TROY, Michigan, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- Newest version of Altair's simulation platform delivers on-demand
access to ISV applications and offers multi-core licensing business model

Altair Engineering, a global provider of technology and services
empowering client innovation and decision making, today announced the release
of Altair HyperWorks 9.0, the next generation of its popular integrated suite
of computer-aided engineering (CAE) software applications.

HyperWorks is an enterprise simulation platform to support product
lifecycle management (PLM) processes. It is the leading simulation-driven
design solution for product development across the world's top corporations.

"Over the past decade, Altair HyperWorks has become the preferred
simulation platform for the worldwide advanced manufacturing community," says
James R. Scapa, president and CEO of Altair. "Through advancements in
simulation technology, a value-driven business model and superior customer
support, the adoption of HyperWorks continues to outpace the CAE market with
a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 25%."

Grid Enablement and New ISV Partner Program

The release of HyperWorks 9.0 is the first engineering simulation
solution to deeply embed grid computing management tools with
compute-intensive CAE software applications. HyperWorks 9.0 clients can now
use unallocated HyperWorks units in their existing pool to immediately access
Altair's popular PBS GridWorks on-demand grid-computing technology suite at
no incremental cost. This common licensing model allows corporations to
virtualize their global computing infrastructure -- maximizing the throughput
of analysis jobs as well as the utilization of hardware and software
resources.

In addition, HyperWorks 9.0 extends its patented business model to
deliver on-demand, third-party software applications. Participating partners
and the formal roll-out of Altair's partner solutions program will be
announced on Wednesday May 21st, 2008.

Next-generation Solver Technology and New Multi-core Licensing Business
Model

With the release of HyperWorks 9.0, Altair has integrated all of its
linear and nonlinear finite-element solvers into a single solver application.
RADIOSS 9.0 now delivers a robust solution for simulating linear statics and
dynamics, nonlinear transient dynamics and fluid-structure interaction
events. This consolidation and integration uniquely positions RADIOSS in the
CAE solution market and further increases the value of HyperWorks. From a
user perspective, RADIOSS 9.0 simplifies multi-disciplinary analysis studies
and data exchange between analysis types. Business benefits include lower
software licensing costs and simplified IT administration.

"The advent of cluster and multi-core computing environments requires
new, more affordable software licensing models," says Jeffrey M. Brennan,
vice president of Altair's HyperWorks division. "Our unit-based licensing
model -- already a market differentiator -- has been further enhanced to
allow companies to take full advantage of multi-core computing environments
with our solvers through virtualization and an aggressive pricing model."

Extended Interoperability and Microsoft Office Integration

The open-systems design of the HyperWorks platform allows engineers to
seamlessly work with any CAD solution, any solver, and any pre- and
post-processing environment. The 9.0 release extends this interoperability
even further to include Microsoft Office suite applications fostering
enterprise collaboration and information sharing. This direct integration not
only offers efficiencies to the reporting process but also will support
design robustness investigations through a direct integration with Microsoft
Excel and HyperStudy, Altair's design optimization study application.
HyperGraph and HyperView post-processing applications now export directly to
Office applications, as well.

New Capabilities and Functionality

"This release is significant on many different levels," says Dr. Uwe
Schramm, Altair vice president of product technology. "Substantial
investments were made to evolve the graphical user interface to quickly gain
new user acceptance and shorten learning curves for enterprise deployments.
Industry specific advancements, especially for our rapidly growing aerospace
community, have been made across all of our core products including
HyperMesh, HyperView and OptiStruct."

Modeling and visualization advancements include:

    -- Enhanced "Windows-like" graphical user interfaces (GUI)
    -- HyperCrash: A new automotive crash pre-processor
    -- New rapid HEX solid meshing capabilities
    -- Shrink-wrap meshing to accelerate the creation of large solid models

    Optimization and data management advancements include:

    -- Rapid multi-body dynamics optimization
    -- Free-shape optimization with manufacturing constraints
    -- Free-sizing optimization for composites
    -- Model assembly, batch meshing and performance data management
       automation

For a complete listing of all 9.0 new products and functionality, please
visit www.altairhyperworks.com/hw9 .

Global distribution of HyperWorks 9.0 is ongoing; and current customers
can download this version and the Release Notes, by visiting Altair's Client
Center portal at www.altairhyperworks.com .

For more information on the HyperWorks 9.0 release, training schedules,
regional roll-out events and to request a HyperWorks 9.0 demonstration,
please visit www.altairhyperworks.com/hw9 .

About HyperWorks

Built on a foundation of design optimization, performance data management
and process automation, HyperWorks is an enterprise simulation solution for
rapid design exploration and decision-making. As one of the most
comprehensive CAE solutions in the industry, HyperWorks provides a tightly
integrated suite of best-in-class tools for modeling, analysis, optimization,
visualization, reporting and performance data management. Leveraging a
revolutionary "pay-for-use" token-based business model, HyperWorks delivers
increased value and flexibility over other software licensing models. Firmly
committed to an open-systems philosophy, Altair HyperWorks continues to lead
the industry with the broadest interoperability to commercial CAD and CAE
solutions. For more information, please visit www.altairhyperworks.com.

About Altair

Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision making
through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization
of business and engineering information. Privately held with more than 1,300
employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe
and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year plus track record for enterprise analytics,
product development, and advanced computing, Altair consistently delivers a
competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn
more, please visit www.altair.com .

Web site: http://www.altair.com
              http://www.altairhyperworks.com/hw9
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