Zurich, Switzerland, December 12, 2007:  AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has opened a new branch office in Japan. This office will complement its local agent. AutoForm has also added expertise in its management team in order to be better prepared for the future business growth.

AutoForm Japan K.K. has been established in Tokyo. The company has been serving the Japanese market since 1997 through Sumisho Computer Systems, providing its highly cost-effective software solutions to all the leading automotive manufacturers and suppliers, such as Nissan, Mitsubishi, Fuji Technica, Miyazu and Ogihara. In view of the fact that Japan is the world’s second largest automobile producer after the US, AutoForm has decided to undertake a more active role in the market. A new opened branch office in Tokyo, headed by Toshi Fujikawa (General Manager), emphasizes AutoForm’s motivation to cooperate closely with its customers and to serve their needs at first hand. In addition to Sumisho Computer Systems, AutoForm will further strengthen the collaboration with its customers and expand its customer base by additional agents, with focus on smaller companies.

The added expertise in the management team has empowered AutoForm for the future business growth. The reorganization of tasks and responsibilities, as well as the targeted recruitment of competence and expertise in management have been implemented in order to ensure the effective realization of strategic goals set by AutoForm for the coming years. The existing management team with Dr. Waldemar Kubli (Chief Executive Officer), Dr. Volker Steininger (Chief Operating Officer) and Dr. Markus Thomma (Corporate Marketing Director) has been strengthened and now includes Pieter J. van the Weijde (Corporate Commercial Director),
Anton Haas (Corporate Director Finances & Administration), and as of spring 2008, will also include Dr. Bart Carleer (Corporate Technical Director).

Furthermore, the company’s management shall continue to include the General Managers of the AutoForm local branch offices. The restructuring measures in the management are effective immediately.

Dr. Waldemar Kubli stated: “The expansion of the management team will allow me to dedicate more time to my favorite task as AutoForm’s head of development and to leave the other management functions in the safe hands of carefully selected experts in their respective fields.

About AutoForm Engineering

AutoForm Engineering develops and markets specialized die face design and simulation software for the automotive and sheet metal forming industries. With all of the Top 20 automobile producers and customers, AutoForm is recognized as the number one provider of software for product formability, die face design and virtual tryouts to the global automotive industry. AutoForm offices are located in Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, USA, Mexico, India, China, Japan and Korea. The company also serves the needs of its customers through agents and distributors in more than 15 other countries (Turkey, Brazil, etc.). For detailed information visit: www.autoform.com

Contact:

Dr. Markus Thomma, Director of Marketing
AutoForm Engineering GmbH
Technoparkstrasse 1
CH-8005 Zurich
Switzerland
Phone:  +41 43 444 61 61
Fax:     +41 43 444 61 62
Email:  markus.thomma@autoform.ch