Mechanical Dynamics Endorses Silicon Graphics' Visual Workstations
12 January 1999
Mechanical Dynamics Endorses Silicon Graphics' New Visual Workstations; Power, Graphics Performance Meet Requirements for Superior Motion Simulation
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 12 -- Mechanical Dynamics, Inc.
, a worldwide provider of software and services for the virtual
prototyping market, today welcomed a new era in desktop computing with its
endorsement of Silicon Graphics' (SGI) new family of Intel- and Microsoft
Windows NT(R)-based visual workstations. The introduction of these products
signals Silicon Graphics' entry into the Windows NT market with offerings that
combine industry-standard processor technology from Intel, and the broad-based
application support of Microsoft Windows NT operating system, with SGI's
professional graphics and media capabilities.
"Mechanical Dynamics provides superior motion simulation solutions," said
Pamela Emery, Mechanical Dynamics' vice president of marketing and customer
support, "and our technology demands a lot from computer hardware. Animation
performance is critical to reviewing simulation results. Floating point
calculation performance is critical for fast simulations. We observed
excellent performance in both respects during our evaluation of the new
Silicon Graphics visual workstations."
"The markets served by Mechanical Dynamics, particularly virtual
prototyping, are growing in the NT space," said Phil Uchno, vice president,
Manufacturing Industries. "We are pleased with the support received from
Mechanical Dynamics regarding our new NT visual workstation. Together,
Silicon Graphics and Mechanical Dynamics provide the industry with an
unmatched virtual prototyping desktop solution."
The introduction of the NT-based products marks the availability of, for
the first time, high-end visual computing functionality, performance, and
capabilities at mainstream desktop pricing. Silicon Graphics' initial product
line includes Silicon Graphics 540(TM), the industry's only quad-processor
Pentium II Xeon-based graphics workstation, and Silicon Graphics 320(TM), a
dual-processor Pentium II-based system offering the industry's best price and
performance.
Silicon Graphics visual workstations provide the market's best
price/performance for applications using standard APIs, and are 100 percent
compatible with Windows NT-certified off-the-shelf applications. With a
starting street price of less than $3,400, Silicon Graphics 320 will begin
shipping in February 1999. Silicon Graphics 540, priced starting at less than
$6,000, will begin shipping in the second quarter of 1999.
The Silicon Graphics visual workstations extend the visual computing
capabilities for professionals in a number of the company's core industries,
including entertainment, geo/sciences, medical, government, manufacturing, and
education. The systems fully enable key applications in desktop publishing,
CAD, 3D rendering, modeling, animation, and video editing applications that
are vital to the work of creative and technical professionals.
As part of the new visual workstation introduction, Silicon Graphics
emphasized that it is embracing a dual-platform strategy across its product
lines. UNIX platform-based customers will see processor upgrades and new
graphics subsystems in coming months as Silicon Graphics' traditional computer
systems continue to evolve. By offering Intel/Windows NT workstations
together with its existing UNIX products, Silicon Graphics is responding to
customer needs.
About Mechanical Dynamics
Mechanical Dynamics pioneered the field of mechanical system simulation,
and has remained focused on expanding this technology since its founding in
1977. Thousands of engineering teams in nearly every manufacturing industry
use the company's ADAMS(R) software to build and test virtual prototypes,
realistically simulating on their computers the full-motion behavior of
complex mechanical system designs. Using ADAMS can help manufacturers reduce
the number of costly physical prototypes, improve design quality, and
significantly shorten product development cycles.
Mechanical Dynamics offers stand-alone ADAMS software as well as fully
embedded ADAMS capabilities for use in computer-aided design and manufacturing
(CAD/CAM) software environments, including: CATIA and SolidWorks from
Dassault Systemes; I-DEAS Master Series and Artisan Series from Structural
Dynamics Research Corp.; Unigraphics from Unigraphic Solutions, Inc.;
Pro/ENGINEER and CADDS 5 from Parametric Technology Corp.; SolidDesigner from
CoCreate Software, Inc.; AutoCAD and Autodesk Mechanical Desktop from
Autodesk, Inc.; Design Spinnaker from NK-EXA Corp.; MicroStation from Bentley
Systems, Inc.; DYNAMO from Tecnomatix; and Bravo from Applicon.
Mechanical Dynamics has also partnered with leading computer-aided
engineering (CAE) suppliers to provide interconnectivity between their
products and ADAMS. These partners include: MacNeal Schwendler Corp.
(MSC/Nastran); ANSYS, Inc. (ANSYS); Hibbitt, Karlsson & Sorensen, Inc.
(Abaqus); Structural Research and Analysis Corp. (COSMOS); Integrated Systems,
Inc. (MATRIXx); The MathWorks, Inc. (MATLAB); and Boeing Engineering Analysis
Group (EASY5).
Additional information about Mechanical Dynamics can be obtained by
writing to the company at 2301 Commonwealth Boulevard, Ann Arbor, Michigan
48105. Phone: 734-994-3800. Fax: 734-994-6418. E-mail: info@adams.com.
World Wide Web: http://www.adams.com.
About Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. is a leading supplier of visual computing and high-
performance systems. The company offers the broadest range of products in the
industry, from low-end desktop workstations to servers to high-end
supercomputers. Key industries include communications, energy, entertainment,
government, manufacturing, and sciences. Silicon Graphics and its
subsidiaries have offices throughout the world and headquarters in Mountain
View, California.
Silicon Graphics and the Silicon Graphics logo are registered trademarks
of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation. ADAMS and the Mechanical Dynamics logo are registered
trademarks of Mechanical Dynamics, Inc. All other trademarks are or may be
the property of their respective owners.