National Press Release

ThyssenKrupp's UK automotive chassis division takes advantage of HyperWorks CAE enterprise solution and Altair ProductDesign services to deliver world leading products

TROY, Mich., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Altair Engineering, Inc., a leading global provider of technology and services that empower client innovation and decision-making, announced today that ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. has adopted the HyperWorks CAE platform as an enterprise simulation solution for design, optimization and virtual manufacturing of their automotive chassis components. The flexibility of HyperWorks has proved instrumental in the design of chassis components, subframes and suspension arms in which optimization has been used throughout to improve component performance while maximizing efficient material utilization. ThyssenKrupp Tallent's HyperWorks decision has also allowed them to take full advantage of Altair's HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program. As a new HyperWorks Enabled Community Member, ThyssenKrupp Tallent has access to participating partner solutions including nCode's DesignLife, their preferred fatigue analysis solution, directly from their existing HyperWorks licence pool at no incremental cost. This not only improves operational efficiency through reduced software licensing cost and administration, but also demonstrates the power of the HyperWorks licensing system in a challenging and highly competitive global market. www.enterprisecae.com.

In addition to adopting HyperWorks, ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. works closely with Altair ProductDesign, Altair's product development division, to create process templates to automate the design of optimal structures. The result of this cooperation is ThyssenKrupp's unique eDICT system, which, when combined with HyperWorks, has allowed ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. to increase productivity and deliver lighter products to their clients in much shorter timescales.

"We see an increasing need for optimization tools within the automotive industry," said Adrian Chapple, Analysis Supervisor at ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. "Cars have to become lighter due to new laws concerning CO2 emission and the need to reduce fuel consumption. The use of advanced optimization techniques helps to eliminate parasitic mass -- potentially avoiding considerations of exotic materials or processes which may add cost or risk to the program. In Altair, we see a partner that can help us to meet those requests. By using HyperWorks we are able to define an optimized component before we build the geometry of a model in our CAD system. Using this approach we have reduced the mass of certain components by up to 25% compared to a conventional design. We have also benefited greatly from the HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program because it gives us access to additional products at no additional cost and helps us to reduce development time. These benefits we can pass on to our customers."

"Our analysts find the HyperWorks platform is very easy to use and the HyperMesh interface enables them to build a full geometry model up to an initial design," adds Tom Larsen, Design Manager, ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. "In companies such as ours, the design and analysis functions are linked closely together. Where the market demands a quick response to a study and the product requirement is primarily structural, it is important to have the analysis tools that enable the engineer to present a solution, not just a result. Thanks to the ThyssenKrupp eDICT solution, we can look at the entire design and development process, up to checking the feasibility of a design for production, within one software package. The software built around the HyperWorks suite allows us to bring our products to market faster with a 'right-first-time approach'."

"Weight optimization is key in all industries, but especially in the automotive industry where OEMs are looking to optimize every single component in a vehicle to come to the lightest and best possible result," said Maurice Linscott, Regional Director, Altair Engineering, UK. "With the open architecture of HyperWorks coupled with our partner products in the HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program and the support of Altair ProductDesign, automotive OEMs and suppliers such as ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. have a complete solution to handle all relevant simulation tasks for developing their products in a timely and cost effective manner."

About ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd.

ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd., part of the ThyssenKrupp Steel Company, is a world class design, developer and manufacturer of leading edge, innovative chassis structural and suspension products, modules and systems for the global automotive industry. ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. supply some of the biggest names in the automotive industry including BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Saab and Volkswagen with automotive chassis components.

The company has received numerous awards for customer delivery and quality excellence including QS9000, TS16949 and ISO14004 accreditation. It has also achieved IIP recognition. In 1999 ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. received the National Training Awards Special Award for excellence in employee development, one of only three UK manufacturing companies to receive this award. More information about ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. can be found at: www.tallent.thyssenkrupp.com

About Altair

Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held with more than 1,300 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for enterprise analytics, product development, and advanced computing, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

For more information, please visit www.altairhyperworks.com.

For more information about the HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program, visit www.hyperworkscommunity.com.

SOURCE Altair Engineering, Inc.