The company will also strengthen its skills in developing software for polymer technology especially in rubber, Tata Elxsi executive director and chief executive officer (CEO) S Devarajan said. Molecular Simulation has been bought into the country in association with the US-based MS Inc.

The company is close to inking a pact with a leading US-based firm for software development soon. As negotiations are at a final stage, we will announce the name only after that, Devarajan said.

Cad/Cam will, however, continue to be the thrust area for the company. It has an installed base of over 700 Cad/Cam systems in the country and offers solutions like concept design & styling to detail design verification, part design and digital mockup. It has several strategic allianceswith international firms like SGI, Compaq, SDRC, Matra Datavision, Alias Wavefront and MacNeal-Schwendler. A new product, launched recently is Virtual Prototyping in association with the UK-based Division. The product covers the entire gamut of designing and is most suited for defence purposes, he said.

The equity base of the company, incorporated in 1989, is Rs 31 crore and the Tatas hold around 40 per cent and the balance is with the public. Devarajan said Tata Elxsi had no plans to raise funds from the capital market immediately. The company's share price is around Rs 51.45.

Exports is another area where the company is pinning its hopes on. At present, exports constitute only 20 per cent of the turnover. "We want to increase this to 50 per cent by 2000 when we plan to have a turnover of Rs 500 crore plus," he added. The two development centres in Bangalore will continue to focus on export markets. Tata Elxsi also develops software for Hitachi from its Bangalore division. In fact Bangalore is the firstoutside location for the Japanese major.

Developing three-dimensional characters and images for incorporation in ad commercials, films and multimedia promotional campaigns, broadcast interactive graphic images are the areas of interest in film video and broadcast for the company, Devrajan said.