Representatives of The AutomatedTechnology Group were recently invited to

attend Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘ManufacturingInnovation Challenge’, held at the company’sTraining Centre in Castle Bromwich. This two-dayevent was an opportunity for JLR employees toexperience the latest technologies and ideasavailable from key suppliers.

We had a stand at which to highlight our services and, as the only systems integratorpresent, we received a high level of interest.Gareth Henry, Simulation Engineer, gave apresentation on discrete event simulation, whichwas well received and the whole event provedto be a great opportunity to showcase our

expertise and network with key people at JLR.Continued on page 2...

ATG SHOWCASESEXPERTISE TO JLR

Inside this issue:

SWING INTOACTION FOR GOLF DAY

WEBSITE WOES

SPOTLIGHT ONCRAIG JOHNSON

GET FIT FORSUMMER

DIARY DATES

www.the-atg.com

SPONSORSHIPNEWS

News across the group

April 2017 Issue 11

FROM THE CEO’S DESK

To add a little extra buzz, the ATG team ran a‘safe cracker’ competition to win an iPad mini.Participants watched our 2-minute corporatevideo, which contained a clue to the four-digitcode for a safe that was displayed on thestand. The prize was won by Charlotte – anapprentice working at JLR’s engine plant – who, coincidentally, is working for John Riley, a former ATG employee.

Tom Hendon, Regional Sales Manager, Controls

ATG SHOWCASESEXPERTISE TO JLR

FROM THECEO’S DESK...

The opportunities available to TheAutomated Technology Group since

joining Wood Group have been many andvaried. The fact that I have been spending asignificant amount of time ‘across the pond’ istestament to the huge potential in the UnitedStates alone. Working closely with the WoodGroup team, we have been able to secure anumber of significant international projects inthe automotive, oil and other industries.

Our manufacturing facility in Silsoe is enjoyingthe fruits of this success. Following on from itssuccessful achievement of UL accreditation –allowing ATG to add the UL quality mark tothe industrial control panels it builds for export

to the USA and Canada – the panel shop has wasted no time in breaking into the North American car industry. We are currentlymanufacturing for both Volvo in SouthCarolina and Tesla in California. Theseprojects, in conjunction with the majorcontribution we are making to the newJaguar Land Rover plant in Slovakia,demonstrate ATG’s commitment to taking a leading role in a global market.

And things are set to get even better. WithWood Group’s £2.2 billion takeover of AmecFoster Wheeler, two of the UK's largest energyservices companies are joining forces tocreate an organisation with a combined

value of some £5 billion. As Ian Marchant,Wood Group Chairman, said: “Thecombination represents a transformationaltransaction for Wood Group, whichaccelerates our strategy and creates aglobal leader in project, engineering andtechnical services delivery across a rangeof industrial sectors.”

I am sure that this exciting expansion of WoodGroup will open up even more opportunitiesfor our staff to further their careers.

Andy Robinson, CEO

Gareth Henry presented Charlotte, an apprentice with JLR, with an iPad

The ATG team was able to network with key people at Jaguar Land Rover

...continued from front cover

ATG-sponsored Bedford Blues are not having agreat season. They currently lie in 8th place inthe Greene King IPA Championship league on32 points having played 17 games, winningonly 5 and losing 12. London Irish top the table,victorious in 16 from 16. After a much-neededand morale-boosting win against Nottingham,the Blues next face 7th-placed London Scottishaway. We wish them luck and more victories intheir remaining games.

Paul Baxter, Shop Floor Team Leader

The Hatters are flying high in the top half of the EFL League 2. They currently sit 5th with 57points. Their last league match was a 0-4 awaywin at Yeovil Town and they have a game inhand on 4th-placed Carlisle, who are one pointin front on 58 points. They have back-to-backfixtures with a local derby at home againstStevenage – currently 6th in the table – andthen away to Carlisle. If results go to plan and Portsmouth falter, they could finish March in 3rd place.

Paul Baxter, Shop Floor Team Leader

LUTON TOWNIN THEASCENDANCY

BEDFORD GETTHE BLUES

SWING INTOACTION FORGOLF DAYWhether you’re a regular on the green or onlymake an occasional appearance, there’s notmuch time to get some practice in before TheAutomated Technology Group’s annual GolfDay. Making a welcome return to PavenhamPark Golf Club, this year’s competition takesplace on Friday 7th July, with the first tee offbeing at 1.30 pm. Although there will betrophies up for grabs, the emphasis will be firmlyon this being a fun event for everyone. If youare interested in taking part, please speak tome or Johnny Bangs to confirm your place.

Kevin Hardy, Controls Manager

Once again, The Automated Technology Groupwill act as the main sponsor for the Silsoe Stride, acharity running event held at Wrest Park, home toATG’s headquarters. As the course meandersthrough the estate of Wrest Park – a grade 1-listedcountry house owned by English Heritage – andsurrounding farmland, the scenery is spectacular.

