Release Details

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2005-- Aspen Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZPNE) today announced the availability of aspenONE(TM) Planning, Scheduling and Blending for Petroleum, a software module that provides an integrated set of capabilities for petroleum refinery and petrochemical plant planning, scheduling and blending activities. This role-based multi-user enterprise module enables companies to integrate their plant planning functions, including feedstock evaluation and product slate optimization, with their scheduling and blending functions, including unit operations, product blending and product shipping. Petroleum industry experts indicate that integrated enterprise plant solutions such as aspenONE Planning, Scheduling and Blending for Petroleum can lead to significant savings in both one-time and annual recurring costs.

"In today's complex downstream environment, refiners and petrochemical producers need to reduce their feedstock acquisition costs and overcome capacity limitations while simultaneously meeting customer demand," said Steve Pringle, Senior Vice President, AspenTech. "aspenONE Planning, Scheduling and Blending for Petroleum is the first integrated module that helps plant managers, planners, and schedulers develop and execute the most profitable operating plans, and respond more quickly to dynamic market conditions in a coordinated manner."

"As companies focus greater attention on achieving higher efficiencies and profitability, the need for integrated operation applications in the petroleum industry is growing," said Tom Fiske, Senior Analyst, ARC Advisory Group. "With aspenONE Planning, Scheduling and Blending for Petroleum, AspenTech is addressing this need by delivering an integrated enterprise application that supports these activities."

aspenONE Planning, Scheduling and Blending for Petroleum integrates the industry proven capabilities of Aspen PIMS(TM), Aspen Orion(TM), Aspen MBO(TM) and Aspen Blend(TM), and adds measurement and visibility capabilities including plan vs. actual performance and other critical key performance indicators (KPIs). Built on Aspen Operations Manager, the module leverages a common data model that ensures the use of consistent data and models throughout the organization, and incorporates an enterprise-ready integration infrastructure. In addition to planning and scheduling functionality, aspenONE Planning, Scheduling and Blending for Petroleum also generates optimal blend recipes on an event-driven basis across the scheduling horizon, and provides standard blend control interfaces that enable automated export of optimized blend recipes to blend control systems.

Improving planning, scheduling and blending functions has been recognized as a key initiative by AspenTech's Foundation Client Program, a group of global petroleum companies whose goal is to identify and pioneer next-generation solutions for the petroleum Enterprise Operations Management (EOM) market space. The aspenONE Planning, Scheduling and Blending for Petroleum module is a part of AspenTech's holistic EOM solution for the petroleum industry, aspenONE for Petroleum, which features modules built on AspenTech's range of industry-leading technology applications including Aspen HYSYS(R), Aspen Plus(R), DMCplus(R), InfoPlus.21(R), Aspen Retail(TM) and Aspen PIMS.

About AspenTech

Aspen Technology, Inc. provides industry-leading software and implementation services that enable process companies to use simulation models to increase efficiency and profitability. aspenONE, a new generation of software solutions from AspenTech, represents a major step forward in helping process manufacturers achieve their strategic operational excellence initiatives. The first comprehensive offering to address the demands of the Enterprise Operations Management (EOM) market, aspenONE provides companies with integrated systems that enable them to manage and optimize their operational performance. Over 1,500 leading companies already rely on AspenTech's software, including Aventis, Bayer, BASF, BP, ChevronTexaco, Dow Chemical, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Fluor, GlaxoSmithKline, Shell, and Total. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com

AspenTech, aspenONE, Aspen PIMS, Aspen Orion, Aspen MBO, Aspen Blend, Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, DMCplus, InfoPlus.21, Aspen Retail and the aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.

CONTACT:
For Media:
Aspen Technology, Inc.
Robin Swanger, 281-504 3256
robin.swanger@aspentech.com

For Investors:
Aspen Technology, Inc.
Joshua Young, 617-949-1274
joshua.young@aspentech.com