Trane and Bentley Form Strategic Alliance on Software Strategy and Tools for HVAC Design & Analysis

Business Wire, June 4, 1998

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 1998--

Leaders in HVAC and Engineering Software Will Put HVAC Analysis in Hands of Architects and Engineers, and Reduce

Total Building Cost for Owners

The Trane Company (La Crosse, Wisc.) and Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Exton, Pa.) today announced that they are aligned on a software strategy with software tools for HVAC design and analysis.

The strategy is based on information continuity, or single-building model, across the enterprise of the building lifecycle.

The alignment is placing HVAC analysis tools into the building workflow so that architects, engineers, and construction firms can better serve owners and lower total building cost.

David Molin, manager of Customer Direct Service (C.D.S.) for Trane, comments, "We have developed powerful analysis capabilities such as HVAC load calculation, acoustical design, duct design and energy analysis.

"These analysis tools allow architects, engineers, and construction firms to provide owners with essential information to choose the right HVAC system and to deliver more comfortable buildings with lower 'total cost of ownership'."

He continues, "The single building model of MicroStation TriForma is the information conduit that now places that analysis directly into the building workflow. This alignment of strategies means that the true value of our analysis tools will be fully realized providing owners with higher-quality buildings."

This summer, the companies will integrate Trane's HVAC duct analysis capabilities into MicroStation(R) TriForma(R) for Mechanical Systems.

The Trane electronic Ductulator(R) will give TriForma for Mechanical Systems analysis capabilities for computing network flows within HVAC duct systems. Engineers will be able to quickly size system components and determine the appropriate nominal duct size for equal friction applications.

MicroStation TriForma for Mechanical Systems is the first integrated data modeling tool for mechanical systems in buildings. This addition to the TriForma product line significantly improves productivity and collaboration in the design and operation of buildings.

Since MicroStation TriForma for Mechanical Systems works with the single building model of MicroStation TriForma, the new product links the mechanical design with all other building lifecycle information. By working from this integrated model, mechanical engineers, their information, and their efforts are connected into the overall building design process.

For more information on Bentley or MicroStation TriForma for Mechanical Systems, please contact Bentley at 1-800-BENTLEY, 610/458-5000 (Americas), 31 23-556-0560 (Europe, Middle East, Africa), 61 3-9699-8699 (Asia/Pacific), through E-mail at rachael.schroeder@bentley.com,or through http://www.bentley.com.

The Bentley Wire automatically delivers company press releases through E -mail within minutes of being issued. To subscribe, click http://www.bentley.com/news/bwire/.>More about Trane Company

The Trane Company, a worldwide manufacturer or heating, ventilating, air conditioning and building management equipment and systems, began over a century ago as a family-owned plumbing business.

Today Trane is a leading supplier of environmental comfort systems with annual sales in excess of $3.5 billion. Trane employs some 14,000 people worldwide, marketing its products from over 200 cities internationally.

A truly global company, Trane has sales, service, parts and manufacturing facilities around the world. All are networked to provide uniform local support capabilities in design, engineering expertise, application assistance, service and parts.

Trane's systems range from incremental sizes for homes and small businesses to those large enough to provide comfort for office buildings, university campuses and industrial plants. Trane is also a leading supplier of building automation systems. In addition, Trane offers assistance with indoor air quality (IAQ) and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) issues.

More on Bentley

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, is a worldwide leader in engineering software and user services. The Bentley Continuum is the company's comprehensive engineering IT strategy comprising products, services, and strategic affiliations.

The company now serves over a quarter million professionals in building/plant engineering, geoengineering, and mechanical engineering. With revenues now over $150M annually, Bentley was listed as the largest privately held company on the 1998 Softletter 100 and named to the 1998 Upside Hot 100.

Bentley's MicroStation desktop and ModelServer(TM) Internet/intranet/extranet-based products are used at over 70% of the largest U.S. engineering firms.

They form the software foundation of well-known buildings, roadways, machines, and industrial plants around the world. The Bentley SELECT(SM) technology and service subscription program now reaches over 150,000 users.

Bentley Strategic Affiliates, including GEOPAK Transportation, HMR, Jacobus Technology, NetSpace Systems, and WorkPlace System Solutions, provide project services and the world's best and most interoperable engineering applications to Bentley users. More information about Bentley and Bentley Strategic Affiliates is available at www.bentley.com.