This year the event will take place on Sunday25th June and will feature 5K and 10K races foradults, as well as a children’s fun run. We dohope there will be some runners from the ATGfamily again this year! The event not only providesan athletic challenge and social get-togetheraround the BBQ but also raises money for theSilsoe community; last year’s proceeds were sharedbetween Silsoe Village Hall, Silsoe MillenniumGreen Trust, Silsoe Lower School PTA, The SaveThe George campaign and Silsoe Pre-School.For more details, visit www.silsoestride.co.uk.

Bernadette McElhatton, Executive Assistant

SILSOE STRIDE

WEBSITE WOES

E-mail addresses are alsochanging, with mostremaining the same beforethe ‘@’ symbol but the restof the address becoming‘woodgroup.com’. Althoughthe ‘@atg.gb.com’ emailaddresses currently continueto work, they will cease tofunction after 30th April2017, when the old websitewill also disappear, soplease continue to urgeyour customers, suppliersand other contacts toupdate their address booksand records.

Simon Stevens, IT Manager

As many of you will be aware, we have had to deal with a considerable challenge recentlyconcerning our website and e-mail addresses. Due to circumstances beyond our control –namely, the domain registry concerned having lost the rights to a number of domain names,including .gb.com – our website has moved from www.atg.gb.com to www.the-atg.com.

DIARY DATESATG Annual Golf Day, 7th July –Pavenham Park Golf ClubTo take part, please contact Kevin Hardy or Johnny Bangs.

Silsoe Stride, 25th June – Wrest ParkVisit the website to book your place on thestart line: www.silsoestride.co.uk.

If you have an idea for an event or feedback on events held to date,please feel free to email your socialcommittee atJohnny.Bangs@psjfabrications.com

There is good news if you are still suffering fromthe excesses of Christmas – difficulty in gettingthat top button done up on your jeans, perhaps– because the exercise sessions from TrilineFitness will be back at Wrest Park from the firstweek in April. The outdoor fitness classes run onTuesdays at 5.15pm and 6.30pm, as well asThursdays at 7.30pm. There will also be TouchRugby at 6.45pm on Wednesdays from 18th April.For more details, visit www.trilinefitness.co.uk.

Jackie Pile, Receptionist

GET FIT FORSUMMER

Who or what brought you into this industry?My Dad was very mechanically minded andalways had various projects on the go. I wouldoften help out at weekends as a lad and thatinspired me to go down the engineering/fabricating road.

What’s the most enjoyable thingabout your job?Probably the people that I work with; some ofus have worked together for a long time. Weoften socialise together and it’s a good feelingto work together as part of a close team.

Who inspired you most in your career?I have learned quite a lot from various people inthe past, some of whom have long since retired,so it would be unfair to pick out any one person in particular.

If you were an item in awarehouse, what would you be?I would say a calendar. I’m quite good atremembering things, especially importantdates from the past.

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?I wouldn’t do anything differently. I firmly believethat everything happens for a reason,regardless of the path we took to get there.Regrets should only be for the things we didn’tdo, rather than what we did do.

What is the most embarrassing thingthat’s ever happened to you?As a young lad, I carried more pounds than Ishould have done. I was 8 years old and in awhole-school assembly when my top buttonbroke and my trousers fell to my ankles as I waswalking out!

Who or what makes you laugh?I’m a father to four children aged 4 to 15 years.There is not a day that goes by where one ofthem doesn’t make me laugh.

Is there anything you get annoyed by?People eating with their mouths open orchewing loudly – I can’t stand it.

If you won the lottery, what wouldyou do?I would pay my loved ones’ mortgages off, buya nice family home and car, and have a dreamholiday. I would also donate to several charities.

What’s your favourite book of all time?‘Saving Private Ryan’ is a great read. StevenSpielberg did it great justice with the film.

Who would be your perfect partyguest?I’m a big wrestling and Spurs fan so the ownerof WWE, Vince McMahon, and Paul Gascoignewould be nice.

What is your guilty pleasure?Peanut M&Ms, a glass of Prosecco and a goodrom-com on the box.

Do you have any secret ambitions?For my fiancée and I to open a Bed & Breakfastby the sea before we are 55 years old.

What’s your dream holidaydestination?Disneyland Florida. I was fortunate enough togo as a child and would love to be able totake the family one day.

Name your three favourite moviesof all time.Any movie with Tom Hanks in has to be upthere, and the 1980s was a great decade for movies, so I’d say: 1. The Green Mile, 2. The Karate Kid, 3. Halloween.

What’s your favourite pastime?Socialising and meals out with friends.

In this issue, we turn the interview spotlight on Craig Johnson, Site Co-ordinator for PSJ Fabrications.