Paul ClintonCeradyne Inc.’s Costa Mesa headquarters is...

Paul Clinton

Ceradyne Inc.’s Costa Mesa headquarters is working overtime to supply

helicopter and body armor to the U.S. military, as it rolls through

Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein.

With the war machine in full gear, the company has been working

feverishly seven days a week to crank out its ceramic armor for the

H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, as well as the soldiers on the ground.

“Right now, we’re on top of everything,” said Joel Moskowitz, the

company’s chairman and chief executive. “It’s vital. There’s a great

sense of urgency in every part of this company.”

Ceradyne has supplied ceramic-based ballistic shielding to the

military for more than 30 years.

The helicopter armor is made of a ceramic plate and supported by

reinforced composite backing. It helps protect every U.S. gunship.

Ceradyne also provides boron carbide personnel armor, made of the

lightest, hardest ceramic known. The plates are worn in the front and

back pockets of kevlar vests and help protect vital organs during

fighting.

Moskowitz says the armor has saved the lives of 29 soldiers in

Afghanistan, Kosovo and other areas over the past year.

“When we save lives, we put up the information so our employees

can see it,” Moskowitz said. “It’s more that just a business

relationship [with the military].”

Over the past several years, Moskowitz has seen orders for his

ceramic-based armors increase substantially. In 2002, the company

grew sales 35%, from $45.3 million to a record $61.2 million.

Another Costa Mesa manufacturer, a division of Cleveland aerospace

company Argo-Tech Corp., is also supplying military hardware being

used in Iraq.

Argo-Tech delivers a range of fueling-related products for Navy

and Air Force aircraft, such as the F/A-18 Hornet, F-117A Nighthawk

and the B-2 Spirit bomber.

The company manufactures pumps, valves, coupling equipment, hosing

and other hardware that allows these planes to refuel in midair.

Argo-Tech also sells its products for commercial and industrial

uses. The company is the world’s largest supplier of main-engine

fuelling pumps for commercial jets.

Argo-Tech leaders say they haven’t had an run of urgent requests

from the military. They try to stay out of the politics of the

situation, said Terry Walker, vice president and general manager of

the airframe division.

“We don’t get involved in the political decisions,” Walker said.

“Once we’re involved in a military action, we feel it’s our duty to

support our troops.”

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].