Formation Systems to Host Free Webcast on Product Lifecycle Management Featuring Hormel Foods Corporation

Business Wire, March 4, 2005

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- March 10 Webcast to Address Meeting Multinational Regulatory Requirements, Driving Innovation and Accelerating New Product Development With Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software

Formation Systems, a leading provider of product development solutions for the food and beverage, specialty chemical and consumer packaged goods industries, announced today a live, informational Webcast on product lifecycle management (PLM). The Webcast, focused on using PLM in the food and beverage industry to address product development challenges, is scheduled for March 10, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

The Webcast, "Hormel Implements Optiva to Meet Multinational Regulatory Requirements, Drive Innovation and Accelerate New Product Development," features Dennis Schminke, senior business analyst for IT services at Hormel Foods Corporation. Mr. Schminke will address specific product development challenges and why PLM is an integral part of the Hormel strategy to meet these challenges.

Hormel Foods Corporation is a multinational manufacturer of consumer-branded meat and food products. As a multinational manufacturer, Hormel is faced with the challenges of accelerating new product introductions and achieving globally compliant products with lower development costs and a shorter time to world markets. Mr. Schminke will address how Optiva, Formation Systems' flagship product development solution, has helped Hormel Foods achieve global compliance and increase innovation.

Regulatory compliance continues to be a crucial issue for process manufacturers. According to the November 2004 Aberdeen Group report, "Formula-Based Product Development: Recipes for Compliance and Success," dynamic product development solutions are becoming increasingly valuable as companies are faced with a myriad of regulatory compliance laws stemming from both the United States and abroad. Webcast attendees will receive a free copy of the Aberdeen Group report.

Webinar registration is free and can be completed online through the following Web address: 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.