Apollo Tyres Gains Competitive Edge with Realistic Simulation from Dassault Systèmes’ SIMULIA Brand

05/12/2007

Abaqus Unified FEA Accelerates the Evaluation of Real-World Tire Performance During Initial Stages of Development

Paris, France, and Providence, R.I., USA, December 5, 2007 – Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that Apollo Tyres Ltd., the leading Indian tire manufacturer, is using Abaqus Unified Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software from SIMULIA to evaluate and improve product performance which is helping the company grow as a preferred partner for global automotive OEMs.

Tire development requires the evaluation of a complex combination of rubber, steel, and other layered materials. For products such as large, off-road radial tires, testing even a few physical prototypes is expensive and time-consuming. Apollo Tyres uses Abaqus Unified FEA in the initial stages of all new-product development to evaluate alternative concepts, guide design decisions, and refine product performance.

“Abaqus software helps us achieve design and performance goals efficiently,” says P.K. Mohamed, chief of technology and R&D at Apollo Tyres. “Realistic simulation reduces design cycle time and cost, while enabling our engineers to evaluate design properties and optimize product performance. We selected Abaqus because it is a world-class design analysis product with specific functionalities for tire analysis.”

“In the tire manufacturing industry, Abaqus is the preferred simulation software due to its robust analysis capabilities for simulating real-world performance of complex materials undergoing large deformation and contact,” stated Ken Short, vice president, SIMULIA strategy and marketing. “We continually strive to enhance our technology which helps our customers, such as Apollo Tyres, meet product performance specifications quickly and cost-effectively.”

Apollo Tyres has implemented Abaqus Unified FEA as an integral tool in the development of all categories of their radial tires. The software provides a unified simulation environment to accelerate the evaluation of tire durability, tread wear, vehicle handling, noise and vibration, and rolling resistance. Optimizing tire performance for these attributes plays a crucial role in improving vehicle safety, reliability, passenger comfort, and fuel economy.

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Über Apollo Tyres

Apollo Tyres Ltd. is a high-performance company and the leading Indian tire manufacturer with revenues of over US$1 billion. It is built around the core principles of creating stakeholder value through reliability in its products and dependability in its relationships. The company has four manufacturing units in India, two in South Africa and two in Zimbabwe. It has a network of over 4,000 dealerships in India, of which over 2,500 are exclusive outlets. In South Africa, it has over 900 dealerships, of which 190 are Dunlop Accredited Dealers. Website: www.apollotyres.com

Über Simulia

SIMULIA is the Dassault Systèmes brand that delivers a scalable portfolio of Realistic Simulation solutions including the Abaqus product suite for Unified Finite Element Analysis, multiphysics solutions for insight into challenging engineering problems, and lifecycle management solutions for managing simulation data, processes, and intellectual property. By building on established technology, respected quality, and superior customer service, SIMULIA makes realistic simulation an integral business practice that improves product performance, reduces physical prototypes, and drives innovation. Headquartered in Providence, RI, USA, with R&D centers in Providence and in Suresnes, France, SIMULIA provides sales, services, and support through a global network of over 30 regional offices and distributors. www.simulia.com

Über Dassault Systèmes

Als Weltmarktführer von 3D- und Product-Lifecycle-Management-Lösungen (PLM) betreut Dassault Systèmes mehr als 90.000 Kunden in 80 Ländern. Seit 1981 agiert Dassault Systèmes als Vorreiter im 3D Softwaremarkt und entwickelt PLM-Anwendungen und Services, die standortübergreifend Produktentwicklungsprozesse unterstützen. PLM-Lösungen von Dassault Systèmes bieten die dreidimensionale Betrachtung des gesamten Produktlebenszyklus, der vom ersten Konzept bis zur Wartung des fertigen Produkts reicht. Das Portfolio von Dassault Systèmes besteht aus CATIA für die virtuelle Produktentwicklung – SolidWorks als 3D-CAD-Lösung – DELMIA für die virtuelle Produktion – SIMULIA für virtuelle Erprobung und ENOVIA für weltweites Collaborative Lifecycle Management, einschließlich ENOVIA VPLM, ENOVIA, MatrixOne und ENOVIA SmarTeam. Dassault Systèmes ist börsennotiert an der Nasdaq (DASTY) und Euronext Paris: (#13065; DSY.PA). Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter http://www.3ds.com   

CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA und SolidWorks sind eingetragene Warenzeichen von Dassault Systèmes oder Tochterfirmen in den USA und/oder anderen Ländern.