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Spatial and Materialise Announce Internet Technology Agreement

14 April 2000

Spatial and Materialise Announce Internet Technology Agreement; Alliance Means Engineers Will Have Access to Best STL verification and Healing Technology Online

    ROSEMONT, Ill.--April 14, 2000--RAPID PROTOTYPING & MANUFACTURING 2000 CONFERENCE--Spatial Inc. (AMEX:STY), the world's leading developer of Web-based business-to-business (b2b) interoperability solutions and open, component 3D modeling technology, and Materialise, a leading provider of rapid prototyping software products and services, today announced an alliance to license Materialise's Magics software technology for verification, healing and viewing of stereolithography (STL) files on the Internet.
    The technology will be made available on the Bits2Parts.com(TM) (www.bits2parts.com) engineering application service, offered by PlanetCAD.com(TM), the Web division of Spatial that offers Internet-based tools to streamline the digital manufacturing supply chain for more than 10 million manufacturing and design engineers worldwide. Bits2Parts.com is designed to streamline the way manufacturers and rapid prototyping suppliers communicate designs and quotations for creation of physical prototypes in the digital manufacturing supply chain.
    Magics provides STL file viewing, healing, manipulation and verification to ensure that all files submitted are optimized for the rapid prototyping process. Magics Communicator also allows online collaboration using STL files. These technologies will be made available as a Web-based application service at Bits2Parts.com.
    6 David Prawel, vice president of business development, Spatial Inc. said: "For participants in the rapid prototyping industry, the incorporation of such quality technology as Magics RP into Bits2Parts.com validates the site as a true player in the industry. Now manufacturers accessing this technology will know they are communicating high-quality parts in Internet time, rather than having to rely on chance and the mailman."
    "Poor quality STL files and poor communication costs both suppliers and their customers huge sums of money in the rapid prototyping business. Materialise is a clear leader in these areas. Magics' technology will reduce costs and streamline communication and our Bits2Parts.com members will be the real winners," added David Prawel.
    Bits2Parts.com is a pioneering Web application service that is validated by major participants in the industry. The site offers manufacturers and rapid prototyping suppliers a common ground to communicate ideas, designs and design data across the Internet in order to streamline and speed up the production of physical parts during the design process. The site is undergoing closed beta testing but will be available for free, open testing during Q2 2000. Manufacturers and service bureaus wishing to join the beta program may apply by e-mail at support@bits2parts.com.

    About Spatial Inc.

    Spatial is the world's leading provider of Web-based, business-to-business (b2b) interoperability services and 3D solid modeling software, which sets global standards for product engineers, designers, software developers and manufacturing professionals. Spatial is headquartered in Boulder, Colo., USA, and has offices in California, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Spatial's Web site at http://www.spatial.com or call (303) 544-2900.
    Spatial's 3Dshare.com(TM) (http://www.3dshare.com), the successor to 3Dmodelserver.com(TM), provides Web-based translation and healing of 3D CAD models, enabling rapid sharing of 3D engineering data across design and manufacturing firms and their clientele, regardless of their installed CAD systems. Bits2Parts.com(TM) streamlines the consistent communication of information between Manufacturers and Rapid Prototyping service bureaus to ensure smooth business processes and transmission of product prototype data. Spatial's ACIS(R) 3D modeling kernel is the de facto 3D solid modeling standard, which dominates the CAD/CAM/CAE market worldwide. ACIS has been adopted by more than 550 licensees and is the foundation of over 210 applications used by over 1.5 million engineers and designers worldwide. Licensees and partners include Autodesk Inc., Ashlar Incorporated, Alias|Wavefront and Alibre Inc. Spatial's IntraVISION(R) viewing solutions provide intuitive viewing, markup, measurement and conversion of all major 2D and 3D product design data across project teams, engineering organizations and with business partners. The combination of products and services developed by Spatial allows licensees and end users to capitalize on the improved integrity, advanced interoperability and rapid distribution of their design data, dramatically improving time to market and product development cycles across the digital manufacturing supply chain.

    Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement, and any projections related to 3Dshare.com and PlanetCAD.com may be significantly different than those predicted by the company. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking information. A description of risks and uncertainties attendant to Spatial Technology Inc. and its industry, and other factors which could affect the company's financial results, are included in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the company's annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1998.

    Spatial Technology Inc., ACIS 3D Toolkit, 3Dshare.com, Bits2Parts.com, SAT and PlanetCAD are trademarks. ACIS and IntraVISION are registered trademarks of Spatial Technology Inc. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners.