The Norwegian IT company EPM Technology (EPMT) has signed a collaboration agreement with British Aerospace to develop and commercialise an advanced IT tool for engineers, Visual-i SE, which will be owned and marketed by the Norweigan company. The goal is to complete the development of a commercial product in only 12 months by using the new software.

Visual-iSE software will - according to EPMT - contribute to a drastic reduction in both the time and money required for product development processes. In the specification phase Visual-iSE will make it easier to simulate and analyse requirements for new structures.
Technologies such as Visual-iSE play an important role in supporting British Aerospace's main objectives of 100 percent programme adherence, 50 percent reduction in design life-cycle time and 30 percent reduction in design cost.
The research results British Aerospace are investing in this project originate from a three-year research project (Convex) that involved the British Ministry of Trade and Industry and leading British universities, among others. These research results have an estimated value of around NOK 30 million.

"This cooperation project is a major recognition of our competence and represents an interesting business opportunity. The sale of Visual-iSE, which is only one of many different end-user applications, will increase our operations many times over, says Marketing Director Kjell A. Bengtsson of EPM Technology."

The European consortium behind the Eurofighter Typhoon has used EPM Technology's Express Data Manager software for a year and a half. The software is used to send and share product data and material information such as CAD/CAM/PDM and other data between the manufacturers of the advanced fighter aircraft. Eurofighter is Europe's largest defence industry cooperation project, and the various parts of the aircraft are manufactured in four different countries. British Aerospace has also used EPMT's software this last year for the development of new technology in the field of integrated systems engineering.

Now the companies are taking another step forward by establishing a common development project to design a new end-user tool for engineers, Visual-iSE. The value of this one-year project is NOK 8 million. The Norwegian Industrial and Regional Development Fund (SND) will be supporting the project with funding of NOK 2 million.

According to Kjell A. Bengtsson the finished product will have a great potential for success in the aircraft, car and process industries throughout the world. It is expected that the product will give EPMT at least NOK 120 million in increased sales over the next three years. The long-term potential is significantly greater.

"We are very satisfied with the agreement with EPM Technology concerning deliveries to Eurofighter. The contract with British Aerospace is of great importance. Normally the four participating countries use the same processes, software and services. The suppliers of such products to one of the companies will find corresponding business opportunities in the other partner companies, says Director Andrew Lewis of Eurofighter International."

EPM Technology AS is an IT company in the Jotne Group. The Jotne Group is a Norwegian owned industrial concern and investment company with 250 employees and sales of approximately NOK 250 million in 1998.

For more information:
Kjell A. Bengtsson, Vice President Sales and Marketing, EPM Technology,
P.O Box 6629,
N-0607 OSLO, NORWAY
Phone: + 47-23-17 17 17,
Mobilephone: +47-23-90-74 56 40

Andy Bunce, British Aerospace
Phone: +44-177-285 2714

Webpages
About EPM Technology: http://www.epmtech.jotne.com
About the Jotne Group: http://www.jotne.com
About British Aerospace: http://www.bae.co.uk

This press release is also available at: www.eurofighter.no