SOUTHPOINTE, Pennsylvania, December 10 /PRNewswire/ --

- ECAD Interface Now Available between Zuken Electronics Design and Manufacturing Solutions and ANSYS Workbench

ANSYS, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANSS), a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, and Zuken Inc., an engineering consulting company, today announced a collaboration that will interface Zuken's electronics computer-aided design (ECAD) tools with the ANSYS(R) Workbench(TM) simulation environment. Headquartered in Japan, Zuken is trusted globally by leading companies to optimize electrical and electronic engineering design and related manufacturing processes. As a result of the collaboration, the ANSYS Workbench platform now provides thermal/mechanical/electromagnetic simulation capabilities to the complex component/board/system geometry in two Zuken software solutions: CR-5000 and Board Modeler.

Zuken's CR-5000 electronic design automation (EDA) suite provides advanced printed circuit board (PCB) design functionality. The Board Modeler solution converts both PCB and mechanical design data to enable electromechanical co-design and verification based on 3-D data. The ANSYS Workbench platform is an environment that offers an efficient and intuitive user interface, superior CAD integration, and automatic meshing as well as access to model parameters and simulation and modeling products from ANSYS. Consequently, the collaboration between ANSYS, Inc. and Zuken further bridges the gap between electrical and mechanical design.

Zuken chose to collaborate with ANSYS because of the simulation company's considerable expertise in major computer-aided engineering (CAE) areas including structural analysis, fluid analysis and mesh generation, and because the solutions are used widely throughout the world. "Zuken Board Modeler brings to the ANSYS Workbench platform printed circuit board design data with access to detailed geometric component information. The interface with ANSYS Workbench will enhance the MCAD import/export capabilities of Board Modeler as well as provide extensive simulation capabilities to its users. Static clearance checking in Board Modeler can be enhanced in the ANSYS Workbench environment by performing vibration/shock or drop test simulations to detect potential interference problems during product use and operation," said Kazuhiro Kariya, director of R&D at Zuken Inc.

"Working with Zuken is an important step in providing our simulation capabilities to the electronics industry," said Joe Solecki, vice president, mechanical business unit at ANSYS, Inc. "By creating the Board Modeler product, Zuken has illustrated the importance of bringing electrical and mechanical design together. The company's collaboration with ANSYS takes this to the next level, enabling thermal, mechanical and electromagnetic multiphysics simulation. Our collective customers now have the opportunity to significantly reduce the design cycle and, thus, time to market in the dynamic and highly competitive electronics industry."

Zuken and ANSYS worked closely to validate the technology and to solve the technical challenges associated with integrating their tools. As a result, 3-D models can be created from PCB design data, including electrical components, in order to perform analyses with simulation software from ANSYS. This will enable both systems' users to perform structural and thermal analyses on the design in progress without creating prototypes, significantly improving development speed and reducing cost.

The Zuken CR-5000 product includes detailed board-level information that is used by the ANSYS Iceboard(R) and ANSYS Icepak(R) products to accurately thermally simulate the printed circuit board. When this data is combined with the extensive three-dimensional component library in Board Modeler along with system-level geometry imported through ANSYS Workbench or Board Modeler, a user has all the data necessary to perform true virtual prototyping in ANSYS Workbench.

In Japan, CAE products from ANSYS are distributed by channel partner Cybernet Systems Co. Ltd. as well as ANSYS, Inc. subsidiaries ANSYS K.K. and Fluent Asia-Pacific Co. Ltd.

Cybernet (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 4312) contributed to technical validation of the Zuken and ANSYS interface. Zuken will continue to partner with Cybernet to market and support its products.

About Zuken

Zuken is trusted globally by leading companies to optimize their electrical and electronic engineering design and related manufacturing processes. Its unique combination of proven experience, technological expertise and agility creates electronic design automation solutions as well as computer-aided engineering (CAE) solutions that are innovative, dynamic and powerful.

With over 30 years experience, Zuken has grown to become the world's leading provider of EDA software and electronic product lifecycle management (e-PLM). The company's solutions optimize the efficiency of electronics and electrical R&D, engineering, manufacturing, new product introduction (NPI), component purchasing and component engineering in the PCB/MCM/HIC market. Listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Zuken improves product quality and profitability for electrical and electronics manufacturers globally, from automotive to aerospace, communications to consumer electronics, power to heavy machinery, and medical to military markets. With headquarters in Japan, Zuken hosts development and support centers in 10 countries -- including the United States, Germany, UK, France, Italy, China and Taiwan -- and is a trusted partner of more than 4,800 organizations, with over 45,000 individual licenses worldwide. For further information, visit www.zuken.com.

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 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.

Web site: http://www.ansys.com http://www.zuken.com

Media, Kelly Wall, +1-724-514-3076, kelly.wall@ansys.com, or Investors, Annette Arribas, +1-724-514-1782, annette.arribas@ansys.com, both of ANSYS, Inc.