Opal-RT Technologies Announces Major European Expansion

*Opal-RT Europe to manage all European company operations and provide engineering and technical support to European customers and distributors
MONTREAL, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Opal-RT Technologies Inc. (www.Opal-RT.com), the leading developer of open, PC-based Real-Time Simulators for electrical, mechanical and power electronic systems today announced that the company has reached an agreement in principle with Viveris Technologies of Paris, France to jointly establish a European subsidiary. Opal-RT Europe will serve the needs of Opal-RT customers and distributors from the Atlantic Ocean to Russia. The announcement occurred during Opal-RT CEO Jean Belanger's keynote address at Real Time 2009, the 2nd Annual Opal-RT International User Conference (www.RealTime2009.com).
Opal-RT Europe will be based in Paris and jointly owned and operated by Opal-RT Technologies and Viveris Technologies. Opal-RT Europe will be led by Cedric Jacquault, currently Executive Director of Viveris Technologies. Viveris has been the exclusive distributor of Opal-RT products in France, and Spain since 2005, as well as a developer of complementary technologies for the Opal-RT Real-Time Simulation platform.
The formation of Opal-RT Europe is expected to be made official in the 4(th) quarter of 2009.
"The European market for engineering tools is among the largest in the world. Opal-RT's success in Europe has been crucial to the growth of Opal-RT since the company's founding in 1997," said Mr. Belanger. "Viveris Technologies' technical expertise and commitment to strong marketing and superior customer service has greatly contributed to our success in Europe. The formation of Opal-RT Europe, in partnership with Viveris, will ensure future growth while enabling us to continue to provide our European customers and distributors with the high level of service and support to which they have become accustomed."
"Opal-RT Technologies has developed a reputation for developing Real-Time Simulation technologies that are not only ideal for use in a wide variety of applications and industries, but also designed to be scalable and affordable for even the smallest engineering organizations," said Mr. Jacquault. "Since becoming an Opal-RT technology partner and distributor, our business and expertise has increasingly focused on the needs of electrical engineers who can benefit from the use of Opal-RT products. As a result, Viveris' partnership in Opal-RT Europe is a logical next step for us, and ensures Opal-RT products will be in reach of electrical engineers at companies, utilities and universities across Europe."
Opal-RT Europe will manage all sales, marketing and technical support operations, servicing both Opal-RT customers and distributors in the following European countries:
Andorra, Algeria, Austria, Belgarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marocco, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
While core product development takes place at Opal-RT headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Opal-RT Europe will continue to develop complementary products designed to meet the specific needs and requests of European customers.
About Viveris Technologies
VIVERIS Technologies is an advanced technology engineering company. Our services cover our customers' entire product development cycle. Since our creation in 1988, we have worked in an ongoing sustainable development ethic, in order to bring tangible added value to our customers. VIVERIS Technologies is ISO-certified 9001:2000.
Viveris is a distributor and integrator of Opal-RT products in France and Spain.
About Opal-RT Technologies Inc.
Founded in 1997, Opal-RT is the leading developer of open Real-Time Digital Simulators and hardware-in-the-loop testing systems for electrical, power electronic and electro-mechanical systems. Opal-RT's unique approach integrates parallel, distributed computing with commercial-off-the-shelf technologies. Opal-RT's customers perform Rapid Control Prototyping, System Integration, and Hardware-in-the-Loop testing of electric drives, electronic controllers and power distribution networks used in manufacturing, electric train networks, and by electrical utilities. Companies using Opal-RT Simulators include ABB, BHEL, Denso, GE, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric, GM and Toyota.