ATS introduces specialized automation consulting service
for healthcare
TSX: ATA
CAMBRIDGE, ON, May 3 /CNW/ - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. today
announced it has introduced a specialized automation engineering consulting
service to further enhance the high value solutions it provides to
pharmaceutical, medical diagnostics and medical device customers.
The new service, called ATS Compliant Solutions, is the first of its kind
in the automation industry dedicated to helping healthcare companies fully
assess, plan, implement and qualify their automation projects.
In announcing the creation of ATS Compliant Solutions, ATS President and
Chief Executive Officer Klaus Woerner said: "Because of rigorous government
regulations, combined with mounting pressure to improve productivity and
profitability, healthcare companies face a unique set of challenges when it
comes to manufacturing processes and manufacturing compliance. As a result,
there is a substantial need in the marketplace for comprehensive professional
advisory and engineering consulting services that are specifically dedicated
to helping healthcare customers make the right decisions with respect to
manufacturing processes and automation. This need will be fully met by the
experts at ATS Compliant Solutions.
"This new service enables customers to define and implement automation
solutions that meet not only the highest regulatory standards but also the
highest standards for efficiency, throughput, quality and cost-effectiveness."
Mr. Woerner added that this new strategic initiative was launched in
direct response to "very strong interest in these types of value-added
services from customers in healthcare in general and pharmaceuticals in
particular. ATS is uniquely positioned to add consulting engineering to its
capabilities because of our comprehensive knowledge of healthcare and
pharmaceutical automation and our extensive turnkey integration capabilities."
The team assembled for ATS Compliant Solutions includes both automation
industry professionals and veterans with direct experience in healthcare and
pharmaceutical markets. The group will be led by Thomas Hayes, P.Eng., General
Manager, who has more than 20 years' experience in senior operating and
consulting roles in the highly-regulated pharmaceutical industry, and will be
supported by a core group of process experts as well as by the in-house
engineering capabilities of ATS.
Said Mr. Hayes: "ATS Compliant Solutions will enable customers to get the
most out of each dollar invested because they can look to us for turn-key,
unbiased and comprehensive knowledge of automation planning, design, proof of
principle, and of course, production and implementation.
"The role of ATS Compliant Solutions is to work collaboratively with
customers from the initial planning stage right through to implementation and
qualification. With this service, applying automation for competitive
advantage will become easier, less time-consuming and more efficient for all
customers, whether they are new to automation or are already benefiting from
it.
ATS Compliant Solutions will have a worldwide reach with an initial
special emphasis on the so-called pharmaceutical corridor in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. It will offer automation planning, project management, process
development, process validation, certification, documentation, operational
efficiency improvement, automation simulation, process development and proof
of principle services.
"As long-time customers of ATS know, we've always provided more than
equipment and technology as part of our total solutions strategy," said
Mr. Woerner. "Knowledge has always been the cornerstone of our capabilities.
With the creation of ATS Compliant Solutions, we've formalized the delivery of
consulting engineering and this will allow us to offer an unparalleled level
of customer support."
Automation in Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
Improving manufacturing technology, quality and yields has recently
become a critical objective for the drug development and manufacturing
industry. It is already a preoccupation for diagnostics and medical device
manufacturers. These high growth industries regard improved manufacturing
productivity and quality as key opportunities to lower costs and maintain
profit margins in the face of increasing competition and government cost
containment initiatives. This has created significant interest in automation
and in ATS in particular, the world leader in automation. Today,
pharmaceuticals represent about two thirds of the $550 billion global
healthcare product market, and this industry is forecast to grow 12% annually
over the next 5 years.
About ATS
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (www.atsautomation.com) is the
industry's leading designer and producer of turn-key automated manufacturing
and test systems, which are used primarily by multinational corporations
operating in a variety of industries including: automotive, electronics,
healthcare, and consumer products. The Company also makes precision components
and sub-assemblies using its own custom-built manufacturing systems, process
knowledge and automation technology. Through Photowatt International S.A., and
Spheral Solar Power Inc., ATS is an emerging leader in the rapidly growing
market for solar energy cells and modules. ATS employs approximately 3,500
people at 26 facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
The Company's shares are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
ATA.
Certain forward looking statements are made in this news release,
including statements regarding possible future business. Investors are
cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of ATS'
products, technologies, customer requirements and other risks detailed from
time to time in ATS' periodic reports filed with Canadian regulatory
authorities.
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For further information: Ron Jutras, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (519) 653 6500