CSIRO's award winning software Fastflo is to be launched on the commercial market.

The software has a million dollar market potential. It will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Compumod.

Fastflo is specialist software for simulating aspects of industrial processes. It solves important equations underlying complex fluid flows, such as molten metal or air.

Dr Nick Stokes, team leader for Fastflo, said "In May we pitted Fastflo against software produced by large international software houses in a problem posed by German carmaker, Daimler-Benz.

"The challenge was to accurately predict airflow over a model car," Dr Stokes explained. "If designs can be got right on computer, it saves time and money otherwise spent testing in wind tunnels." The result? The Australian software made good - Fastflo's accuracy was as good or better than the competition's.

The software is quick and easy for scientists and engineers to use. It can be tailored to individual problems. In 1997, 'toolboxes' will be available for important applications, such as turbulent flows in pipes.

CSIRO is negotiating with international distributors and anticipating substantial exports. Dr Stokes said "It's pleasing that CSIRO can partly reverse the tide of software flooding into Australia."

More information from: Dr Nick Stokes 03-9545 8006 (w), 03-9532 8052 (h), 0414 646 640 (m) Judy Lain 02-9325 3269 Information about Fastflo is available on the WWW at http://www.mel.dms.csiro.au/~nick/world/proFF.html.

*** Media are invited to attend the launch of Fastflo at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 12 November at the University of Melbourne. ***