ANSYS, Inc., a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, and CETIM, a French organization committed to research, quality and improving productivity in the mechanical engineering sector, today announced a strategic collaboration to integrate its CASTOR Design software into the ANSYS Workbench Environment. CASTOR Design, an innovative, easy-to-use tool for designing mechanical parts, is the latest addition to the expanding list of third-party applications that will be integrated into the ANSYS Workbench -- an engineering simulation platform. The new solution offers direct links between digital simulation and existing CAD packages including Autodesk Inventor, CATIA, Pro/ENGINEER, Solid Edge, SolidWorks and Parasolid solutions as TopSolid. "This collaboration makes it possible for CETIM to evolve its products by using open technologies, allowing a better link with CAD/PLM," said Mansour Afzali, head of CAE business unit at CETIM. "Design and manufacturing companies realize the value ANSYS Workbench brings to their expanding usage of CAE, and we want to leverage that." In the near future, CADOE -- an ANSYS subsidiary based in France -- will work with CETIM to develop a dedicated module for the design of pressure equipment that will accompany the software package. This module will take into account steps for dimensioning following CODAP, ASME and new European EN 13445 standards. "CASTOR Design customers will benefit from ANSYS' industry-leading integration platform, enabling companies to drive product development more efficiently," said Mike Wheeler, general manager and vice president of the mechanical business unit at ANSYS, Inc. "By leveraging CETIM's process expertise, we're reinforcing our commitment to providing high-impact process- integrated design simulation solutions that help designers and engineers spend more time doing real engineering and improving designs quickly." Initially available only to France-based customers, CASTOR Design will be presented at MICAD 2004, March 30 - April 1, 2004, in Porte de Versailles, France.