With sadness, MCN shares ATAS International’s announcement of the passing of Petronella J. “Nel” Bus (born Van Egmond), who co-founded the company alongside her husband, Jacobus “Jack” P. Bus, who died in January 2008.
Nel was 95 years old at the time of her passing. This summer, her birthday was celebrated with a large multigenerational family gathering.
Originally from the Netherlands, Jack and Nel relocated to Rochester, N.Y., in 1963. While Jack worked installing siding and trim, the couple recognized an unmet need: contractors lacked the equipment to bend their own trim products onsite.
To satisfy that need, the two established what would become Aluminum Trim and Shapes (ATAS) from their family home, where they raised eight children.
The small operation grew steadily. In 1972, the company moved into a 12,000-sf facility in Rochester. By 1985, ATAS relocated to Allentown, Pa., its current headquarters.
Two of their sons, Dick and Jim, joined the business in management roles and helped expand ATAS’ product offerings.
Today, ATAS operates two locations in Allentown along with facilities in Mesa, Ariz.; University Park, Ill.; and Elkton, Md. Its sister company, Brightsmith Coaters, added coil coating and post-painting facilities in Morrisville, Pa., and Trenton, N.J.
In March 2025, ATAS expanded again with the addition of Metalwërks Architectural Plate Systems. The company’s offerings include metal wall cladding, metal roofing, ceilings, perimeter edge metal, and related accessories for commercial and residential construction.
One ATAS product is named in honor of Nel: Omawall (Oma is Dutch for grandmother).
More than six decades after its founding, ATAS remains a family-run business. Dick Bus serves as president and Jim Bus as executive vice president, with a third generation—including Mark, Eric, and Tony Bus, along with Tiffany Hutcheson—active across ATAS and Brightsmith in operations and management roles.
