Altair's HyperWorks Partner Alliance Expands Its Scope with the Addition of NovaCast Systems to Its Software Lineup

TROY, Mich., Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Altair HyperWorks Partner Alliance (HWPA) announced today the addition of NovaCast Systems AB and its NovaFlow&Solid CV software to the partner program. This news is especially significant in that it is the first casting solution available within the HWPA. The availability of this solution will satisfy longstanding customer demand for a casting solution and make the overall HWPA offering more complete.

NovaFlow&Solid CV is used for mold filling and solidification simulation based on fluid flow and heat- transfer theories. Using new meshing technology and new advanced numeric models, control volume meshing (CVM), also known as boundary method or finite volume difference, allows the user to utilize multiple materials in a single meshed element as well as automate most meshing. CVM has become the standard for superior computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in most well-known specialist programs and is expected to be more accurate. These advantages have helped NovaFlow&Solid CV become one of the most efficient and versatile casting process simulation packages on the market.

"NovaCast Systems is thrilled to have the opportunity to be the first casting process simulation tool to join the HyperWorks Partner Alliance," said NovaCast CEO and Product Manager Håkan Fransson. "We believe that becoming a part of this program will be mutually beneficial, since it will help our company gain exposure and new users and allow the HWPA to offer customers a more complete CAE solution with the capabilities from NovaFlow&Solid CV they have been asking for."

NovaFlow&Solid CV simulations can help optimize the casting process by visualizing and avoiding such defects as oxide inclusions caused by excessive turbulence, cold-shuts, shrinkage cavities and slag inclusions. Advantages that this solution offers include CVM technology; database calibration with actual alloy information; advanced pouring functionality; and many more. This software is applicable to most casting methods used in the market today, including gravity sand casting, gravity permanent mold, low- and high-pressure die casting, the lost wax method, tilt pouring and the lost foam process, as well as enabling the simulation of all commercial alloy metals, super alloys, all types of mold and core materials that exist on the market and exothermic materials.

"Altair is delighted to welcome NovaCast Systems to the HyperWorks Partner Alliance," said Altair Director of Software Development Mahender Reddy. "NovaCast's casting simulation suite of products strengthens our CFD and manufacturing process simulation offering for HyperWorks customers, and we anticipate that engineers from the automotive, aerospace and heavy-machinery industries will be able to leverage the benefits of this technology in their product development processes."

Twelve years ago, Altair's innovative thinkers established a unit-based licensing system that allowed HyperWorks users customizable access to a growing portfolio of applications while optimizing their investment. From that point on, every license has been composed of a pool of recyclable HyperWorks units (HWUs), which can be used to access any application within the HyperWorks family.

Over the last four years, Altair has opened this model to third-party companies and allowed them to run their own applications under this unit-based system, a collaboration known as the HyperWorks Partner Alliance. The overall flexibility of these HWUs empowers users and allows them access to the largest and most complete suite of CAE applications available. This licensing model makes the benefits to participating HyperWorks customers infinite, with their return on investment increasing each time a new application is added to the offering. They can access any of the partner programs using the same leased HWUs they are already using to run HyperWorks, all available at no incremental cost or long-term commitment.

To learn more about NovaFlow&Solid CV, attend the introductory webinar, being held on January 24^th at 11am ET. This webinar will be hosted by Altair and presented by NovaCast Systems.

About NovaCast Systems

NovaCast Systems AB originates from NovaCast AB, established in 1981, and focuses on developing and marketing technical system solutions for foundries. Thanks to genuine and documented expertise in foundry technology and knowledge-based software systems, NovaCast offers powerful system solutions that serve virtually all needs within a foundry, from methoding, casting process simulation and metallurgical process control to a wide range of consultancy services. Our systems, which are used by leading foundries in 46 countries, are marketed worldwide by a network of representatives.

About Altair

Altair empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with 1,800 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 27-year track record for high-end software for engineering and computing, enterprise analytics solutions, and innovative product design and development, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com or www.simulatetoinnovate.com.

About the HyperWorks Partner Alliance

Altair's HyperWorks platform applies a revolutionary subscription-based licensing model where customers use floating licenses to access a broad suite of Altair-developed as well as third-party software applications on-demand. The HyperWorks Partner Alliance effectively extends the HyperWorks Platform from 28 internally developed solutions to more than 50 applications with the addition of new partner applications. Customers can invoke these third-party applications at no incremental cost using their existing HyperWorks licenses. Customers benefit from unmatched flexibility and access, resulting in maximum software utilization, productivity and ROI. For more information about the HyperWorks Partner Alliance, visit www.hyperworksalliance.com.

SOURCE Altair