SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sep 10, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Strategic Shift to 3D Technology Solves Complex Challenges and Reduces Design Time

Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced Slovenske Lodenice Komarno, a.s. Bratislava (SLKB), a premier Slovakian shipbuilding company, has made a strategic move to the Autodesk Inventor Series for its mechanical design needs. The company can now meet the complex design challenges inherent in vessel manufacturing, while simultaneously reducing costs. Using Autodesk Inventor, the award-winning 3D mechanical design software, and AutoCAD Mechanical 2D software together, SLKB can now build ships faster than ever. Autodesk Inventor software's reputation as a powerful and easy-to-use 3D design technology made it the clear choice for SLKB. SLKB is now among several major shipbuilding companies, including China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Sinus Shipbuilding of Poland, and Newport News of Virginia, benefiting from the powerful mechanical design capabilities of Autodesk software.

"Moving to a 3D design system was critical to staying competitive. However, in order to meet our tight production schedules, we couldn't afford to spend a great deal of time on training," said Ladislav Grafel, chief designer at SLKB. "Autodesk Inventor software proved to be easy to use and implement, allowing us to produce error-free drawings. And we have seen a very significant increase in productivity. We are expecting even greater reduction in design time with the integration of Autodesk Inventor data into our entire information system, specifically to define materials and components."

Based in Komarno, Slovak Republic, SLKB (www.slkb.sk) designs and manufactures inland-river and seaway trade vessels up to 8,000 tons deadweight. The company is using Autodesk Inventor software for the design of on-board mechanical equipment, cranes, piping, air conditioning, and interiors. The expansive capabilities of Autodesk Inventor let SLKB perform almost all the design work in-house. This offers flexibility in fulfilling customer needs and change requests, and helps SLKB realize large cost savings throughout the entire design cycle. Engineers create production drawings and final assembly drawings using Autodesk Inventor, with accuracy that helps them avoid costly errors on the manufacturing floor.

"Engineering expertise and powerful design tools are key assets when building complex products such as seaway trade vessels," said Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Division at Autodesk. "The ability of Autodesk Inventor to manage large assemblies with intelligence, ease, and high performance contributes to SLKB's success."

    Autodesk Inventor Offers Collaboration and Third-Party
    Compatibility

At SLKB, 3D design work with Autodesk Inventor builds on the drawing foundation established with AutoCAD Mechanical software. AutoCAD Mechanical is being used to draw 2D layouts of ships and nonelectrical schematics. With the ability to reuse existing designs for new projects, SKLB is realizing significant cost reductions in the design department. And because SLKB purchases parts from external suppliers who design the parts using AutoCAD-based products, the parts designs are easily included in the SLKB documentation. This exemplifies how the companies can collaborate effectively, eliminating any problems with data translations and drawing compatibility.

By offering compatibility with specialized third-party software, the value of Autodesk Inventor increases. For example, SLKB outsources the hull design, which contains cambered parts that need to be calculated in NUPAS Cadmatic software. NUPAS Cadmatic software creates a DXF file containing curves that are imported into either Autodesk Inventor or AutoCAD software, converted to the spline, and used for ribs definition. This compatibility dramatically reduces design time and eliminates rework.

    SOVA Provides Assistance with Extensive Product Evaluation

During the extensive evaluation process, SOVA Inc., an Autodesk channel partner, provided SLKB with a technical demonstration of Autodesk Inventor. SLKB recognized that it was the only 3D solution that could offer single-day productivity, adaptivity, and large assembly performance. SLKB can now check collisions, calculate stresses, animate mechanisms, add ISO and shaded views, as well as make changes quickly and easily. SOVA (www.sova.sk) continues to work with SLKB by providing training, customization, and support.

"The software is so intuitive, SLKB was designing with Autodesk Inventor after only one day of training," said Marian Slovak, chief of the Autodesk Design Solution group at SOVA in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

    About Autodesk

Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design software and digital content company. Autodesk offers solutions for professionals in building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering progressive products and services, Autodesk helps customers create, manage, use and maximize the value of their digital data throughout the lifecycle of their projects. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

Note to Editors: Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and DXF are either registered trademarks or 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:          Autodesk, Inc.
                  Cindi Goodsell, 415/507-8452
                  cindi.goodsell@autodesk.com

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