Ulysse Nardin Gains Time for Design With Autodesk Inventor Software

Autodesk Names Swiss Watchmaker as Inventor of the Month for Digital
Prototyping Innovations That Cut Development Time in Half

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- It used to take Ulysse
Nardin, one of the world's premier makers of fine mechanical watches, four
years to develop the complex insides of a new watch that can contain as many
as 400 moving parts. The process has been cut in half using Autodesk Inventor
software.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090527/SF22715)

Autodesk (Nasdaq: ADSK) has named Ulysse Nardin as the Inventor of the Month
for May 2009 for bringing its innovative and artistic watches to market in 50
percent less time with fewer physical prototypes.

Few products pack so much mechanical complexity into such a small area as fine
watches. Working with a 3D model in Inventor, Ulysse Nardin designers can
visualize how the gears and springs fit with other components as they design.
This capability makes it much easier to identify and fix interferences early
in the design process. Designers can also optimize the position of mechanical
parts that integrate with external portions of the watch, such as the case or
the watchband, which are initially drawn in 2D by a conceptual designer.

The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and
engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Inventor
software - the foundation of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping. A
digital prototype is a 3D digital model of the entire end product, used to
virtually explore and validate a product before it is built to reduce the
necessity of constructing physical prototypes.

"Having a clear 3D view is a significant advantage," said Loic Pellaton,
technical manager at Ulysse Nardin. "Autodesk Inventor helps us to place parts
and explore different options very quickly. It has significantly accelerated
the most complicated aspects of watch design."

Digital Prototyping Speeds New Product Development
By using Inventor software in collaboration with Autodesk reseller and
training partner HURNI ENGINEERING SARL to explore and hone digital
prototypes, Ulysse Nardin has reduced the need to produce multiple rounds of
physical prototypes. Because watch movements are largely refined during the
design phase, the company produces just one physical prototype instead of
three. This streamlining helps Ulysse Nardin realize its vision twice as
quickly when developing and introducing new product lines.

To help refine its watch cases, Ulysse Nardin designers also use Autodesk
Showcase software to create accurate, photorealistic images of digital
prototypes created in Inventor, enabling more efficient decision making. For
example, design teams can visually explore a wide range of decorative and
watchband options without having to produce a single physical prototype.

"From the beautiful case to the movement Ulysse Nardin watches are renowned
for, Digital Prototyping helps us to create the kind of watches people dream
of owning," said Pierre Gygax, executive vice president of production at
Ulysse Nardin.

"Ulysse Nardin is successfully using Autodesk Inventor to move beyond 3D to
Digital Prototyping and continue its tradition of innovation in the art of
mechanical watchmaking," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president,
Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk.

About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the users of
Autodesk Inventor software, the foundation for Digital Prototyping. Winners
are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more
information about Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at
IOM@autodesk.com.

About Ulysse Nardin
Based in Le Locle, Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin is one of the world's premier
watch manufacturers. Since opening its doors in 1846, Ulysse Nardin has been
the recipient of 4,300-plus awards in watchmaking - 18 of them gold medals -
and has received the greatest number of patents in mechanical watchmaking. For
additional information about Ulysse Nardin, visit www.ulysse-nardin.com.

About HURNI ENGINEERING SARL
Located in the heart of the Watch Valley, HURNI ENGINEERING SARL is a leading
provider of design and engineering solutions to the machine and the watch
industry. Mainly active in the French part of Switzerland, HURNI ENGINEERING
offers knowledge and experience to clients through technical support, training
and consulting services. In 2009 HURNI ENGINEERING was awarded "Best Digital
Prototyping Partner" by Autodesk in Central Europe. For more information
please visit www.hurni.ch

About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets.
Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the
broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help
customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies
rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world
performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance
quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk,
visit www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Inventor and Showcase are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or
affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product
names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the
right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without
notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may
appear in this document.

(C) 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact: Clay Helm 415.547.2425 Alyson Moses 312.297.7430
Email: clay.helm@autodesk.com alyson.moses@edelman.com

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO)

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

Clay Helm of Autodesk, Inc., +1-415-547-2425, clay.helm@autodesk.com; or
Alyson Moses, +1-312-297-7430, alyson.moses@edelman.com, for Autodesk, Inc.