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Moldflow Launches Moldflow Plastics Xpert 3.0; New Functionality Designed to Help Manufacturers Keep Pace With Production Demands

    WAYLAND, Mass.--March 5, 2001--Moldflow Corporation , the world leader in process-wide solutions for optimizing the design and manufacture of plastic products, announced today that Moldflow Plastics Xpert(TM) (MPX(TM)) 3.0 is now shipping.
    Moldflow Plastics Xpert 3.0 is considerably enhanced to help automate the process of injection molding machine setup, optimization, and control. The new timesaving features included in MPX 3.0 help plastics injection molders address stringent production schedules and challenging product quality requirements.
    Peter Rucinski, Moldflow product line manager, says, "We recognize the important role our customers play in the development of our software products. Hence, as we created Moldflow Plastics Xpert version 3.0, we implemented customer requested features such as plastication optimization, profile wizard enhancements, an online setup sheet, and other upgrades to help them become more productive in the manufacturing environment. We believe the resulting product delivers powerful new functionality that far exceeds competing products in this market space."
    When asked about his experience with the MPX product line to date, Claude Dauguene, Responsable Methode et Plasturgie, from Valeo in Angers France, said, "Using Moldflow Plastics Xpert on both trial and production injection molding machines helped us to decrease our setup times and improve control of our process. In addition, thanks to iMPX(TM), we can monitor our production from the design office."

    New features

-- Plastication (melting phase) Optimization -- based on user input of material and screw characteristics. Using this information, MPX 3.0 will generate recommended barrel temperature profiles, back pressure settings, and screw rotation settings.
-- Setup Xpert Cooling Time Routine -- specifically optimizes and minimizes cooling time and overall cycle time. Also included is a Setup Xpert undo feature.
-- Design of Experiments (DOE) Enhancements -- part weight, dimensions and warpage have been added to the DOE part quality criteria choices and packing time and cooling time have been added as DOE process variables. In addition, users can undo completed experiments, as well as opt to input defect feedback after extended periods of time.
-- Online Process Setup Sheet -- saves critical process parameters associated with particular production runs. The automatically generated, HTML-based document saves important data related to velocity and pressure files, temperature profiles, and back pressure and screw speed profiles.

    About Moldflow Corporation

    Moldflow is the world leader in plastic simulation software used by designers and manufacturers to produce optimal plastic parts. The automotive, aerospace, computer, consumer goods, and medical industries have incorporated Moldflow's easy to use, predictive applications throughout all phases of the injection molded plastics part design to manufacture processes to reduce product costs, accelerate time-to-market and optimize plastic part production. Moldflow has employees worldwide and maintains its corporate headquarters in Wayland, MA. The company also has research and development facilities in Australia, Europe and Ithaca, NY and direct sales and marketing offices throughout the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information about Moldflow call 508-358-5848; fax: 508-358-5868 or visit our web sites at www.moldflow.com or www.plasticszone.com.

    Notes to editors: Moldflow, Moldflow Plastics Xpert, MPX and iMPX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Moldflow Corporation or its subsidiaries worldwide. All other trademarks are properties of their respective holders.