ATK Opens "ACCE" Facility to Handle $1 Billion+ Commercial Aircraft Orders

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) today celebrated the grand opening of its new Aircraft Commercial Center of Excellence (ACCE) facility in Clearfield, Utah – less than one year after the announcement of the expansion. The facility serves as the headquarters for ATK's commercial aircraft programs and supports the manufacturing of composite airframe and engine components for the Airbus A350 XWB, and General Electric and Rolls-Royce engine programs.  As previously announced, ATK has received commercial aircraft component orders exceeding $1 billion over the last several years.  

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"Our new Aircraft Commercial Center of Excellence is a key component in our strategy to capitalize on the growing demand for modern, more efficient commercial aircraft." said Mark DeYoung, ATK's President and CEO. "Our longstanding experience in highly-engineered composite structures and our expertise in automated manufacturing methods are now matched by a state-of-the-art production facility." 

"Combined with our $500 million of orders for military aircraft composite structures, ATK is in two high-growth markets for the long-term," added ATK Aerospace Systems President Blake Larson.

The building is 615,000 square feet dedicated to high-rate composite manufacturing.  ATK has approximately 100,000 square feet committed to clean rooms which accommodate its patented automated stiffener forming technology and engine wrap machines.  Initial production of 700 parts per month will accelerate with customer needs and market expansion.  At rate production levels, the ACCE facility will produce 10,000 parts per month. "As a result of the growth in our structures business, ATK expects to add up to 800 future jobs in support of composite manufacturing in Utah," says Joy de Lisser, Vice President and General Manager of Aerospace Structures.  "With the hands-on training we offer, this growth creates an opportunity to develop a workforce possessing the high-tech skills needed in the aerospace industry."

The ACCE facility is strategically located adjacent to ATK's existing Utah composite facilities which manufacture military aircraft composite structures.  The location allows ATK to take full advantage of its existing design, engineering and technical expertise and positions it to meet the rapid increase for composite structures in the commercial aerospace market.

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion.  News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.  Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: assumptions regarding production rates; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the company's competitive environment; and economic conditions.  ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.  For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Alliant Techsystems