ATS Partners With O'Neal Steel
Alliance To Maximize Facility's Performance And Production
October 3, 2006, Peoria, IL

Advanced Technology Services, Inc., (ATS), the industry leader in managed production equipment maintenance and innovative IT solutions, announced an agreement with O'Neal Steel's Shelbyville, IN facility to provide production asset maintenance services.

By improving the reliability and productivity of the center's production assets, ATS will implement disciplined processes, systems and teams, thereby enabling O'Neal Steel to maximize the performance of its facility.

"In today’s economy, manufacturers are looking for ways to make their factories run better," said ATS President Jeffrey Owens. "Asset maintenance, keeping critical equipment running smoothly, will play a large part in supporting O’Neal Steel's Lean Manufacturing initiative and will help to squeeze more productivity and profitability from their bottom line."

The cost of asset failure can be expensive. One minute of equipment downtime costs an average $22,000, according to a recent survey of senior manufacturing executives sponsored by ATS and conducted by Nielsen.

"We look forward to working with ATS to find ways to increase the ability to provide our customers with the unmatched delivery, quality and cost they have come to expect from O’Neal Steel," said company President and CEO Bill Jones.

O'Neal Steel, based in Birmingham, AL, is the largest privately held processor and distributor of steel and specialty metals in the United States. The Shelbyville, IN facility is the single largest processing center for O'Neal, employing more than 330 personnel. O'Neal Steel Inc. also owns Metalwest, Aerodyne Alloys, Leeco Steel, TW Metals, Timberline Steel, and Ferguson Metals.

ATS pioneered the factory asset service business two decades ago, and today is the leading company providing managed services for production equipment maintenance, industrial parts repair and IT infrastructure support for manufacturers.

About ATS

ATS makes factories run better. Advanced Technology Services, Inc. (ATS) improves productivity and profitability for many of the world's most respected manufacturers through the managed services of production equipment maintenance, information technology and spare parts repair. Founded in 1985, ATS employs over 1,500 people across the US and is a member of the National Association of Manufacturers. ATS is headquartered in Peoria, IL with offices and services centers located in Greenville, SC, Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI. For more information, visit the ATS Web site at www.AdvancedTech.com.

About O’Neal Steel, Inc.

O'Neal Steel – the largest family-owned metals service center in the United States – is a leading full-line metals service center, stocking a vast inventory of diverse materials at its nearly 40 strategically located district operations across the country. O’Neal Steel also provides its customers with high-quality multi-stage metals processing. Additional information about O’Neal Steel is available at www.onealsteel.com.