Acrobat 3D Software to Accelerate Design Collaboration Processes at Renault Group

Leading Automotive Manufacturer to Extend 3D Visualization with Adobe Reader and PDF

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that Renault Group, one of the world’s leading carmakers, has adopted Adobe® Acrobat® 3D software to extend 3D visualization and design collaboration capabilities across its extended enterprise of employees and supply chain partners. Renault plans to deploy the product throughout its engine and body organizations, and expects to harness PDF to more reliably and securely share 3D designs via widely available, free Adobe Reader® software. The agreement involves 5,000 seats of Acrobat 3D.

Many large manufacturing companies rely on different computer-aided design (CAD) formats, software applications and operating systems in the design and development of products. The structured CAD and digital mock-up workflows within Renault’s Product Data Management (PDM) system already support the ability to share native file formats among engineers. At the same time, PDM and digital mock-up infrastructures can be further extended to teams to speed product development, while also helping to maintain the accuracy and security of proprietary information. With Adobe PDF already an existing component of Renault’s core business processes, Acrobat 3D will deliver 3D engineering content at the document level in the same familiar and reliable cross-platform format.

“The pressure to deliver better products faster, in the face of fierce competition and the continued growth of outsourcing, is top-of-mind for manufacturing organizations worldwide, from automotive and aerospace companies to those in areas such as industrial machinery,” said Tom Hale, senior vice president, Knowledge Worker Business Unit at Adobe. “Acrobat 3D will enable Renault to drive document-based design collaboration processes across extended teams more quickly, securely and cost-effectively using proven, time-tested technologies in PDF and the ubiquitous, free Adobe Reader.”

Acrobat 3D allows Renault teams to convert 3D models from a wide variety of major CAD formats and embed them into PDF files through a simple drag-and-drop process or by capturing the OpenGL displays—regardless of whether they have the specific CAD application. Three-dimensional objects can be combined in a single PDF document with relevant product development information, such as spreadsheets, presentations, images, and even dynamic XML data extracted from the company’s PDM system. Engineers can then quickly share the PDF file with other departments or external partners in an immediate, iterative feedback process alongside more structured design reviews. When enabled by Acrobat 3D, Renault’s extended team members using Adobe Reader can interact with the 3D content in PDF, view product structure, apply digital signatures, and leverage commenting, measurement and cross-section tools directly on 3D objects1.

Moving forward, Renault is eligible to upgrade to Acrobat 3D Version 8 software. The major upgrade to Acrobat 3D is expected to ship in Spring 2007, and will include new and enhanced capabilities for producing highly compressed PDF documents with accurate geometry from large, complex CAD assemblies. The product also will enable users to distribute product manufacturing information—used to convey geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, annotations, and dimensions directly on a 3D model—in Adobe PDF.

Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash® Player, the company’s cross-platform client technologies, are installed on over 700 million connected PCs and devices worldwide.

About Renault Group

A group with industrial and commercial presence in 118 countries, Renault designs, develops, manufactures and sells innovative, safe and environmentally-friendly vehicles worldwide. In 2005 Renault sold 2,533,428 vehicles worldwide for revenues of €41.3 billion. Renault is the only vehicle manufacturer to have eight cars with the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, and is the winner of the 2005 and 2006 Formula 1 Constructors and Drivers World Championships. The Group is accelerating its international development with the new Logan project and pursuing its Alliance with Nissan. Its 126,436 employees contribute to a strategy of profitable growth to achieve Renault Commitment 2009, a growth plan outlining Renault's strategy for the next four years. The aim is to make and sustain Renault as the most profitable European volume car company. Renault Commitment 2009 has three major commitments:

-            Quality: Position the next Laguna, which will be launched in 2007, among the top three models in its segment in terms of product and service quality; 

-            Profitability: Achieve an operating profit margin of 6% in 2009; 

-            Growth: Sell an additional 800,000 units in 2009 as compared to 2005.

The pursuit of international growth is one of the key requirements of Renault Commitment 2009.