Darmstadt, DE and Troy, MI, USA July 23, 2007 - PROSTEP, the leading PLM integration specialist in the area of product data integration, today announces the launch of “The PROSTEP Exchange manager” (ECM, a critical technology bundled with the Synergy solution announced by UGS PLM Software. This new solution provides a Teamcenter-based collaboration infrastructure that moves beyond pure geometry transfer by synchronizing metadata, product structure, and property information between original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers.

Suppliers are able to go online with the OEM’s PDM and select authorized design space data managed by the OEM. By using ECM he can execute a comparison between the supplier’s own PDM information and execute the synchronization process. After working on the design the supplier uses the same functionality for synchronizing the data back to the OEM. This process greatly improves the quality, level of detail, and efficiency of data exchange, while allowing the supplier to work locally on their own systems.

The concept is based on the OMG Standard PLM Services and utilizes JT as an industry standard for 3D visual collaboration in the automotive industry. This implementation allows OEMs and suppliers to operate with more independence with respect to their own PLM environment and CAD systems.

“The PROSTEP exchange manager, as part of the UGS Synergy package provides a universal access interface to design data stored in the OEM’s PDM system,” said Andreas Schreiber, CEO of PROSTEP INC. “It acts as a universal translator that transforms the many proprietary protocols and data formats currently in use around the world into a standard-based engineering interface, thus making the supplier independent from the OEM’s design infrastructure and let him really focus on the optimization of its own design processes.”

Synergy customers easily can upgrade to PROSTEP’s OpenPDM® product suite. OpenPDM® provides powerful integration tools to all popular PDM, CAD, CAE, ERP and legacy systems. With OpenPDM®, customers can easily move, restructure and synchronize data between different vendors tools, different departments, and even external customers and suppliers, allowing customers to select “best in class” tools and not be locked into single vendor solutions. This freedom allows customers to focus on what they do best, and not worry about system integration concerns.

About PROSTEP AG

PROSTEP AG is recognized as the leading PLM integration specialist in the area of product data integration. The company offers its customers – leading enterprises active worldwide – integration solutions for CAD, PDM and supplier communication, thus making e-engineering a reality.

The PROSTEP Group has a current headcount of more than 260 in Germany, France and the USA and posted revenues of approximately € 21.7 million in fiscal 2006. In addition to its headquarters in Darmstadt, PROSTEP also maintains branch offices in Berlin, Bexbach, Hamburg, Hanover, Lyon, Munich, Stuttgart, Troy (Michigan), Wolfsburg and Wuppertal.