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SANTA ANA, CA -- MSC.Software Corp. (NYSE:MNS), a leading global provider of simulation software, services and systems, today announced that Wilmington, MA-based Beacon Power Corporation (Nasdaq:BCON), a leading manufacturer of energy storage systems, utilized MSC.Software simulation tools and professional services to simulate the complex physical stresses associated with a revolutionary energy storage system. By using MSC.Software simulation tools and services, Beacon Power reduced design time by a factor of 5 and material costs by 50 percent. The Beacon Power Corporation manufactures energy storage systems for the telecommunications industry and other industries that demand high reliability electrical power. "MSC.Software's biggest assets are our knowledge, experience and ability to help our customers solve complex engineering problems," said Frank Perna, chairman and chief executive officer of MSC.Software. "The work we are doing with Beacon Power is an excellent example of the ways in which our software and services can help even the smallest manufacturers solve extremely difficult problems, create revolutionary products and dramatically reduce design time and materials costs." "Without MSC.Software, we would not have been able to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the system and developing prototypes for physical testing was both cost and time prohibitive," said David Ansbigian, rotor dynamicist at Beacon Power Corporation. "Most of our engineers are being trained in simulation using MSC.Nastran and MSC.Patran which will directly impact our products and processes, lower our costs and improve our products." Beacon Power Corporation is responsible for developing a revolutionary flywheel energy storage system, which consists of a rotating cylinder suspended on magnetic bearings in a vacuum and connected to a motor/generator. The motor/generator transforms electrical energy into stored kinetic energy by spinning a 150-pound composite rim up to a speed of 700 meters per second. The flywheel is able to spin for extended periods with great efficiency, because friction and drag are virtually eliminated by employing magnetic bearings and a vacuum system. The spinning flywheel drives the motor/generator, which instantaneously converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy and serves as back up energy system for any company needing a highly reliable energy source. Both Verizon and Cox Communications are currently testing the Beacon Power flywheel system at locations in the United States.