on software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, today announced that its computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT(R) for CATIA(R) V5 was chosen by Honda R&D Co., Ltd. for fluid flow analysis and has contributed significantly to improving design process efficiency. Honda R&D (located in Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture; Asaka-shi and Wako-shi, Saitama Prefecture) is a research and development subsidiary of Honda, one of the world's leading automotive manufacturers.

Honda's state-of-the-art technology enjoys a high reputation all over the world. At Honda R&D, computer-aided engineering (CAE) has long been considered an important foundation in support of the company's highly advanced technology. To enhance efficiency in design and manufacturing, the company introduced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) into the design cycle as well as in research and development. Honda R&D chose FLUENT for CATIA V5 software, which works within the company's existing major design framework, CATIA V5.

'CATIA V5 already has structural analysis features, which now are used efficiently by designers. Equipped with the highly reliable FLUENT solver as its core, FLUENT for CATIA V5 technology has made CFD analysis as easy as structural analysis. This has resulted in increased significance of CAE tools in our development work,' commented Kouhei Oosono, chief engineer at Automobile R&D Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd.

FLUENT software, a CFD product from ANSYS, Inc., already is used by a large number of research and development engineers in the automotive industry. The development of FLUENT for CATIA V5 technology was motivated by the need to bring the superior fluid analysis capability of FLUENT software into the CATIA V5 environment. ANSYS engineers developed the product in concert with Honda to best respond to the automotive company's demanding requirements. Based on Honda's decision to choose both FLUENT and FLUENT for CATIA V5 technologies for flow simulation, engineers at Honda have been able to optimize their product development processes.

The decision to bring together technology from ANSYS used in conjunction with the CATIA V5 environment is consistent with the ANSYS philosophy of being an open CAE supplier via an adaptive architecture. 'The success of this product stems from our ability to be able to work closely with our customers and satisfy their needs,' said Joe Fairbanks, vice president, worldwide sales and support at ANSYS, Inc. 'The enormous cooperation provided by Honda during the development period is greatly appreciated.'

About Honda R&D

Honda R&D Co., Ltd. is the research and development subsidiary solely owned by Honda (NYSE: HMC). The superb performance and quality of Honda products created by Honda R&D ensure Honda to be one of today's leading manufacturers of automobiles and power products and the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. Honda produces a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs, generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment and automobiles, that bring the company into contact with over 23 million customers annually.

About ANSYS, Inc.

ANSYS, Inc., founded in 1970, develops and globally markets engineering simulation software and technologies widely used by engineers and designers across a broad spectrum of industries. The Company focuses on the development of open and flexible solutions that enable users to analyze designs directly on the desktop, providing a common platform for fast, efficient and cost- conscious product development, from design concept to final-stage testing and validation. The Company and its global network of channel partners provide sales, support and training for customers. Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., with more than 40 strategic sales locations throughout the world, ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries employ approximately 1,400 people and distribute ANSYS products through a network of channel partners in over 40 countries. Visit http://www.ansys.com for more information.

ANSYS, ANSYS Workbench, AUTODYN, CFX, FLUENT and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, service and feature names, logos and slogans are registered trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other brand, product, service and feature names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE ANSYS, Inc.