Best ingredients of growth in Production! Salai Arif, the General Manager, gives us an exclusive look at the company’s values, workforce, and future plans. ATS Ammunition, based in Samokov, North Macedonia, is renowned for its NATO certified small-caliber ammunition production, and Salai walks us through what makes their operations stand out in this ultra-competitive global market.

• Building a Strong Workforce

Salai emphasizes the importance of maintaining a happy workforce. “We work with a delicate product, and our motto is ‘Quality First’ and ‘Safety First’. For ATS Ammunition, employee satisfaction directly contributes to both quality control and productivity. “By ensuring our workers are content and valued, we’re able to deliver some of the best products on the market,” — Salai adds. The factory currently employs 300 people, with a strong commitment for equal opportunities, encouraging women, elderly professionals, veterans and freshly graduates to join the industry. Just this year, we plan to hire additional 150 people, bringing the total workforce to around 450 employees, and keep growing …

• In-house Growth Engine 

The factory itself is one of the largest in Europe, for now producing 220 million rounds of small-caliber ammunition/ per year. The Output is growing with galloping rate — the production jumped for 220% in the last 4 years. According to Salai, ATS is “quite progressive compared to our competitors,” thanks to its In-house developed Technology, putting focus on Quality and continual Education of everyone involved.

• Automation 

Recent investment of 60 million Eur in automation, has clearly paid off. “If you want to have both Quality and Quantity, you need to adopt New Technological Trends, especially automation,” —  Salai explains. But maintaining the high standards of quality during such transitions is equally important. Salai describes how ATS achieves this balance: “In quality control, we currently employ 80 people who monitor every operation on a daily basis. Our control process starts broad and narrows down as we get closer to the finished product,” ensuring perfection at every step of the process.

Future Plans 

When asked about the company’s future, Salai’s vision is clear: “We see ourselves as a major player in the global market, mainly supplying NATO and its allies.” ATS Ammunition is poised for continued growth and expansion, strengthening its position as a trusted supplier worldwide.