General Physics Corporation Announces EtaPRO MarginMax™: Condition Based Profit Margin Maximization for Refining

Business Wire, Jan 11, 2006

ELKRIDGE, Md. -- Global performance improvement solutions provider General Physics Corporation (GP), a subsidiary of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE:GPX), in partnership with OSIsoft, Inc., and Virtual Materials Group, Inc., announced today the release of the process industry version of its world-class thermodynamic performance monitoring and modeling system, EtaPRO MarginMax(TM). EtaPRO MarginMax is designed to help refinery and other process industry operating personnel detect the optimum (maximum profit) operating points based on real-time conditions and operational constraints. The system continuously monitors process equipment, accessing current market information from the client's planning system, determining and modeling the actual condition of the units, identifying operational constraints, and conducting a gap analysis. E[acute accent]To provide flexible access to real-time process data, EtaPRO MarginMax seamlessly integrates with OSIsoft's(R) Real-time Performance Management Platform. EtaPRO MarginMax is powered by OSIsoft's historian technology, which is designed to close the time and information gap between business objectives and production floor operations. The other technologies utilized in EtaPRO MarginMax are Virtual Materials Group's VMGSim(TM) and VMGThermo(TM), which are also integrated for accurate thermo-physical prediction and real-time validated simulation models. The validated model can be used by operators to improve operating efficiency, thereby increasing profitability. The validated model can also be used for off-line engineering design. E[acute accent]According to Steve Sussman, GP's Director of Performance Solutions, "The shortcoming of other performance monitoring systems is that KPI (key performance indicators) targets do not reflect current process or equipment conditions in the plant. EtaPRO MarginMax solves this problem and takes performance monitoring to the next level by placing rigorous models online to identify constraints, faults, and opportunities; it then updates the KPI targets to reflect current conditions and predict optimum performance. This allows the operating staff to adjust plant performance to maximize profit margin and close the 'Opportunity Gap' in real-time." E[acute accent]"OSIsoft sees the General Physics approach as an optimal way to convert operational data into rapid ROI," added Patricia Garner, OSIsoft director of OEM Sales and Marketing. "The EtaPRO MarginMax system shows the business impact of operating changes in real-time; it also eliminates the opportunity cost of performing analysis after the fact. OSIsoft strongly supports this approach to real-time performance management." E[acute accent]Virtual Materials Group's Gerald Jacobs stated, "GP has developed a system that is truly focused on real-time model-based plant monitoring and optimum performance that is delivered with a high certainty of success and sustainability. VMG is excited to be the modeling and physical property partner with General Physics." E[acute accent]For more information, please contact GP's Amherst, NY, office at 716.799.1080 or ssussman@gpworldwide.com.

E[acute accent]About OSIsoft

E[acute accent]OSIsoft delivers performance management software to the world's leading process manufacturing, life sciences, and utility companies--anywhere real-time operational metrics fuel performance. With more than 10,000 installations worldwide, OSIsoft's real-time data platform crosses IT and process boundaries to incorporate and display operational information. Providing comprehensive visibility into operations, the OSIsoft platform unlocks the potential for timely analysis and the ability to make critical, informed and profitable decisions. E[acute accent]Founded in 1980, OSIsoft, Inc., is headquartered in San Leandro, California, with operations worldwide, and is privately-held.

E[acute accent]About VMG

E[acute accent]Virtual Materials Group is focused on developing high quality and cost-effective software for the Process Industries. Their flagship products are VMGSim, the new standard in steady state process simulation, and VMGThermo, an industry standard plug-in physical property package system. For years, VMG has provided proven, validated, and robust thermo-physical property prediction packages backed by extensive experimental data and support for the hydrocarbon, chemicals, and petrochemical industry. The power of VMG's thermodynamic packages is available in VMGSim, an easy to use steady-state process simulator that integrates a premier steady state process simulation kernel, MS-VISIO and MS-Excel.

E[acute accent]About GP

E[acute accent]GP is the principal operating subsidiary of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE:GPX). Founded in 1966, GP is a global performance improvement solutions provider of training and e-Learning solutions, management consulting and engineering services. GP's solutions improve the effectiveness of organizations by delivering innovative and superior training, consulting and business improvement services, customized to meet the specific needs of its clients. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, manufacturing, process and energy industries, and other commercial and government customers. Additional information may be found at www.gpworldwide.com.