Following an investigation by federal authorities, industrial test equipment firm MTS Systems Corp. of Eden Prairie has been temporarily suspended from U.S. government contracting for failing to disclose previous export rules violations.
The suspension, which can be appealed by the company, was ordered by the Air Force after it was learned that MTS had failed to disclose that in 2008 it pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of making false statements about its exports.
Details of the incidents weren't immediately available. Under the terms of the suspension, MTS is allowed to continue work on existing government contracts.
The 2008 incidents were disclosed in a February filing that MTS made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in which said the company it was told in January of an investigation of the export matters by the US. Department of Commerce and the U.S. attorney general's office in Minnesota.
"This is an important matter that MTS takes very seriously," said Laura Hamilton, CEO of MTS.
Steve Alexander • 612-673-4553
