EDS has announced that Design News magazine has named new technology in its Solid Edge computer-aided design (CAD) software the best new computer productivity tool for 2002.

Design News announced the award in December last year, citing Solid Edge and Insight, its built-in design management technology. "Working transparently, most users will not even know they are using data management tools," the magazine reported. "It removes the burden from the user to learn and implement what has historically been complex technology," the magazine quoted its judges as saying.

Solid Edge was the only software packaged selected. Besides computer productivity, the magazine cited best products in other categories such as fasteners and fluid power. "The annual Best Products of the Year contest is one of the many ways Design News showcases the efforts of design engineers and the vendors who support them," said Michelle Lang, associate editor of Design News. "While flashy end products such as jet planes and cars grab everyone's attention, the enabling technology behind them is what we focus on in this contest. Without that enabling technology - whether it is CAD, components, or materials - the flashy end products would not exist. Our contest spotlights the best enabling technology available."

"Representing the best engineering of their class, this year's winners feature a common thread of efficiency," the Design News article said. "Whether it is cutting back on design time by combining a data management system with a CAD program, reducing vibration with a new fastener, or limiting pressure pulsations with a pump, these Best Product winners all aim to make your job easier, safer, and more productive."

"This is an extremely prestigious award from a very well respected publication," said Dan Staples, director of the Solid Edge business unit at EDS PLM Solutions. "2002 was a great year of innovation at Solid Edge and our customer community will receive the productivity dividends for many years to come as design management becomes an integral part of their design processes."

Design News also credited Solid Edge for its ties with standard Microsoft .NET server technology. "Extending to Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server, (Solid Edge's) Web components allow users to access product information via Internet Explorer, track changes to CAE files, and automatically synchronise file servers," the magazine said. The strength of Solid Edge Insight technology's integration with Microsoft's SharePoint was reinforced in October 2002 when Microsoft announced that 10 million licences of SharePoint Portal Server have been licensed in just 17 months.

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