DriveWorks and FISHER/UNITECH Partner to Bring Knowledge Based Engineering Solution to Product Design Firms

CHESHIRE, England & TROY, Mich.--Jan. 1, 20042, 2004--

DriveWorks, a developer of knowledge based engineering software for SolidWorks, and FISHER/UNITECH, a Michigan-based engineering technologies firm, announced a partnership to deliver QuickDesign Powered By DriveWorks, a customized solution for knowledge based engineering. Effective today, FISHER/UNITECH is also a DriveWorks reseller, adding the company's SolidWorks Gold Partner software to the line of products it resells throughout North America.

QuickDesign, a customized system unique to FISHER/UNITECH, provides mechanical design automation through a simple 2D interface. The system delivers scalable KBE solutions that can be applied to a range of applications. QuickDesign automates repetitive tasks and generates comprehensive design and manufacturing output. Typically, a company that uses a QuickDesign solution will realize up to a 90% reduction in design time.

"Many of our customers have requested a design automation solution that allows the user to make changes to the program themselves," said Charles Hess, President of FISHER/UNITECH. "With DriveWorks as the engine powering QuickDesign, we can fulfill those requests for a customized solution while also providing an open architecture."

DriveWorks is a SolidWorks Certified Gold Product, meaning it is a fully integrated "single window" product that operates with the latest version of SolidWorks. This integration is what enables the QuickDesign solution to be modified by the end user, using the tools found on every engineer's desktop, SolidWorks and Microsoft Office. QuickDesign Powered By DriveWorks saves time, enables products to be "engineered to order" and lets others within a company specify products they want while maintaining engineering controls.

QuickDesign manages relationships between specifications and performs relevant calculations to generate 3D models. Other outputs include manufacturing drawings, bills of material and customer quotations. With QuickDesign, users will be in a stronger position to win more profitable work by cutting down on product design time.

About FISHER/UNITECH (www.funtech.com)

FISHER/UNITECH is a provider of technology-based solutions for the product development process. The company also sells and supports computer-aided industrial design, manufacturing and analysis software, rapid prototyping equipment and reverse engineering products and services. FISHER/UNITECH has five offices located strategically throughout the Midwest, also offering complete system administrative and networking support services.

About DriveWorks(R) and DriveWorks Ltd. (www.driveworks.co.uk)

DriveWorks is the only SolidWorks certified Gold Partner Solution for knowledge based engineering. The proven solution for SolidWorks Users who want to automate the sales and engineering of custom, customized and engineered to order products, DriveWorks is used by companies worldwide to specify, price, design and manufacture products.

DriveWorks users include manufacturers of commercial vehicles, machinery, materials handling equipment, custom furniture, windows and doors catering, heating and ventilation equipment, mechanical seals, pressure vessels, electronic components and more.

Headquartered in Knutsford (Manchester) UK, the team behind DriveWorks has many years' experience in the engineering and manufacturing industries. They have been working with SolidWorks and the SolidWorks Channel since 1996.