The Cambridge, ON-based company joins the CNIC to ensure Canadians and all citizens around the world will have access to isotopes for commercial, industrial and medical uses.
ATS Automation Tooling Sytems Inc. (ATS) is pleased to announce that it has joined a growing list of Canadian organizations that are members of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC).
ATS is based in Cambridge, ON., and is a global technology and automation solutions provider across diverse industrial markets.
The CNIC, whose members are working together to ensure Canada remains a world leader in the production of life-saving radioisotopes by raising awareness and supporting long-term policies at the domestic and international level, is continuing to strengthen its foundation with today’s announcement.
“With the CNIC continuing to grow, we are demonstrating to Canadians and governments at all levels that we stand behind continued Canadian leadership in this sector,” said CNIC Chair James Scongack. “This partnership with ATS Automation will send a strong message across Canada and the world that we are committed to doing our part in the fight against cancer by ensuring our country remains at the forefront of isotope innovation and supply.”
As the world’s leader in the production of radioisotopes, Canada has utilized its nuclear innovation to aid scientific and technological advances in gamma sterilization for medical devices, securing global food supply, industrial smoke alarms, oil-drilling research, and, of course, medical diagnostics and imaging. While radioisotopes have been used for detection and diagnosis, they are now also being exploited for developing more sophisticated medical therapies and treatments.
In developed countries (a quarter of the world’s population), about one person in 50 uses diagnostic nuclear medicine each year, and the frequency of therapy with radioisotopes is about one-tenth of this. In Canada, this equates to approximately 760,000 procedures for diagnostic and 76,000 currently for therapy each year, with that number expected to rise significantly as key medical isotopes pass clinical trials.
“This is a very exciting day as we mark the beginning of a new partnership between the CNIC and ATS Automation to advance Canadian leadership in setting the groundwork to produce life-saving isotopes, and committing to work to ensure a better future for citizens globally,” said ATS CEO Andrew Hider. “Canadians and people around the world rely on the continuous availability of medical isotopes. As a leader in automation solutions, ATS and the entire supply chain are working hard on innovations that will ensure patients receive even better care that can continue to be relied upon in the future.”
Throughout 2019, the CNIC will remain focused on ensuring that Canada continues to be a world leader in the production of life-saving isotopes by bringing awareness and supporting long-term policies at the
domestic and international levels that will save countless lives and support health care innovation for decades to come.
About ATS Automation
ATS is an industry-leading automation solutions provider to many of the world’s most successful companies. ATS uses its extensive knowledge base and global capabilities in custom automation, repeat automation, automation products and value-added services including pre-automation and after-sales services to address the sophisticated manufacturing automation systems and service needs of multinational customers in markets such as life sciences, chemicals, consumer products, electronics, food, beverage, transportation, energy, and oil and gas. Founded in 1978, ATS employs approximately 4,400 people at 23 manufacturing facilities and over 50 offices in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and China. The Company’s shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ATA.
For more information, please contact:
Emma Hauch,
Director, Strategy and Business Development (Nuclear)
ATS Automation
519-653-4483
ehauch@atsautomation.com