STEP Tools, Inc. Wins Department of Commerce SBIR

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Troy, New York, August 19, 1998

STEP Tools, Inc., has won a Department of Commerce SBIR to develop "Software Tools for Process Specification and Exchange". This project will develop specifications and prototype implementation of software tools for facilitating the exchange of process-oriented data using the Process Specification Language (PSL). These tools will be based on the EXPRESS 2 and EXPRESS-X languages currently under development as part of the STEP data exchange standard. STEP Tools intends to exploit the key new features of these languages in order to support corresponding requirements in the PSL; namely, the dynamic modeling capabilities of EXPRESS 2, and the data mapping capabilities of EXPRESS-X. STEP Tools will also leverage the existing STEP standard framework by investigating the feasibility of extensions to the STEP implementation methods (file and programming API based exchange) and the EXPRESS-G language for graphical presentation of process exchange models.

This is the second SBIR awarded to STEP Tools, Inc., the first being an Air Force SBIR to develop "SESAME: A STEP Entry System for Small and Medium Suppliers".

The ISO Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP) grew from the need to represent digital product information for design and manufacturing. STEP accelerates the flow of product information, including CAD geometry, within and between engineering activities. The ability to condense and manage all the data related to a part, a process, or any related function can produce significant improvements in productivity. Using STEP, information pertaining to initial design, revisions, bill of materials, production, performance, and so on, can be centrally stored and electronically shared through networks, from LANs to the Internet.

STEP Tools, Inc., founded in 1991, provides software tools based on ISO STEP. STEP Tools products leverage STEP technology to facilitate the sharing of engineering product information for worldwide design and manufacturing. These products provide the flexibility of EXPRESS information modeling language, integration with existing tools and database systems, cross-platform portability, and ease-of-use. STEP Tools is the leading source of software for the ISO STEP community with over 175 customer sites worldwide, including many Fortune 100 companies.

Contact STEP Tools for more information about the entire STEP Tools product line:

Or access the STEP Tools web site: http://www.steptools.com.