During a recent three-day visit to the UKfrom Houston, Michele McNichol, CEO of

Wood Group Mustang (WGM), and Mark House,President of WGM’s Automation and Controlbusiness unit, had the chance to learn moreabout The Automated Technology Group andvisit one of its key clients, Jaguar Land Rover.

On arrival at the Silsoe headquarters on Monday7th March, Michele and Mark enjoyed an overviewpresentation of the group by Andy Robinson, CEO,before touring the site and chatting to staff. The day was rounded off with a drinks receptionand dinner at The Embankment in Bedford.

The visit to Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull planttook place the next day, beginning with an

exciting 4x4 experience at the company’s 14-mile, all-terrain track. Michele, Mark andAndy were then introduced to the Solihull facilityby Demos Hoursoglou, Body ConstructionTechnology Manager, before being guidedaround BodyShop 3 by Rich McDonell, SeniorManufacturing Manager, and then the TrimShop by Darren Ashford, Installations Director for ATG. Back in Silsoe on the Wednesday, theWGM executives enjoyed a simulation demoand updates on the Systems Business and TheAcademy, before Michele McNichol made afarewell speech to ATG staff.

Andy Robinson summed up the visit, saying “This has been a fantastic opportunity tocement relations between WGM and ATG.”

WARM UK WELCOME FOR SENIOR US EXECUTIVES

Inside this issue:

DUST DOWNYOUR PLUSFOURS!

PEDAL POWERFROM LONDONTO BRIGHTON

SPOTLIGHT ONROYSTON COX

NEW FACES JOIN SOCIALCOMMITTEE

www.atg.gb.com

SPONSORSHIPNEWS

News across the group

April 2016 Issue 9

GRADUATIONCEREMONY FORAPPRENTICES

With apprenticeships being at the heart of thebusiness, The Automated Technology Groupwas delighted to hold a graduation ceremonyrecently for The Academy’s apprentices oncompletion of their academic programme.

Held on 10th March at the Silsoe headquarters,the event celebrated the achievements of 17 apprentices from both The AutomatedTechnology Group and PSJ Fabrications. Theircertificates were presented by Group CEO,Andy Robinson, and Training Manager, PaulineNichols. “We take great pride in ourapprentices,” commented Pauline Nichols,“and it was a pleasure to congratulate themon this important milestone. It has beenfantastic to see them progress and achievenew goals year after year and we wish themall the best for the future.”

All of this year’s graduates of The Academywere offered the opportunity to continue theircareers within ATG and PSJ. With the

programme now accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, apprenticesalso have the opportunity to continue theirstudies to register as an Engineering Technician,Incorporated Engineer or Chartered Engineer.

The Automated Technology Group is currentlyrecruiting talented individuals to begin work andstudy as apprentices in autumn 2016 – find outmore in the Careers section of the website.

Kristina Zubareva, Marketing Assistant

GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR APPRENTICES AT GROUP HEADQUARTERS

FROM THE CEO’S DESK...I was delighted to be invited recently tothe Wood Group Mustang Global Summit

2016 in Austin, Texas, along with Bill Greenhalgh,Finance Director, and Ian Farmer, TechnicalDirector. We joined 250 senior Wood GroupMustang leaders for what is an annual event ofcollaboration and professional development forWGM staff, generally referred to as ‘Mustangers’.

Historically, of course, mustangers werecowboys in the USA who caught, broke anddrove to market the mustangs – or wild horses– of the American West. The AutomatedTechnology Group might have beenacquired by WGM but, fortunately, we don’trequire taming! Far from it – the sense of ‘anexcellent fit ’ that we described at the time of the acquisition has proven to be a reality.

The integration of ATG into WGM isproceeding verysuccessfully, ablydriven by our own BillGreenhalgh and BillSchock, WGM’s VicePresident InternationalOperations – AutomationBusiness Unit. Further to the productive and enjoyable visit by MicheleMcNichol and Mark House recently (see frontcover article), we look forward to forthcomingvisits to ATG by other US colleagues who willexplain more about WGM’s history and corevalues, as well as conducting our first audit by Wood Group.

Andy Robinson, CEO

It’s time to dig out your irons, wedges andputters as The Automated Technology GroupGolf Day makes a welcome return. Taking placeonce again at Pavenham Park Golf Club, thiscompetitive but fun event will be held on 1stJuly, with tee-off at 1pm. As in previous years, theformat will be a ‘Texas Scramble’ with additionalprizes for ‘nearest-the-pin’ and ‘longest drive’. If you are interested in taking part, please speakto me or Johnny Bangs to confirm your place.

Kevin Hardy, Controls Manager

DUST DOWNYOUR PLUSFOURS!

The team has shown good form since the NewYear, winning six of its nine matches, but needsto hold its nerve in the face of recent losses. Twoof these were to Jersey – one match in theChampionship and one in the British & Irish Cup– and the other was to Rotherham Titans.

However, the Goldington Road boys recoveredfrom 7-24 down to beat Ealing Trailfinders 33-24on 5th March. Further good news came whentwenty-year-old Piers O'Conor, the Blues’ fullbackwho played for England in the World Rugby U20Championship final last June, was namedFebruary's Greene King IPA Championship Playerof the Month.

