AbitibiBowater Selects Ivara EXP Enterprise Asset Performance Management

BURLINGTON, ON (December 19, 2007) – Ivara Corporation, the industry leader and innovator in asset performance management solutions, today announced that AbitibiBowater Inc., a global leader in newsprint, commercial printing papers and wood products, has selected Ivara EXP Enterprise software to optimize the performance and reliability of its pulp and paper assets. Working with USCCG, a leading management consulting firm and certified Ivara
Implementation Partner, the solution will be deployed throughout AbitibiBowater’s 29 paper mills.

Today’s pulp and paper industry is facing an unprecedented and challenging business climate resulting from significant increases in energy and raw material costs, heightened global competition and the strengthening of the Canadian dollar.  AbitibiBowater recognized that adopting asset reliability, within its corporate continuous improvement program, is a key business strategy to address these industry challenges and become the low-cost producer of
quality paper products within the marketplace. To deliver its pulp and paper mill reliability objectives, AbitibiBowater selected Ivara EXP Enterprise.

EXP Enterprise software provides a cohesive and integrated platform to develop, implement and manage a living equipment reliability program. EXP consolidates, analyzes and manages all asset health data online and in real-time. As proactive maintenance tasks are performed, EXP identifies potential failures and recommends the right maintenance task to be executed at the right time.

Ivara EXP Enterprise software will allow AbitibiBowater to implement a consistent, proactive maintenance business process across its operating assets, focusing on maintaining asset health rather than reactive asset repair. AbitibiBowater was impressed with the template capability of EXP, which enables the rapid deployment of proactive reliability programs across operating assets and mills. This capability will dramatically compress the implementation
timeline and result in rapid ROI. Of equal importance, EXP will capture and leverage the vast knowledge of AbitibiBowater’s experienced maintenance and operations staff to ensure their valuable knowledge is preserved for future generations.

“When assets fail, it’s more than just a maintenance issue; it’s a business issue that impacts productivity, quality and profitability,” says Gerry Bleau, president and CEO, Ivara Corporation.  “Industry leaders like AbitibiBowater recognize asset reliability as a key competitive strategy to effectively address challenging market conditions and achieve operational excellence. We are very pleased that they have selected the Ivara solution and are committed to their ongoing success.”

Ivara is the leader in asset performance management software, Ivara EXP Enterprise, and services including Ivara RCM2™, the leading reliability strategy development methodology.

RCM2 is delivered exclusively by The Aladon Network, Ivara’s global network of reliability experts. Ivara EXP prevents industrial equipment failure, increases production and lowers costs for better business performance. EXP transforms data into real-time intelligence and helps plant and operations management make fast and accurate business decisions. Customers worldwide, representing a cross section of asset intensive industries, realize the benefits of EXP every day. For more information, visit www.ivara.com