Southampton, UK. 3 May, 2005. –
ICEM Ltd., the leading developer of surface modelling, surface quality analysis and design visualisation software, has announced the latest version of its industry-leading ICEM Surf software suite.

ICEM Surf 4.5 introduces new geometric modelling functions, as well customer-requested enhancements to its existing surface model analysis and design visualisation capabilities. Some of the more significant additions and enhancements include a new helix modelling function, improved sheet metal ‘spring-back’ compensation facilities and topological tessellation in the visualisation environment.

The new helix modelling function – a type of surface of revolution - will be of particular use in the automotive industry where it will enable users to quickly and automatically construct the surfaces for a vehicle’s side drop-glass. The new function reduces to a few mouse clicks what has previously been a lengthy ‘manual’ modelling process.

Also in the modelling environment, enhanced surface-to-surface intersection diagnosis will result in improved accuracy when determining the diagnostic curve described where two or more surfaces intersect each other.

A major enhancement in the tooling design environment now enables users to globally deform models into their ‘spring-back compensated’ form. Using a type of shape morphing, this enhanced functionality can be used in the press tool design process to morph the original surface model to the over-crowned tool face model to ensure that, after pressing, the part springs back to its designed position. In early beta testing of this functionality at a number of customers, the re-modelling time has been reduced from days to a few hours.

Following requests from customers, topological tessellation has been added to the visualisation environment in ICEM Surf 4.5. This provides a higher quality of surface tessellation across surface boundaries, particularly where fillet surfaces join base surfaces, in order to provide improved visualisation quality.

ICEM Surf 4.5 is currently undergoing final beta testing at a number of major automotive OEMs and will be available for customer shipment at the end of June.

About ICEM Ltd.

With its headquarters in the UK, ICEM Ltd. is the leading worldwide developer of advanced surface modelling, design and visualisation software. ICEM software is a critical component of the product lifecycle management (PLM) software environments of many of the world’s leading automotive, aerospace, sporting goods and consumer durable products manufacturers and their suppliers. With a worldwide network of sales and support offices and specialist distributors covering Europe, the USA, South America, Australia and the Asia Pacific region,

ICEM’s principal market sector is the worldwide automotive industry. Here it includes most of the leading manufacturers among its customers, including the Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler Group, Volkswagen Audi Group, Porsche, BMW, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault, Nissan, Subaru and Harley Davidson among others, as well as leading automotive industry companies such as Volke, EDAG, Pininfarina, Bertone and Bertrandt, among many others. The company also has a significant presence in the industrial design market.