MTS Systems Honored By Wichita State University For Support Of National Institute For Aviation Research (NIAR)

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MTS Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MTSC), a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems and sensors, was awarded the Fairmount Society Lifetime Associate status by the Wichita State University Foundation in recognition of the longstanding collaboration between MTS and the University's National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).

NIAR is one of the most highly regarded research and development organizations in the aviation industry - providing aerospace manufacturers with the state-of-the-art test resources they require to realize major engineering advances. It carries out a wide array of component and materials tests on both commercial and military aircraft.

The cooperation between MTS and NIAR spans decades. During that time MTS has made significant investment in equipment and expertise to assist NIAR's research activities. Three years ago, MTS played a key role in NIAR establishing its Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center (ASTEC), providing and fitting the facility's industry-leading structural test controls, data acquisition equipment and mechanical testing systems. Covering 130,000 square feet, ASTEC is among the world's largest aircraft structural testing centers, with the capacity to accommodate the largest of aircraft (or multiple aircraft simultaneously). It provides NIAR with a test facility that is twice the size of its previous structural test lab and means that full-scale tests can be undertaken on aircraft as large as a Boeing 787.

"Working together with MTS over the course of many years, sharing knowledge and experiences with its team has enabled NIAR to substantially expand the scope of our test operations. This has been instrumental in the growth of our test capabilities to meet industry demands, as well as the development of more effective test techniques," said NIAR's Executive Director, John Tomblin Ph.D.

"Supporting research activities is a core value for MTS and we are very proud to be associated with the groundbreaking aerospace research being done at NIAR. Through the efforts made by NIAR's exceptional scientists and engineering staff, major innovations are being seen that will have lasting benefit to the global aviation industry," said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, MTS President and CEO.

About MTS Systems Corporation

MTS Systems Corporation's testing hardware, software and services 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 sensors provide controls for a variety of applications measuring motion, pressure, position, force and sound. MTS had 2,400 employees at October 3, 2015 and revenue of $564 million for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2015. Additional information on MTS can be found at http://www.mts.com.

 About National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University

The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University is regarded as one of the most capable university-based aviation research centers in the United States. NIAR provides research, design, testing, certification, and training to the aviation manufacturing industry, government agencies, educational entities and other clients. NIAR's mission is to conduct research, transfer technology, and enhance education for the purpose of advancing the nation's aviation industry, and to assist non-aviation industries that may benefit from aviation-related technologies. For more information, visit www.niar.wichita.edu.

Wichita State University, a public state university in the Kansas Board of Regents system, is a growing leader in innovation, creativity and collaborative learning. The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good.

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SOURCE MTS Systems Corporation