Engineering Plastics Leader Invests in MAPICS SyteLine ERP To Drive Seamless Communication, Coordination Within UK Business Group

MAPICS, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM: MAPX), a leading global provider of enterprise solutions for world-class manufacturers, today announced an agreement to supply its SyteLine 7 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution to the ENSINGER UK Group, encompassing ENSINGER Ltd, TRIG Engineering and ENSINGER Precision Engineering (EPE), all part of global engineering plastics producer, ENSINGER GmbH, based in Nufringen, Germany.

The software, services and maintenance contract, which ENSINGER reported as worth around 287,000, is part of a 6 million investment by the ENSINGER UK group of companies for the transfer of its UK headquarters, its engineering plastics distribution business and ENSINGER Precision Engineering to new facilities at Parc Eirin, Tonyrefail, South Wales. ENSINGER is one of the UKs largest engineering plastics companies, with a combined turnover of 15 million. TRIG Engineering, based in Bridgwater, Somerset, is a plastic machining and assembly subcontractor, supplying to a range of industry sectors, particularly aerospace.

Steve Tipples, ENSINGERs general manager, comments: TRIG Engineering chose MAPICS SyteLine 7 chiefly due to its advanced planning and scheduling (APS) engine, which is a fully integrated part of the systems functionality, not a bolt-on. EPEs main criterion for purchase was SyteLine 7s flexibility in terms of customisation, allowing it to tailor the system to suit individual business needs. We also were attracted by the fact that the system was built on Microsoft.NET technology, which will give us a competitive edge in terms of seamless communication with suppliers and customers throughout the UK group.

Mr. Tipples also outlines some of the constraints the group has encountered over the years through the use of its previous software package. Our old system has been heavily modified over the 15 years we have used it and has proved consistently expensive to upgrade. In terms of functionality, it hasnt stood up to some of the more state-of-the-art software solutions currently on the market. A case in point is MAPICS SyteLine 7, with its user-friendliness, customisability, level of integration and richness of functionality, including APS.

MAPICS SyteLine 7 is built and deployed on the Microsoft.NET technology platform, including SQL Server 2000, Exchange Server 2000 and Windows 2000 and 2003. It empowers the manufacturer to personalise the user interface to meet unique industry, team or individual user requirements. The user can easily add, remove, and edit fields, labels, and complete screens without the need for technical programming. Importantly, time invested and business value created is not lost when the system is upgraded. As the company changes, MAPICS SyteLine 7 will adapt and move forward with the business.

MAPICS SyteLine 7 provides manufacturers with the means to compete effectively through enterprise-wide customer visibility and dynamic personalisation.

The group anticipates full implementation to be completed by August 2005 with a phased roll out of the MAPICS system beginning in the last quarter of 2004 at TRIG Engineering and EPE.

ENSINGER is yet another example of the forward-thinking manufacturers around the world that are recognising the tremendous value that can be gained from investing in an advanced ERP system like MAPICS SyteLine 7, said Jeff Cashman, MAPICS vice-president of International Operations. This new deal is reflective of the strong interest we continue to see in the product in key markets internationally.