with the assurance that all related drawings will be correct and up to date."

Looking ahead, Mark Richey expects Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions to become a foundation for competitive advantage. The company is working with M2 Technologies to extend the value of Autodesk Inventor for production of certain kinds of simple casework and plans to adopt Autodesk(R) Vault and Autodesk(R) Productstream(TM) data management software for more efficient re-use of successful designs and greater collaboration with the extended manufacturing team.

A Comprehensive Portfolio of Manufacturing Solutions

Delivering on its strategy to help customers create, manage, and share their digital design data and solve critical business challenges, Autodesk offers the most comprehensive portfolio of integrated 2D and 3D design and data management solutions available -- helping customers design better quality products, accelerate time to market, and achieve maximum project visibility and collaboration. Unlike other offerings on the market today, these solutions are easy to deploy and use, and help companies easily transition from 2D to 3D design at their own pace. Autodesk's manufacturing solutions include Autodesk Inventor Series, the world's #1 selling 3D mechanical design software, Autodesk Inventor(R) Professional, AutoCAD(R) Mechanical, AutoCAD(R) Electrical software, and the Autodesk(R) DWF(TM) file format functionality. All Manufacturing design applications come with Autodesk Vault data management capabilities built in and work seamlessly with Autodesk Productstream and the Autodesk Streamline(R) collaboration service. In addition, customers can take advantage of widely available third-party applications purpose-built for Autodesk software.

Autodesk Gives You More

Autodesk Consulting, including integrated consulting and training, helps customers worldwide maximize the value of their investment in Autodesk technology. For more information about Autodesk Consulting, see www.autodesk.com/consulting. Autodesk(R) Subscription is the easiest way to keep design tools and learning up to date. For an annual fee, customers benefit from the latest versions of their licensed Autodesk software, web support direct from Autodesk, self-paced training options, and a broad range of other technology and business benefits. For more information, contact your Autodesk Authorized Reseller or visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality. With six 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, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Streamline, DWF, and Productstream are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

Contact: Tania Kempf, 415-547-2469
Email: tania.kempf@autodesk.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

Tania Kempf of Autodesk, Inc., +1-415-547-2469, or tania.kempf@autodesk.com

http://www.autodesk.com