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SolidWorks 3D ContentCentral 2009 Blends Social Media and Self-Publishing Into Community for Sharing Design Knowledge

CONCORD, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—January 28, 2009— Already the largest online community of engineering parts, suppliers, and buyers, the 3D ContentCentral® service today also became the easiest to use by becoming the first to embrace self-publishing and social networking, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. announced today.

3D ContentCentral 2009, the newest version of the online service, includes an array of self-publishing tools that enable suppliers to build vast catalogs of 3D models by simply clicking a mouse. New social networking tools let 3D ContentCentral users build Facebook-like communities of members for sharing knowledge on components and suppliers.

More than 450,000 registered users use 3D ContentCentral to find configurable models of engineering components from hundreds of suppliers. With this upgrade, DS SolidWorks is transforming 3D ContentCentral from an online catalog to an interactive online community where product designers and suppliers can exchange information on an infinite range of design issues.

“Before 3D ContentCentral 2009, users and suppliers who communicated through online catalogs were restricted to exchanging CAD data,” said Fielder Hiss, director of product management at DS SolidWorks. “Now, with the social networking features we’ve added to 3D ContentCentral, they can have real conversations, compare their knowledge and experience, and help each other make better buying decisions. At the same time, the self-publishing options will attract more suppliers, which gives users a wider range of parts to choose from. We’ve already had 100 suppliers register to use the self-publishing options.”

Self-publishing innovations

3D ContentCentral’s new Supplier Services self-publishing section eliminates the cost and technical barriers to creating online catalogs of engineering parts models. It enables suppliers to create their product catalogs without relying on a third-party service provider. Among the key features of Supplier Services are:

John Hartnett, president of Pittsburgh-based Vacuum Research Corporation, has long recognized the value of a Web presence for his company's valves, fittings, and gauges, but balked at the time and effort required to put 3D models online. 3D ContentCentral 2009's ease of use has swayed him to start an online catalog.

"Getting the models online isn't such a huge burden on the engineering people with 3D ContentCentral 2009," he said. "It's not a lot of extra work; it's just organizing what we already have in a different way."

Social networking for design knowledge

3D ContentCentral 2009 features a revamped “My 3DCC” page that enables users to build communities for trading knowledge and experience. Among the key new features are:

About Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.

Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., a Dassault Systèmes S.A. subsidiary, develops and markets software for design, analysis, product data management, and documentation. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing software that helps them design better products. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit the company’s Web site ( www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).

About Dassault Systèmes

As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product – SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design – DELMIA for virtual production – SIMULIA for virtual testing – ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes’ ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY). For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.



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Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. Press Contacts:
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.
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www.solidworks.com
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