MTS Systems Announces New UK Research Facility to Accelerate Development of its Electric Power Systems Product Line

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MTS Systems Corporation MTSC, is pleased to announce plans to establish a new research and development technology center at the Surrey Research Park, owned by The University of Surrey, in the United Kingdom. This facility will support the MTS Motorsports Technology Group, and specifically focus on its electric power systems ("EPS") product line.

In commenting on the new technology center, Professor Mark Gillan, Ph.D., leader of the MTS Motorsports Technology Group, stated, "This is a significant expansion in capability and resources that will allow MTS to accelerate the development of EPS in key performance areas, such as size, mass, thermal tolerance, durability, lead times and cost, allowing us to move this exciting transformational technology efficiently into new high-growth markets, as well as further expanding into our existing markets."

"The University is delighted to welcome MTS' EPS technology facility to the Surrey Research Park. We are proud to have such a prestigious company in Surrey, developing this important technology," shared Dr. Malcolm Parry, Director of the Surrey Research Park. "The University of Surrey has developed the Surrey Research Park to attract companies to co-locate their technical and development facilities here with the intention of working together to drive technological advances."

The move toward electrification in the automotive, aerospace and energy sectors is progressing rapidly. MTS' investment in this new facility builds on the electric motor technology that MTS has pioneered for over a decade. Originally developed to support its advanced testing systems, and more recently for direct use in Formula 1 racing, MTS has continued to work to design and build more efficient motors that are currently being incorporated into concept cars for several automotive manufacturers. Targeted to open by the end of 2015, this new research and development technology center represents a significant expansion in development and production capability for MTS' EPS product line, enabling faster product development, and the introduction of this exciting technology into new markets. Currently, MTS' EPS solutions are used within motorsports, OEM supercars technology demonstrators, the oil and gas industry and various other commercial applications.

"We are very proud of our innovative electric motor technology, and the platform it has created for accelerated growth," stated Dr. Jeffrey Graves, MTS President and Chief Executive Officer. "The projected growth in the electric and hybrid consumer vehicle markets is driving OEM's to create and commercialize more efficient and reliable high-performing solutions. These trends are driving our continued investment in finding electric solutions for the world's markets and provide us with an excellent opportunity for rapid growth within this area of our business."

About MTS Systems Corporation

MTS Systems Corporation's testing hardware, software and services solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development, and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products, and structures. MTS' high-performance position sensors provide controls for a variety of industrial and vehicular applications. MTS had 2,180 employees at September 27, 2014 and revenue of $564 million for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014. Additional information on MTS can be found at www.mts.com.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "projects," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "targets," "anticipates," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements in the release.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. For a more thorough discussion of the risks associated with our business, see the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filings. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE MTS Systems Corporation