Formation Systems to Host Webcast on February 10 Showcasing Food CIO Forum Report, ''Food Industry Product Development Tools and Success''

Business Wire, Feb 7, 2005

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- Free Seminar to Present Independent Study Results on Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in Product Development Automation for the Food Industry

Formation Systems, a leading provider of product development solutions for the food and beverage, home and personal care and specialty chemical industries, today announced it will host a live Webcast on February 10, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. EST to present the results of an independent study conducted by Food CIO Forum. The free Webcast will feature process industry expert Olin Thompson, principal of Food CIO Forum.

Survey results from 135 U.S. food companies will be presented during the Webcast. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2004 with the objective of establishing the key product development challenges facing process manufacturers. The study reviewed the tools and technology currently being used and future plans for automating the development process. The Webcast will delve into the business goals that drive technology investments and trends having an impact on process manufacturing.

"We encourage food and beverage companies, as well as those from other process industries, to participate in this insightful Webcast," said Trent Landreth, CEO of Formation Systems. "In addition to addressing how product lifecycle management (PLM) technology can help process manufactures meet their respective challenges, it will also discuss how industry leaders can out-innovate the competition, decrease product time to market and improve compliance with government regulations. Accomplishing these goals is a critical step to achieving a superior level of product development."

All registrants will receive a free copy of the new Food CIO Forum report, "Food Industry Product Development Tools and Success." Registration is free and can be done online through the following link: http://www.formationsystems.com/webinars/index.html

About Formation Systems

Formation Systems is a software and services company that focuses on significantly improving the product development process for manufacturers in the food and beverage, home and personal care and specialty chemical industries. The company helps manufacturers accelerate new product introduction and achieve globally compliant products with lower development costs and a shorter time to world markets. Customers realize these benefits by using Formation Systems' software, Optiva, which enables manufacturers to consolidate the product development process and integrate disparate systems into one centralized, easy-to-use solution. Customers include Akzo Nobel, Barber Foods, Cadbury Schweppes plc, The Campbell Soup Company, The Coca-Cola Company, GE Plastics, Hormel Foods, Kerry Group plc, Parfums Christian Dior, Rich Products, RPM, The Valspar Corporation and Yves Rocher. Formation Systems is headquartered in Southborough, Mass. with offices around the world. For more information visit the corporate Website at http://www.formationsystems.com.