ATS EUROPEAN OPERATIONS STRENGTHENED AND PRIMED TO ADVANCE THIS YEAR

Munich, Germany: Canadian ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., worldwide leading manufacturer of machines and solutions in the field of automation engineering focuses activities in Europe. The company reported that its European operations are poised, with an innovative plan and a stronger focus, for further advancement due to a number of import improvement measures that have been recently implemented to benefit customers and quality.

"The past 12 months have been extremely active for ATS in Europe as we streamlined and strengthened our organization and enhanced our ability to deliver innovative manufacturing solutions on an efficient and effective basis," said Uwe Geissinger, ATS Vice President of Automation Systems Operations, Europe. "Now that a more efficient foundation is in place, we look forward to significant advancement this year as we better serve the needs of our customers within our core markets of healthcare (medical technology, pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology), automotive, computer-electronics and consumer products and contribute at a higher level to our overall corporate strategy.

In a fiscal year-end review of progress, Mr. Geissinger outlined several significant improvement steps that have now been successfully taken by ATS’s Automation Systems Group (ASG) in Europe to improve quality of service to customers. These improvements included:

• relocating Mr. Geissinger to Munich to lead Group development in Europe (previously he was stationed for more than seven years at the Company's World Headquarters in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada)
• appointing Dr. Oliver Cerza as the European Quality Director as part of the Group's mandate to harmonize quality, standards and implement consistent management systems
• establishing Munich as European Regional Headquarters of ASG's operations in Munich – Germany, Lyon – France, Zurich – Switzerland and Birmingham – UK (which was acquired in fiscal 2006)
• certifying all European ASG locations to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 standards
• certifying ATS Munich GmbH & Co. KG to DIN EN ISO 13485
• introducing consistent management processes across European ASG operations

"Each of these initiatives are part of a broader global strategy that ATS has implemented to provide outstanding value to our customers wherever they are located, superior financial return to our shareholders and a premier work environment for our employees," underlined Mr. Geissinger. "The advancement of ATS in Europe is critically important to the success of this strategy. The strong support that we have received corporately for our very active advancement agenda reflects this fact very well."

Going forward, Mr. Geissinger accented that "our focus is now on leveraging not only the operational improvements we made here in Europe in 2006, but the full power of ATS's worldwide assets. We enjoy significant competitive advantages: a global presence and an extensive portfolio of manufacturing capabilities. With (18) ASG facilities in Europe, the United States, China, Asia-Pacific and Canada – each having access to our industry-leading knowledge and solutions – ATS is uniquely positioned to help European multinationals profit from their global manufacturing strategies. We will put much greater emphasis on explaining these advantages now that we have elevated our European facilities to a higher standard of operational excellence."

"As we look ahead for ATS in Europe, we believe we are really only on the cusp of realizing our potential and we are excited by our opportunities and potential to serve."

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. provides innovative, custom designed, built and installed manufacturing solutions to many of the world's most successful companies. Founded in 1978, ATS uses its industry-leading knowledge and global capabilities to serve the sophisticated automation systems' needs of multinational customers in healthcare, computer/electronics, automotive and consumer products. Through its solar business, ATS participates in the rapidly-growing solar energy industry. It also leverages its many years of repetitive manufacturing experience and skills to produce, in high volume, precision components and subassemblies and to answer the specialized repetitive manufacturing requirements of customers. ATS employs approximately 3,500 people at 25 manufacturing facilities in Europe, the United States, China, Asia-Pacific and Canada. The Company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the Symbol ATA. Visit the Company's website at www.atsautomation.com.

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
European Regional Headquarter
Marsstraße 2
D-85551 Heimstetten
Tel 089 427 221 - 0
Fax 089 427 221-660
germany@atsautomation.com
Ansprechpartner für alle Presseanfragen
Alexander Sedlak
Tel 089 427 221 - 196
Fax 089 427 221 - 660
asedlak@atsautomation.com

This release was published on openPR.