Upcoming Championship matches include anaway game on Sunday 27th March againstYorkshire Carnegie; home versus Cornish Pirateson Saturday 2nd April; Doncaster Knights awayon Saturday 16th April; and a home gameversus Bristol on Saturday 23rd April.

Kerry Thompson, Apprentice

For the third year, The Automated TechnologyGroup will once again sponsor the Silsoe Stridecharity run held at Wrest Park, home to the groupheadquarters. This year’s event, which takesplace on Sunday 26th June, will still feature the5K adult fun run and the children’s race but willalso introduce a 10K elite race that will be chip-timed. As in previous years, the event willinclude a barbecue and will no doubt show offSilsoe’s great community spirit.

For more details, visit www.silsoestride.co.uk

Bernadette McElhatton, Executive Assistant

For Austen Greenway, Senior SimulationEngineer and driver of the racing car sponsoredby The Automated Technology Group, majorclosed season modifications to reduce thedrag of the car have centred around droppingthe entire bodywork by 50mm to lower theoverall frontal area.

This was not straightforward, as it required theengine to be lowered by modifying the enginemounting frame and shortening the sump, anew lower air box, cutting down the cockpitbulkheads and dashboard, relocating and

modifying the header and catch tanks andaltering the gear linkage!

On top of the structural alterations required, a lower and more aerodynamic sill had to bemanufactured, and the front nose section cutand blended to meet the floor, which in turnmeant that the radiator mounting position hadto altered. The race is now on to get the carback together and ready for the first race of theseason at Oulton Park on 2nd April.

Matt Challinor, Senior Project Manager

MAJOR MODS FOR RACE CAR

SILSOE STRIDEEXPANDS

BEDFORDBLUES ON FORM

PEDAL POWER FROM LONDON TO BRIGHTONA group of six from PSJ Fabrications will be takingpart in this year’s London to Brighton cycle ride,raising money for the British Heart Foundation.Named ‘Team Suki’ – after the nickname ofteam member, Jadvinder Nandha – the intrepidhalf dozen will tackle the gruelling 54-milechallenge on 19th June.

Along with Suki, Press Brake Operator, the teamcomprises Jim Clark, Operations Manager;

Dan Parkes, Fabricator; Chris Parkes, Dan’s dad; Bill White, Technical Manager; and Andy Wright,Works Manager.

Please consider sponsoring Team Suki – you candonate online via their JustGiving page, whichwill be up and running shortly.

Johnny Bangs, Junior Planning Engineer

What brought you into this industry?I sort of drifted in to it but, with a keen interest inanything automotive and engineering in general,it’s where I’ve stayed.

What’s the most exciting thingabout your job?I wouldn’t say purchasing is the most excitingof professions, but securing a good deal andgetting things in on time at the right price isquite satisfying.

Who inspired you most in your career?My good friend, Paul Rodell, who helped mewhen starting out in purchasing at Estil.

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?My only real regret is not choosing TechnicalDrawing over Art when selecting my optionsat school.

What is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?My short-term memory has got me in to allsorts of bother and my inability to rememberpeople’s names has put me on the spot onquite a few occasions.

If you won the lottery, what wouldyou do?Apart from the usual – buy a nice house, traveland so on – I would set myself up with a fullyequipped garage, restore old cars and go racing.

What’s your favourite book of all time?Being dyslexic, I’ve only read a few novels so it would have to be the Haynes car manual,‘How to build yourself a sports car for £250 orless’. It’s a classic!

Who would be your perfect party guest?If he were still with us, it would have to beJames Hunt. He knew how to party!

Who or what makes you laugh?Monty Python. I know quite a few of theirsketches word for word.

What is your guilty pleasure?A nice, smooth single malt.

Do you have any secret ambitions?To get behind the wheel of a Formula One carand do a few laps.

What’s your dream holidaydestination?Italy is top of my list but anywhere with history,beautiful architecture and breathtaking scenery.

Name your three favourite movies of all time.Pulp Fiction, The Italian Job (the original withMichael Caine) and The Blues Brothers.

What’s your favourite pastime?I have lots but my favourites are photography,painting, golf and tinkering with my MG sports car.

Do you have any hidden talents?I don’t hide my talents very well as I tend toshow them off when Ican, but not everyoneknows about my artisticabilities. I do like topaint in watercoloursand have even done acouple of commissionsfor people at work. I’vealso fully restored aclassic Mini, somethingI’m particularly proud of.

DIARY DATESSilsoe Stride Charity Fun Run, 26th June, Wrest ParkJoin in the 5K adult run, 10K elite race, children’s race or barbecue and festivities.

ATG Annual Golf Day, 1st July, Pavenham Park Golf ClubAnother competitive but fun event is planned for 1st July, with tee-off at 1pm.

If you have an idea for an event or feedback on events held to date,please feel free to email your social committee at social@atg.gb.com

The Automated Technology Group’s socialcommittee is delighted to welcome Vicky York,Procurement Assistant for ATG (pictured, top),and Jackie Pile, Receptionist for ATG (pictured,below), as new members.

It is with great regret that we have had to say ‘farewell’ to Kerry Thompson who has left the committee and the company to pursue other ventures – we wish her well andgood luck for the future.

Johnny BangsJunior Planning Engineer

NEW FACESJOIN SOCIALCOMMITTEE

In this issue, we turn the interview spotlight on Royston Cox, SeniorProcurement Officer for TheAutomated Technology Group.