New MTS Test Solution Accelerates Deployment of Energy Recovery Technology in Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Systems

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MTS Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MTSC), a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems and position sensors, today announced the availability of the MTS 'ERS Test Solution', designed to help automotive companies introduce and optimize Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) in their hybrid-electric vehicles.  This unique test system spans the performance range from Formula One racing to high-volume commercial passenger vehicles, bringing reduced development cycle times and realistic operating conditions to these hybrid vehicle systems.  ERS technologies are the heart of next generation hybrid-electric vehicles, recovering the energy produced by braking and exhaust gas.  Recovered energy is converted to electric power that can be stored or used immediately to boost vehicle power and fuel efficiency.

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Successfully integrating ERS technologies into a vehicle platform requires considerable development and complex testing. Leveraging its experience in designing and manufacturing ERS components for Formula 1 racing teams, MTS has developed an accurate and repeatable means of performing such tests, greatly accelerating the process of ERS integration for any given vehicle.

"With the MTS solution, engineers now have a reliable way to address the challenges inherent in ERS technology development, and to accelerate its deployment into real-world vehicle environments," said Dr. Rich Baker, Senior Vice President of MTS Test. "Developers can accurately evaluate how different ERS operating strategies affect vehicle performance and efficiency, giving them valuable insight into how to best capture, store and return energy back to the drive train."

The MTS ERS test solution incorporates a computer-generated vehicle and physical test stations for up to three ERS components, enabling the accurate simulation of a fully integrated vehicle. It is capable of testing components that rotate at angular velocities of up to 120,000 RPM and absorb/generate up to 150 kW.

"Reducing fossil fuel consumption, while maintaining high performance, is one of the foremost challenges of our time, and there is tremendous potential for energy recovery technology to boost the fuel efficiency of vehicles with internal combustion engines," said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, MTS President and CEO. "When manufacturers of passenger cars, commercial trucks and even aircraft engines decide to incorporate ERS into their designs, the MTS ERS test solution will be a critical tool for helping them make the most of it."

About MTS Systems Corporation

MTS Systems Corporation is a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems and position sensors. The Company's testing hardware and software 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 2,147 employees and revenue of $542 million for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012. Additional information on MTS can be found on the worldwide web at http://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 are used to identify these forward-looking statements.

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. Among these factors are risks related to: government contracting; the Company's significant international business including but not limited to currency value fluctuations, difficulty enforcing agreements and collecting receivables, import and exporting matters, higher danger of terrorist activity, difficulty in staffing and compliance with laws; volatility in the global economy; competition; failure to achieve the Company's growth plans for the expansion of its business because the Company's long-term success depends on its ability to expand its business through new product development, mergers and acquisitions, geographic expansion and service offerings, all of which are subject to inherent risks including but not limited to market demand, market acceptance of products and our ability to advance our technology; difficulties obtaining the services of skilled employees; failure to protect its intellectual property effectively or infringement upon the intellectual property of others; product liability and commercial litigation; difficulty obtaining materials or components for its products; government regulation; the irregularity and development of sales, delivery and acceptance cycle for the Company's products; the Company's customers are in cyclical industries; interest rate fluctuations; the Company may be required to recognize impairment charges for long-lived assets; and cost, reputational and other risks associated with disclosing use of conflict minerals. For a more thorough discussion of the risks associated with our business, see the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent SEC 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.

SOURCE MTS Systems Corporation