ATS Automation Tooling lays off 180 workers (February 01, 2007)

Industrial automation supplier ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (ATS) is laying off 180 employees from its Automation Systems Group (ASG) workforce in North America.

Approximately 100 of these eliminated positions will be from the company’s Cambridge, Ont., facility. The reduction amounts to seven per cent of the ASG division’s global workforce.

The downsizing is part of an aggressive ongoing program to strengthen performance and improve global market positioning, according to the company, which is headquartered in Cambridge. “The actions we’ve taken today are necessary to help us further improve overall performance as we address the significant negative impact of foreign exchange, continuing restructuring in North American automotive markets and migration of manufacturing to offshore markets,” Ron Jutras, ATS’ president and CEO, said.

The downsizing is expected to decrease ATS’ annualized payroll costs by an estimated $11 million before taxes.