AEA TECHNOLOGY RELEASES EASA WEB-BASED APPLICATION FOR SIMPLIFYING ENTERPRISE ACCESS TO TECHNICAL SOFTWARE AND CAPTURING BEST PRACTICES

EASA (Enterprise Accessible Software Applications) Represents a New Way for Organizations to Maximize Value from Existing Software Tools

New York, NY, USA. October 23, 2001 – AEA Technology today announced the release of EASA Version 1.0, its innovative software that lets organizations quickly create and deploy tailored Web-enabled applications to drive their existing software tools. The release was announced during the Chem Show at the Javits Center in New York City.

The focus on extracting the maximum value out of an organization’s assets has never been greater. However, an asset that is often overlooked is powerful yet complex software. Much investment is made in this area, but access is usually limited to a few specialists due to the learning curve associated with these tools. EASA is an exciting new approach that opens the door to more efficient use of commercial and in-house applications for the entire enterprise. EASA allows engineers and scientists to capture their experience and knowledge in applying complex software. This knowledge can then be leveraged across the organization in the form of straightforward applications. Because these vertical applications are accessible with a familiar Web-browser, they can be used by anyone via the corporate intranet. Therefore EASA simplifies access to advanced software by providing a common Web-based environment to “drive” any application -- such as computational fluids, structural analysis, process simulation or in-house codes -- while minimizing both learning curve and deployment issues.

Dr. David Davidson, Research Specialist with Solutia, a major chemical engineering firm in the United States, stated: "In spite of our success with various advanced software tools, I am convinced that we have only found the tip of the iceberg. Our engineers, scientists and operators still make many (perhaps most) of their decisions around technical problems using less than the best available technology. Our corporate goal is to put the appropriate tools into the hands of our users. We have learned, however, that we cannot train more than a small percentage of our workforce to utilize technical software, since it requires an excessive investment of time and knowledge. Our best alternative is to create special applications that speak the language of the engineers in the field. It is my plan to develop these tools and propagate them throughout our enterprise as rapidly as possible, wherever it is sensible to do so. EASA represents an efficient way of doing this."

Dr. Sebastian Dewhurst, Vice President of Enterprise Applications at AEA Technology Engineering Software, added: "Many companies have already recognized the need for easier and wider access to technologies that are embedded in complex software applications. Developing “home-grown” solutions would be time-consuming and expensive. EASA provides an attractive alternative by making it fast and easy to create libraries of applications tailored to the needs of the enterprise. In fact, we are already receiving reports from customers that the creation of applications using EASA is at least ten times faster than using conventional technology. This translates to perhaps a day to deploy a new application, rather than several months.”

EASA is a patent pending technology. About AEA Technology

AEA Technology plc is an innovation business supplying technical, safety and environmental solutions to a broad range of industries worldwide. AEA Technology plc (LSE: AAT) employs nearly 3,600 people in more than 90 locations around the world, bringing science to the marketplace through consultancy, technical services, hardware and software systems, research development and technology transfer. For more information about EASA or AEA Technology, contact Cindy Armstrong at 412-893-1005 / cindy.armstrong@engsw.aeat.com or visit www.easa.aeat.com.

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Media Contact: Cindy Armstrong 412-893-1005 cindy.armstrong@engsw.aeat.com