ALGOR's Professional MES finite element analysis (FEA) software was used by Anchor Industries to design vehicle maintenance shelters (VMSs) that meet structural requirements of the military market. The VMS has to stand up under wind, snow, and the weight of suspended equipment. To compete structurally, Anchor had to design in a substantial reduction in the weight of the tent's frame and covering, keep stresses below 60-70% of yield, allow easy assembly through elimination of some external parts, and use extrusions from Anchor's inventory instead of new parts. To compete monetarily, Anchor had to keep the cost competitive while meeting standards from the supply center for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). With ALGOR's software, Richard D Cook, senior structural engineer for Anchor, created a FEA model based on use of the existing extrusions. Channels into which fabric panels slide were designed into vertical beams forming arches, so that the need to use vinyl panels was eliminated. When the FEA model had been designed in its first version and meshed, Cook started defining loads. With ALGOR Professional MES, the engineer could consider the nonlinear effects of X-cables used. A prototype of the VMS was built on the FEA analyses, and a 40% reduction in aluminum was the largest cost savings over Anchor' previous VMS cost and the competition's LME structure. Anchor expects to deliver the first ten units for military use by August 1, 2006.