Bruce Power marks next step of major project collaboration with ATS in Cambridge – TheRecord.com

A collaboration between Cambridge's Automation Tooling Systems and Bruce Power took major next steps that will result in the creation of further jobs in the province.

On Friday, Feb 21, ATS unveiled the tooling systems that will be used to perform major work in Bruce Power's Major Component Replacement (MCR) project.

The MCR project, launched last month with the start of refurbishing the Unit 6 nuclear reactor at the Bruce B generating station, is the centrepiece of Bruce Powers Life-Extension Program, which will ensure the company continues to produce carbon-free, low-cost and reliable electricity through 2064. ATS Automation has a multi-year tooling agreement with Bruce Power for the supply of automated tooling systems and related services.

The tools designed and built to safely remove the irradiated reactor components have, over the last year, undergone significant testing at ATSs Major Component Replacement Integration Facility. As this phase of the work for tools for Unit 6 is being completed, ATS in collaboration with Bruce Power is preparing the tools for shipment to site for use in the hands-on training and preparation for work in the Unit 6 refurbishment.

The delivery of the tooling for the MCR project is a significant accomplishment for our team and represents the culmination of several years of effort that spanned design, first-off tool builds and quality testing and, finally, production tooling with detailed integration testing for the Unit 6 refurbishment, said Andrew Hider, CEO of ATS. This work drew upon many of our highly skilled people at ATS, which included engineers, programmers, vision experts, electricians, toolmakers, integrators, technicians and support staff.

We are proud of the work accomplished by our team in collaboration with Bruce Power.

The Life-Extension Program at Bruce Power will create and sustain 22,000 direct and indirect jobs annually, while creating $4 billion in annual economic benefit to Ontario through the direct and indirect spending on operational equipment, supplies, materials and labour income.

The Ontario government, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, is also supporting ATS Automation through an investment of $1.5 million from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund for its expansion of its Cambridge, Ont., campus. With Ontarios support, ATS is expanding its operations by 122,000 square feet, including dedicated space for an Innovation Centre and creating 80 new positions.

Our government has been working hard to create the best conditions for businesses and job creators, said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. That is why we are supporting forward-thinking companies like ATS Automation through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund. Through our continued commitment to supporting key sectors, like advanced manufacturing in regional communities, we are helping make Ontario open for business and open for jobs.

This collaboration between ATS and Bruce Power is excellent news for our community and the province of Ontario, said Amy Fee, MPP for Kitchener South-Hespeler. The substantial number of jobs created through this project will have a tremendous economic impact for many years to come.

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Bruce Power marks next step of major project collaboration with ATS in Cambridge - TheRecord.com