FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 24, 2003

For More Information Contact:

Mike Skinner

Business Development Manager

Friction Stir Welding Systems

(952) 937-4653

MTS Wins Friction Stir Welding Equipment Orders

Eden Prairie, Minn., Sept. 24, 2003 - MTS Systems Corporation (Nasdaq: MTSC) today announced that two leading aluminum conversion companies have placed orders totaling approximately $1.3 million for advanced friction stir welding (FSW) systems. Based in France and Japan, both companies manufacture a broad range of aluminum products for the international aerospace, automotive and rail markets.

"These companies selected MTS due to our demonstrated multi-axial FSW experience and the strength of our worldwide technical support capabilities," said Sidney W. Emery, Jr., MTS chairman and CEO. "These systems will be used to develop advanced aluminum joining processes with the expectation of yielding improved designs at lower costs. MTS's core competency in precise control of motion and forces, coupled with broad experience in developing specialized welding equipment, positioned us well. Over the past several years we have been building expertise in FSW applications with the intent of becoming the preferred supplier as this market evolves. These wins certainly move us in that direction." Emery said.

Invented by The Welding Institute (TWI) in 1991, FSW is a revolutionary welding technique that delivers high quality joining, faster, cleaner, and less expensively than most conventional fusion welding and riveting processes. MTS offers an array of leading edge FSW systems capable of providing the advanced capability and versatility required for research, process development, prototyping and production. Featuring proven process control technology and state-of-the-art FSW tooling, these flexible and compact systems allow customers to realize the high quality joining of materials over a wider range of thicknesses and contours.

About MTS Systems Corporation

MTS Systems Corporation is a global supplier of integrated simulation solutions that help customers accelerate and improve their design, development, and manufacturing processes. MTS supplies products for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products and structures – including computer-based testing and simulation systems, modeling and testing software, and consulting services - as well as a provider of industrial products.  MTS had 1,900 employees and revenue from continuing operations of $327 million for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002.  Additional information on MTS can be found on the worldwide web at http://www.mts.com.