Strategic Alliance Will Further Graphisoft’s Object Initiative
Tokyo, Japan/Budapest, Hungary — April 6, 2000 — Graphisoft announced today that it has
acquired a minority participation in the Japan-based ExpressionTools Inc., developer of
Shade, a general-purpose 3D modeling software. The alliance demonstrates Graphisoft’s
commitment to investing in the Japanese market, while opening a new channel for the
Company’s object language, GDL (Geometric Description Language).
In the cooperation between the two companies, ExpressionTools will make their products
compatible with GDL and Archicad. ExpressionTools’ user base of more than 100,000 in
Japan will join Archicad, and other GDL-compatible software, users in gaining access to the
electronic portfolios of product manufacturers, giving a boost to Graphisoft’s object strategy.
Through its object initiative, Graphisoft provides the means for building product
manufacturers to offer their catalogues electronically in the form of fully parametric objects,
and for building professionals to be able to access these product-specific objects on the
Internet or on CD-ROM for use in their building designs.
“Increasingly, building product manufacturers are seeing the benefit of publishing their
catalogs in electronic format, and GDL is ideal for this application. Its parametric nature
ensures small files sizes, fast download times, and more importantly easy maintenance of the
electronic product catalogues,” explains Graphisoft President and CEO Gábor Bojár.
“ExpressionTools recognizes the benefits of combining GDL with their product’s design
capabilties.”
“By making Shade compatible with GDL, the efficiency, effectiveness, and superiority of our
3D modeling technologies will be highly valued in the field of architectural design,” states
Mr. Kabashima, president and CEO of ExpressionTools.
The companies plan future marketing cooperation on the international market.
About ExpressionTools Inc.
Established in 1990, ExpressionTools Inc. is the developer and distributor of Shade,
integrated 3D computer graphics software that enjoys well over 100,000 registered users in
Japan. Shade features highly sophisticated 3D modeling and rendering capabilities, and a
user-friendly interface. Currently, Shade is used by professionals in the architectural,
industrial and graphic design fields. More information about ExpressionTools Inc. is available
at www.ex-tools.co.jp.
Graphisoft is a leading provider of computer-aided design (CAD) software solutions for the
architectural profession and the building industry. Founded in 1982, Graphisoft is ranked
today among the largest AEC CAD software developers in the world, with 12 offices all over
the world in addition to its headquarters. Graphisoft’s flagship product, Archicad, is used by
more than 75,000 architects worldwide and distributed in 25 languages and 80 countries.
Shares of Graphisoft are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Neuer Markt under the
symbol GPH. More information about Graphisoft is available at www.graphisoft.com.