HP Announces STEP for HP PE/SolidDesigner 3.0

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 29, 1995 -- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced the immediate availability of its STEP processor for HP PE/SolidDesigner Version 3.0. STEP, which stands for Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data, allows the exchange of product-model data between HP PE/SolidDesigner and other design, analysis and manufacturing applications. It also allows the import and export of surface and solid-model data to and from the HP PE/SolidDesigner along with accompanying product-description data.

In today's complex product-development environment, where multiple technologies are required, data exchange is an increasingly important consideration. Frequently, model data and other related information must be transferred between different modeling systems. STEP provides such direct links to other applications.

Besides the traditional exchange of geometry data, STEP for HP PE/SolidDesigner permits the exchange of additional product-description data, such as name, version and status, so that all design and life-cycle information can be kept with each model. STEP is based on the ISO/IEC 10303 standard.

Solid-model data imported into HP PE/SolidDesigner can be used directly as if it were a native HP PE/SolidDesigner model. Once loaded as, or converted to a solid model, all HP PE/SolidDesigner solid-modeling and dynamic-modeling functionality applies to imported data. This is especially important for fast and easy design modifications.

"With the latest release of the HP PE/SolidDesigner, HP is breaking new ground in data-exchange capabilities for solid-modeling systems. The ability to import data and modify it as if it had been created in the system itself, is unique", said Peter Bohn, general manager of HP's Mechanical Design Division.

"History-based modeling systems do not have this capability because the required part-history mechanism is generally held in a proprietary format, which is lost in standards-based data exchange", said Bohn.

STEP for HP PE/SolidDesigner is an effective tool that helps reduce time to market, lower costs, enhance quality and continuously improve processes. It allows designers to build on previous work and to address the total product lifecycle from concept to retirement, not just from engineering to manufacturing. STEP encourages cross-functional, heterogeneous product teams to work together to design and manufacture increasingly complex models.

STEP allows all information systems from engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, support, MIS, finance, marketing and other relevant departments to work together and share data -- irrespective of the source application.

HP's Mechanical Design Division develops 2-D and 3-D mechanical computer-aided-design software, the Precision Engineering System, known for quality, ease of use, customization capability and the support of standards. These products are installed in more than 50,000 systems in design, engineering and manufacturing organizations worldwide and are localized in 10 languages. The software includes HP PE/SolidDesigner for product-modeling design; HP ME10 for 2-D design, drafting and documentation; HP PE/ME30 for 3-D modeling, design and drafting; HP PE SheetAdvisor for sheet-metal design; HP PE/DDS-C for electro-mechanical design; and HP PE/WorkManager for product-data and workflow management.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 98,200 employees and had revenue of $25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year.

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