Press Release

Hewlett-Packard Announces Safety Feature Test System for Auto Makers

12/05/96

HP Offers Car Makers a Faster, Cheaper Way to Test Safety and Comfort
Features Governed by Electronics; HP TS-5430 Standards-based Platform
Ready for Manufacturing Three Times Faster Than Proprietary Systems

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- To meet the needs of car
manufacturers for quick, reusable and cost-effective tests for air
bags, anti-lock brakes, keyless entry systems and other electronically
controlled safety and comfort features, Hewlett-Packard Company today
announces the HP TS-5430 test system.  It is based on open standards,
less expensive than proprietary testers and is configured to test the
widest possible variety of low-pin-count electronic modules.

"We have discovered that our customers now can test engine-control
units in half the time it took them when they were shackled with
`develop-your-own' solutions based on proprietary software," said Jack
Trautman, general manager of HP's Measurement Systems Division.

At the heart of the HP TS-5430 is the HP Test Exec SL, a
Windows(R)-based software platform that allows manufacturers to reuse
test code so they can quickly develop test plans for electronic
modules. It makes it easy to reuse, maintain or update individual test
routines, in part, because test code -- including limits, parameters
and switch paths -- can be separated from test data.

"My test engineers are cutting their software-development time by 50
percent, thanks to the reusable test-library architecture of the HP
Test Exec SL software," said Xavier Chaveron, test engineering manager
for Siemens Corp.

KEY BENEFITS OF THE HP TS-5430

The HP TS-5430 introduces a breakthrough in the development
environment, allowing the reuse of test code as applications change,
making it easy to reuse, maintain and update individual routines. In
addition, tests developed on the TS-5430 can be migrated and run on
HP's TS-5450 system, which is geared toward meeting the complex
challenges and user requirements encountered in high-pin-count module
tests, such as engine and transmission control.

Also, the HP TS-5430 supports distributed manufacturing because it
allows users to seamlessly transport and use tests in multiple
locations.

By standardizing on HP platforms, users can create an infrastructure
for leveraging programs, fixtures, testers and maintenance techniques
across an organization to help reduce cycle times and overhead costs.

In addition, off-the-shelf components and instruments can be quickly
added to expand test capabilities, increasing return on investment.

U.S. PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The HP TS-5430 is available now, with system prices starting at
$50,000.

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 112,000 employees and had
revenue of $38.4 billion in its 1996 fiscal year.