EDS recently launched Unigraphics NX, the company's next generation product lifecycle management (PLM) authoring tool. The company announced that Unigraphics NX represents the first merging of capabilities of both of the CAD/CAM/CAE solutions from EDS PLM Solutions. This merging has been made possible through a new innovative software architectural foundation.

"Unigraphics NX delivers a new PLM-enabled architecture based on the latest industry standards," said Tony Affuso, president, EDS PLM Solutions. "What is unique and exciting is that, in conjunction with our leading customers, we have been able to design and implement this state-of-the-art architecture in a way that immediately brings forward and enhances all the Unigraphics applications without compromise."

The foundation of Unigraphics NX consists of:

* A core platform built on industry standards that power knowledge-enabled applications. This innovative architectural design provides a new level of re-use and innovation. This technology enables quick and easy development of engineering process-specific applications, which helps reduce cycle times by automating repeatable segments of the engineering process.

* A new user interaction model specifically designed to support highly productive process-oriented workflows. Through streamlined model creation, standard parts and features can be added to the model through a simple drag and drop method. The intelligence of the software, including a next generation of Dynamic Navigator technology, infers the correct action to take, giving the user an opportunity to concur or alter the inference. Visual, desktop-integrated palettes offer commonly used objects as model and drawing templates, standard parts, and knowledge features - all facilitating re-use of data.

* The NX Gateway provides a new level of interoperability for associative integration. Built on PLM XML, a W3C XML object definition, the NX gateway provides associative interoperability, enabling organisations using EDS' CAD/CAM/CAE applications or third party applications to directly exchange and reuse design information. This interoperability reduces data exchange costs and associated data integrity problems. The next series of I-deas products will provide customers with enhanced functionality delivered on the embedded NX Gateway.

* A foundation of industry standards including: T.120 for standards and protocols for realtime design collaboration; PLM XML for accurate and open interoperability; JT for visualisation and interrogation; and SOAP for network addressable knowledge services and integration with other industry Web services.

For more information contact Esteq Design Technologies, 012 991 5570.