New Release of Aspen PIMS™ and Aspen Petroleum Scheduler™ Software Improves Collaboration Between Refining Planners and Schedulers

March 6, 2012

Tighter Petroleum Supply Chain Integration Increases Refinery Profitability by Optimizing Accuracy and Productivity of Planners and Schedulers

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 6, 2012-- Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZPN), a leading provider of software and services to the process industries, announced a new release of Aspen PIMS and Aspen Petroleum Scheduler that improves collaboration between refining planners and schedulers. Through tighter petroleum supply chain integration, refiners can increase their profitability by optimizing the accuracy and productivity of planners and schedulers. In addition, enhanced analytics provide planners and schedulers with better decision support to rapidly respond to changing market conditions, or upsets in their operations.

The new release improves collaboration by sharing operating targets between planning and scheduling functions for closer alignment of plan and actual. This enables sharing of critical data such as production targets, model assays, and blend models to enhance profitability and reduce margin loss.

Other key enhancements in the new release include new powerful analytics such as Spider Charts and Microsoft-based Excel PowerPivots that help refiners visualize alternative feedstock selections. By quickly comparing many simultaneous scenarios easily sharing information across the organization, refiners are better able to pick the optimal crude slate.

Aspen Online Training is also now included within Aspen PIMS and Aspen Petroleum Scheduler, making it easier to learn and retain information tailored to specific users. The new online training provides access to a variety of rich training content, making it easier and faster for users to become more proficient and productive.

To learn why three quarters of the world’s refining feedstock is planned with aspenONE® software, visit http://www.aspentech.com/V7/PIMS-APS.aspx. The new release of Aspen PIMS and Aspen Petroleum Scheduler is available immediately. For more information, visit http://www.aspentech.com/v7.

Supporting Quotes

Srinivas Rachakonda, Senior Vice President of Planning & Economics, Essar
“Powerful analytics in PIMS have yielded faster and better evaluation of crudes available in the open market. Crude cost is a major expense for all refineries, so the ability to determine crude choices quickly and accurately supports the planning process and enhances profitability. As we continue to deploy the latest developments in technology, Essar is pleased with the advancements in Aspen's innovative planning solution.”

Manolis Kotzabasakis, Executive Vice President, Products, AspenTech
“Refiners must operate competitively under a wide range of market variability, especially fluctuating feedstock prices. The new collaboration capabilities between Aspen PIMS and Aspen Petroleum Scheduler enable refiners to better respond to market volatility and run their schedules closer to plan, which improves their overall profitability. Our aspenONE solutions for refining planning and scheduling solve both the simplest and the most complex optimization challenges with the easiest to use software.”

Supporting Resources

About AspenTech

AspenTech is a leading supplier of software that optimizes process manufacturing – for energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, engineering and construction, and other industries that manufacture and produce products from a chemical process. With integrated aspenONE solutions, process manufacturers can implement best practices for optimizing their engineering, manufacturing and supply chain operations. As a result, AspenTech customers are better able to increase capacity, improve margins, reduce costs and become more energy efficient. To see how the world’s leading process manufacturers rely on AspenTech to achieve their operational excellence goals, visit www.aspentech.com

© 2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. AspenTech, aspenONE, the Aspen leaf logo, OPTIMIZE, and the 7 Best Practices of Engineering Excellence are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Aspen Technology, Inc.

Aspen Technology, Inc.
Erik Mason, 781-221-8386
erik.mason@aspentech.com
or
Lois Paul and Partners (for AspenTech)
North America
Michael Parker, 617-986-5714
aspentech@lpp.com