Paris, France December 14, 2005 - CEA (Atomic Energy Consortium), AREVA, CETIM and ESI Group have signed a collaboration agreement concerning the development and commercialisation of digital modelling software tools for welding (MUSICA). The tools will cover the modelling of the implementation of a welding process through its micro structural (metallurgical transformations, behaviour laws) and structural (residual constraints, distortion) effects.

The collaboration includes the development of existing software (SYSWELD, the leading software for welding simulation), and software in development (such as PAM-ASSEMBLY) by ESI Group, as well as the creation by CEA of a new module (PROCEDES)  capable of modelling molten zones and heat sources. These software tools will function interactively (1) and are accessible via a single interface (PAM-ASSEMBLY), but each element will maintain the ability to function independently. A demonstrator of the complete software chain will be produced during the first year of the project.

This 6M€ collaboration agreement, signed for a 3 year period (with a trial period of one year) is open to any industry and research organisation concerned by this subject. The agreement has been drawn up to permit partners to participate at different levels, giving access to all or part of the MUSICA tools.

The partnership aims to be a major contributor to the French welding industry, with the development of robust simulation tools which will address much wider applications than today, thus creating added value for users by reducing time to market for their products.

A similar European project is currently being prepared for 2006.

About ESI Group

ESI Group is a world-leading supplier, and a pioneer of digital simulation software for prototyping and manufacturing processes that take into account the physics of materials. ESI Group has developed an extensive suite of coherent, industry oriented applications to realistically simulate a product’s behaviour during testing, to fine-tune manufacturing processes in accordance with desired product performance, and evaluate the environment’s impact on product performance. ESI Group’s products, which have a proven track record in manufacturing and have been combined in multi-trade value chains, represent a unique collaborative and open virtual engineering solution known as the Virtual Try-Out Space (VTOS), enabling virtual prototypes to be improved in a continuous and collaborative manner. This integrated protocol allows all the company’s solutions to work with each other and with applications developed by independent software vendors. By significantly reducing costs and development lead times and enabling product/process synergies, VTOS solutions offer major competitive advantage by progressively eliminating the need for physical prototypes during product development. The company generated sales of circa €60m in 2004, employs almost 500 high-level specialists worldwide covering more than 30 countries. ESI Group is listed in Eurolist compartment C of Euronext Paris. For further information, visit www-esi-group.com

ESI GROUP has been qualified as “an innovative company” since January 20 2000 by the ANVAR and is eligible for inclusion in “FCPI” (venture capital trusts dedicated to innovation).

Virtual Try-Out Space® and VTOS® are registered trademarks of ESI Group. All other products, names or companies are the brands or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

ESI Group - Press Relations                                                                               

Nathalie David-Franc                        

nathalie.david-franc@esi-group.com                             

Phone: + 33 (0)1 41 73 58 35