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Renault Standardizes on SurfaceStudio 9

21 January 1999

Renault Standardizes on SurfaceStudio 9 
     Industry Leader Chooses Alias|Wavefront Technology to Create Class-A
                             Automotive Surfaces

    PARIS, Jan. 21 -- Alias|Wavefront, a subsidiary of Silicon
Graphics, Inc. , today announced a major sale to Renault of
60 seats of SurfaceStudio(TM) 9 software and associated development services.
Renault is the first major automotive manufacturer to adopt SurfaceStudio 9 as
the software solution for its "Plan de Forme." The Plan de Forme department is
in charge of creation of all release surfaces for exterior as well as for
interior of Renault vehicles. The purchase of SurfaceStudio 9 represents
Renault's decision to replace its existing Plan de Forme tool with
Alias|Wavefront software.
    A complement to AutoStudio(TM) 9 and Alias(R) StudioPaint(TM) 9 software
products, SurfaceStudio 9 provides a complete suite of tools for creating
surface models that meet the stringent levels of quality, accuracy and
precision required by engineering and manufacturing professionals.
SurfaceStudio offers advanced free form modeling and Class-A surfacing
capabilities, real-time surface diagnostics, and world-class raw data
processing technology.
    "We are very satisfied with the product quality and the partnership with
Alias|Wavefront continues to be very effective," explained Francois Pistre,
director of technical and scientific information systems at Renault.
    "Alias|Wavefront has been working with Renault and other strategic
partners to ensure that SurfaceStudio has what it takes to be an
industry-leading technical surfacing product," explained Warren Pratt,
president of Alias|Wavefront. "Renault's investment in SurfaceStudio is
important validation that we've achieved our goal of building a comprehensive
solution that takes our customers from conceptual design to manufacturing."
    "SurfaceStudio is the ideal solution for our needs, its development was
strongly influenced by the input of users and it will help us to achieve our
goal of shortening our development process," explained Jacky Leconte, Plan de
Forme department manager at Renault Industrial Design.
    Renault has used Alias|Wavefront software for over 6 years. During this
time, industrial designers and digital modelers at Renault have grown to rely
on the speed, flexibility, and quality of Alias|Wavefront products. By using
the complete family of Alias Studio(TM) products, including StudioPaint,
AutoStudio, and SurfaceStudio, Renault now has a continuous and homogeneous
software solution from conceptual design to the release of surfaces created by
Plan de Forme for industrial manufacturing.
    Alias|Wavefront is the world's leading developer of CAID (computer-aided
industrial design) software running on both Silicon Graphics(R) and IBM(R)
workstation platforms. For over 12 years, the company has been the premier
supplier of design software developed specifically for the needs of automotive
designers. Around the world, designers have also used Alias|Wavefront products
to produce award-winning designs for everything from laptop computers,
sporting equipment, cellular telephones, medical equipment, children's toys,
to fashion accessories.
    Alias|Wavefront provides artists with advanced computer graphics software
that helps unleash the power of their creativity. As the world's leading
innovator of 2D and 3D graphics technology, Alias|Wavefront develops software
for the film and video, games, interactive media, industrial design, technical
surfacing and visualization markets. Alias|Wavefront's design customers
include AT&T, BMW, Boeing, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Italdesign, Kodak, Mattel,
Renault, Rollerblade, Teague and Timex.
    With headquarters in Toronto, Alias|Wavefront is a wholly owned,
independent software subsidiary of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Alias|Wavefront has
worldwide distribution via a network of Channel Partners and sales offices
located in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information on products,
readers can access Alias|Wavefront's web site at http://www.aw.sgi.com. Readers in
North America can also call 800-447-2542 for the location of the nearest sales
office or Channel Partner in their area.
    NOTE:  Alias is a registered trademark, and Alias|Wavefront, the
Alias|Wavefront logo, AutoStudio, StudioPaint, and SurfaceStudio are
trademarks of Alias|Wavefront, a division of Silicon Graphics Limited. Silicon
Graphics is a registered trademark and the Silicon Graphics logo is a
trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of
International Business Machines Corporation. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. Alias|Wavefront, 210 King Street East,
Toronto, Canada, M5A 1J7. Tel:  416-362-9181, FAX:  416-369-6140.