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Western Star Selects EAI Open Enterprise Visualization

3 November 1999

Western Star Selects EAI Open Enterprise Visualization(TM) as Its Preferred Product Visualization and Digital Prototyping Solution

  EAI's VisView(R) and VisMockUp(R) to Enable Visualization and Analysis of
                           Entire Truck Assemblies

    AMES, Iowa, Nov. 2 -- Engineering Animation, Inc.
, today announced that Western Star Trucks Inc. ("Western
Star"), one of the world's leading class 8 custom truck manufacturers, has
selected EAI's Open Enterprise Visualization solutions to visualize and mark
up truck assembly models and collaborate on product designs.
    Western Star, based in British Columbia, Canada, will initially implement
EAI's VisView and VisMockUp in the conceptual design process for new truck
development.  EAI's Open Enterprise Visualization solutions will tightly
integrate with Parametric Technology Corporation's Pro/ENGINEER(R), Western
Star's computer-aided design (CAD) environment.  VisView and VisMockUp will
also integrate with MatrixOne's Matrix Global Advantage(R), Western Star's
product data management (PDM) system, as it is rolled out throughout Western
Star.
    "We conducted an extensive evaluation of visualization and digital
prototyping tools, and EAI clearly was the best choice for our requirements,"
said Mark Gobessi, director of engineering at Western Star.  "VisView and
VisMockUp will have a significant impact on our design process, allowing us to
create high quality designs before we produce a product or build a physical
prototype.  The addition of EAI's solutions will enable Western Star to bring
together a variety of product data, regardless of its source or platform, to
visualize and analyze large assemblies in a meaningful way.  This is critical
to our ability to leverage best-in-class development partners and vendors
regardless of the CAD system in use."
    "EAI's Open Enterprise Visualization solutions will enable Western Star to
implement an enterprise team engineering approach to product development,"
said Robert Nierman, EAI executive vice president and chief operating officer.
"With EAI's solutions, Western Star engineers can access mission-critical
product and process data and interact with entire truck assembly designs in
real time, translating directly into quality improvements and cost reductions.
    "This agreement further strengthens EAI's position as the standard for
enterprise product visualization and digital prototyping among major
manufacturers worldwide," added Nierman.

    About Western Star Trucks
    Western Star Trucks Holdings Ltd. (Amex: WSH) manufactures heavy duty
trucks for world markets through its Western Star Trucks Inc. subsidiary in
Kelowna, British Columbia and through its ERF subsidiary in the UK, and
supplies transit buses for the North American market through its Orion Bus
Industries subsidiary in Mississauga, Ontario and Oriskany, N.Y.  The shares
of Western Star Trucks Holdings Ltd. trade on the Toronto, Montreal and
American stock exchanges.

    About EAI
    Engineering Animation, Inc. is the leader in Internet-enabled visual
process management, collaboration, analysis and communication solutions for
extended manufacturing enterprises.  EAI's VisEPM(TM) solutions, which include
e-Vis.com(TM) ( http://www.e-vis.com ), Open Enterprise Visualization and Open
Virtual Factory(TM), help manufacturing companies drive down costs while
improving business practices, efficiency, quality and time-to-market.  The
Company maintains its corporate headquarters and technology center in Ames,
Iowa and has offices worldwide.