SPE.L Regulatory News (SPE)

10 Jul 2007 07:01

Sopheon PLC10 July 2007 Embargoed release: 07:00hrs 10 July 2007 Sopheon plc ('Sopheon') Managing Automation Recognizes Sopheon-Glatfelter Innovation Partnership Manufacturing Industry Panel Names Glatfelter Innovation High-Achiever on "Progressive Manufacturing 50" List; Sopheon Recognized for Technology Contribution Sopheon, the international software and services company, announced today thatManaging Automation has selected Glatfelter Corporation, a Sopheon customer, tothe magazine's list of "Progressive Manufacturing 50" (PM50) honorees for 2007.The annual award competition recognizes 50 manufacturers across eightdisciplines that are using technology and other means to achieve outstandinginnovation process and product manufacturing results. Glatfelter was selectedby a panel of industry judges as the "High Achiever" in the category of "Innovation Mastery." Sopheon was honored as a PM50 Technology Partner for therole its Accolade(R) product life cycle management software has played inenabling Glatfelter's product innovation success. Glatfelter is a leading global supplier of specialty papers and engineeredproducts. The company's offerings are used for everything from books andpostage stamps to tea bags and flooring overlays. Glatfelter began usingSopheon's Accolade solution in 2002 as a technology backbone component of itsCLEAR initiative, a central goal of which was to increase the business return oninvestments in product innovation. Achievements of that program that mostimpressed Managing Automation's judges included: • A 25-percent reduction in the average time required to get a newproduct to market; • A 55-percent reduction in the number of new product failures; • A 500-percent increase in the number of new products introduced. "The genesis of Glatfelter's emergence as a leader in innovation was the factthat, early on, in order to remain competitive, it recognized a need to enhanceits approach to new product development," said David Brousell, editor-in-chiefof Managing Automation. "Through its CLEAR initiative, Glatfelter hasdemonstrated how vision, combined with strategy and the right technology, canproduce transformative business results." "At the inception of our CLEAR initiative, Glatfelter was a relativelysmall-sized regional producer of commodity papers," said Scott Mingus, directorof product development for Glatfelter. "This comprehensive program, supportedby the collaboration and automation strengths of Sopheon's Accolade system, hasin a few years' time turned Glatfelter into one of the largest and most diversesuppliers of specialty papers in the world. We value this honor, as well as thetechnology partnership with Sopheon that has been such a vital part of ourproduct innovation success." Accolade(R) is a registered trademark of Sopheon plc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the sole property of theirrespective owners. About Glatfelter Headquartered in York, PA, Glatfelter is a global manufacturer of specialtypapers and engineered products. U.S. operations include facilities in SpringGrove, PA, and Chillicothe and Fremont, OH. International operations includefacilities in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Philippines and arepresentative office in China. Glatfelter's common stock is traded on the NewYork Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GLT. For more information, pleasevisit www.glatfelter.com. About Managing Automation Managing Automation is an online and print resource for business and technologymanagers in manufacturing. The print publication and website enablemanufacturing management to analyze, select, implement and operate technologiesto enhance their business processes for increased effectiveness andcompetitiveness in the market place. Managing Automation's content is builtaround the key issues of manufacturing technology. Editorial experts provideinsight and analysis on current market conditions, technology products and thecompetitive landscape. For more information, please visitwww.managingautomation.com. About Sopheon Sopheon (LSE:SPE) is an international provider of software and services thathelp organizations improve the business impact of product innovation. Sopheon'sAccolade system automates and governs the innovation process, enabling companiesto increase revenue and profits from new products. Sopheon is listed on the AIMMarket of the London Stock Exchange and on the Euronext in the Netherlands. Formore information, please visit www.sopheon.com. For further information contact: Barry Mence, Chairman Sopheon plc Tel : + 44 (0) 1483 685 735 Arif Karimjee, CFOSarah Wharry, Nominated Seymour Pierce Limited Tel: +44 (0) 207 107 8000AdviserAndrew Tan Hansard Group Tel : +44 (0) 207 245 1100 + 44 (0) 7957 203 685Floor van Maaren Citigate First Financial Tel : + 31 (0) 205 754 010 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange