DaimlerChrysler to Deploy Bentley BIM Solution for Manufacturing Plants; Initial Deployment to Support M-Class, Grand Sports Tourer Lines

    BALTIMORE--May 19, 2003--Bentley Systems, Incorporated, today announced that DaimlerChrysler is the first car manufacturer to deploy building information modeling (BIM) to create virtual, digital mock-ups of factories.
    DaimlerChrysler is implementing BIM for the development and operation of its new Alabama-based M-Class and Grand Sports Tourer manufacturing plant.
    Using Bentley's BIM solution based on the unifying platform of MicroStation(R), DaimlerChrysler will design, build, and operate all of its manufacturing plants throughout the world. BIM incorporates all of the graphical and non-graphical information required throughout the entire life cycle of DaimlerChrysler's manufacturing plants. By committing to BIM, DaimlerChrysler can simulate the manufacturing process and coordinate factory components to guarantee smooth, trouble-free construction and streamline long-term plant operations.
    "We are expecting the digital factory project to cut plant design time in half while enabling us to continually improve plant management and operations," said Dr. Dietmar Michel, director of construction and works planning at DaimlerChrysler.
    By standardizing on MicroStation for its BIM implementation, DaimlerChrysler ensures a common information platform between all of its production plants, and enables the information to be reused for maintenance and administration. DaimlerChrysler will fully implement digital factories by 2005.
    In the first two stages of its digital factory project, DaimlerChrysler will use the Bentley BIM solution for its plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where it will retool and expand its M-Class production facility and construct a Grand Sports Tourer factory. Bentley's BIM solution will enable DaimlerChrysler to carry out reliable simulations and perform feasibility studies early in planning and design.
    "During the past 10 years, Bentley has helped us continually achieve new levels of innovation and automation," said Peter Csavajda, digital factory project sector manager at DaimlerChrysler. "With MicroStation as the unifying platform for our digital factories, we expect to greatly increase our return on investments."
    Functionality found only in the V8 release of MicroStation contributed to DaimlerChrysler's decision to standardize on the Bentley solution. For instance, MicroStation V8's digital rights functionality protects the integrity of the building model and gives DaimlerChrysler greater control of who may view and edit the information it contains. MicroStation V8 also generates a continuous record of the design history, allowing managers to monitor and track revisions to the building model.
    "The digital factory is a gigantic leap forward for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers," said Torsten Rohrlack, building industry director for Bentley in central Europe. "Through the digital factory, auto makers can manage plant design, construction, and operations, and realize considerable cost savings throughout a factory's entire life cycle."

    About BIM

    Bentley is a market leader in building information modeling (BIM). A superset of CAD, BIM models essential building concepts and information beyond drawings and provides a managed environment for building projects and operations. Bentley's BIM solution encompasses 20 enabling BIM technologies, is based on the proven and scalable MicroStation platform, and offers a unique ramp to BIM so users can run mixed projects and realize BIM via evolution versus revolution.
    Overall, BIM is upgrading the way that architects, engineers, contractors and facility managers work and collaborate.

    About Bentley

    Bentley Systems, Incorporated, a global software vendor founded in 1984, provides software solutions to create, manage, and publish architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) content. Bentley enables leading AEC firms and owners to design, build, and operate facilities, industrial plants, roadways, and other essential infrastructure assets. Bentley delivers integrated building design, plant design, civil engineering, and geospatial solutions for transportation, process and discrete manufacturing, government and public works, building, and utilities.
    Bentley's 2002 revenues reached $230 million. Bentley software plays a mission-critical role in over two-thirds of the work of the Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firms.
    For more information, call 1-800-BENTLEY or visit us on the Web at www.bentley.com.

    Bentley, the "B" logo and MicroStation are registered trademarks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or Bentley Software, Inc. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.