Nemetschek and Adobe enter strategic partnership

Munich , January 15, 2007 — The Nemetschek Group, one of the leading technology groups worldwide for the design, construction and management of buildings and real estate, and Adobe Systems Inc. will be working together more closely in future. The two companies are thus consolidating their roles as technology leaders with the introduction of PDF as the format of the future for the exchange of data in the building industry. The aim of the strategic alliance is to optimize processes of architects and engineers. To do this, Nemetschek will integrate the PDF generation function on the basis of the original Adobe PDF Libraries with its CAD software Allplan.
“Interoperability, seamless file formats and efficient processes are becoming increasingly important for architects and engineers. The partnership with Adobe is thus a decisive step on the way to meeting these market requirements“, explains Michael Westfahl, member of the Managing Board responsible for Sales and Marketing at Nemetschek. A central component of the collaboration is the licensing of the Adobe PDF Library Software Developer Kit by Nemetschek. As a result, users can create PDF files from within Allplan. These PDF files feature intelligent functions such as layers, scale information, searchable text and 3D models.

Optimized processes for users and customers
By significantly increasing established PDF functions in CAD systems, it will be easier in future for architects and engineers to exchange and match drawings and project documents with customers and partners. Not only is it possible to create PDF files with layer structures directly from Allplan as usual, but PDF files can also be re-imported in Allplan.
Furthermore, users can merge design drawings, project drawings and drawings from different sources in a single PDF file, regardless of vendor-dependent interface formats. This means: optimized processes for the senders and recipients of documents. All parties involved can be included in the building coordination process thus ensuring that a clear record of the approval process is maintained. At the same time, the international data exchange format IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) – optimized on the basis of a Business Information Server – increases in importance.
The use of PDF allows for shorter planning cycles while at the same time reducing project costs. In addition, the use of PDF guarantees a reliable exchange of information in technical project teams since, in future, drawings and models can be protected from unauthorized access and confidential data cannot be misused.

“Adobe and Nemetschek share a vision for Adobe PDF as a key component of AEC document processes”, says Tom Hale, Senior Vice President, Knowledge Workers Solutions Business Unit, Adobe. “By this strategic alliance, we enable our combined customers to realize even greater value from PDF in the form of more efficient communication processes.”

About Nemetschek
The Nemetschek Group is one of the world’s leading technology companies for the design, construction and management of buildings and real estate. Its standard software solutions, available in 16 languages, are used by more than 270.000 companies in 142 countries. Nemetschek’s IT solutions create synergies and optimize the overall building creation and management process in terms of quality, cost and time. In the 2005 financial year, the Nemetschek group achieved sales of € 99 million.