Release Details

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct 6, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aspen Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZPN) today announced the release of a new version of the Aspen Engineering Suite (AES(TM)), AspenTech's integrated family of software solutions for economic evaluation, engineering design, simulation and optimization. AES 12.1 incorporates a comprehensive range of enhancements that will enable process companies to increase engineering efficiency and to improve their engineering and operational decision-making. Important new features include an improved collaborative engineering environment, more powerful simulation and optimization technologies, and more flexible tools for process equipment design and analysis.

"Our clients recognize the value they can realize by implementing the AES solutions for Process Lifecycle Management to maximize the returns from their plants and manufacturing processes," said Manolis Kotzabasakis, Sr. Vice President of Engineering at AspenTech. "This new release will enable companies to make even better business decisions throughout the life of a process: at the initial planning stage, during design and detailed engineering, and, equally importantly, in the improvement and optimization of the actual operating performance."

The Aspen Engineering Suite provides the basis for Process Lifecycle Management solutions tailored to the needs of the major process industries including oil & gas, refining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. These industry solutions are modular and scalable, combining tools for collaborative engineering, design, simulation and optimization to enable accurate model-based analysis and decision-making.

AES 12.1 incorporates some significant new functionality to further improve and integrate engineering workflows. Some key highlights are:

• Enhanced collaborative engineering - Aspen Zyqad(TM), AspenTech's multi-user collaborative engineering environment, has been extensively updated to enhance real-time collaboration between users and to support the more efficient sharing of engineering data and documents between partnering companies.
• More powerful simulation and optimization - Improvements to the Aspen Plus(R) simulation environment mean that engineers can now use "equation-oriented" techniques to solve a broader range of process operations, providing them with the engineering solving power and flexibility they need to quickly generate the most profitable alternatives for a wide variety of processes, from the simplest to the most complex. Another major development is that both Aspen Plus and HYSYS(R) are now able to import simulation models from Aspen Customer Modeler(R), providing companies with an efficient and flexible way to design and optimize new or unique manufacturing processes.
• Integrated equipment design and analysis - AES 12.1 provides a number of enhanced capabilities for the design and analysis of heat exchangers, including closer integration between the different AES products. It is now possible to transfer data from the HTFS TASC(TM) thermal design and analysis tool directly into Aspen Teams(R) for mechanical design calculations, and also to model heat exchangers with TASC Thermal within an Aspen Plus simulation.

The Aspen Engineering Suite is an essential element of AspenTech's solutions for enterprise operations management (EOM) in the process industries. These integrated, enterprise-wide solutions combine engineering and manufacturing/supply chain technologies to help companies optimize the way they engineer and run their manufacturing and supply chain operations.

About AspenTech

Aspen Technology, Inc. provides industry-leading software and implementation services that enable process companies to increase efficiency and profitability. AspenTech's engineering product line is used to design and improve plants and processes, maximizing returns throughout an asset's operating life. Its manufacturing/supply chain product line allows companies to increase margins in their plants and supply chains, by managing customer demand, optimizing production, and streamlining the delivery of finished products. These two offerings are combined to create solutions for enterprise operations management (EOM), integrated enterprise-wide systems that provide process manufacturers with the capability to dramatically improve their operating performance. Over 1,500 leading companies already rely on AspenTech's software, including Aventis, Bayer, BASF, BP, ChevronTexaco, Dow Chemical, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Fluor, Foster Wheeler, GlaxoSmithKline, Shell, and Total. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com.

AspenTech, Aspen Engineering Suite, Aspen Zyqad, Aspen Plus(R), HYSYS(R), Aspen Customer Modeler(R), HTFS TASC(TM), Aspen Teams(R) and the aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.

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