.Net tools for working with excel matrices...

We have a project where we will need to consume what are basically design tables in excel format. Information in the rows will be used as sets of data to drive designs in a cad system. Before I hand code a class that uses a 2 dimension array and several methods to get and place information - I'm wondering if anyone knows of a nice .Net tool that can simplify what I need to build? I've read a bit about datatables, but it looks like they only work with a database.

Thanks in advance,
Danny

** Bump ** Wow this board moves fast! Anyone? I start next week on this - any suggestions for a well suited .Net (or other) tool. It seems there would already be something best used for this in the framework.

Thanks,
Danny