INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Ceradyne Armor Systems Inc.
Marc A. King retired from the U.S. Army after 23 years of military service and at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Throughout a civilian career, King has held a number of senior executive positions. King brings to Ceradyne advanced, lightweight-armoring ideas, materials and solutions.
Q: Tell us about Ceradyne Inc.
A: Ceradyne Inc. is a global manufacturer of advanced technical ceramics that has become the industry leader in armor protection for body armor, helicopter, vehicle and boat armor. Various Ceradyne divisions focus on specific market segments such as Ceradyne Advanced Ceramic Operations in California and Kentucky, where ceramic armor is developed and produced. Ceradyne Vehicle Armor Systems in Michigan focuses on the design and prototyping of lightweight armor systems for U.S. military combat support and logistics vehicles. With the recent technologies acquisition of Diaphorm LLC in New Hampshire, Ceradyne Diaphorm will design and manufacture enhanced combat helmets [ECHs] with the ability to produce a steady supply for DoD. Ceradyne Armor Systems in Washington, D.C., is the international sales and marketing arm for defense products offered by the company. Ceradyne armor technologies are also available in Europe though ESK Ceramics, a Ceradyne company located in Germany.
Q: What products are you offering SOF?
A: Ceradyne specializes in three main areas within the SOF community: advanced body armor, lightweight vehicle armor and advanced lightweight helmets. Ceradyne competed and won a sole source contract to supply the BALCS System of body armor to SOCOM. Special operational requirements are designed into the body armor plates and in some cases, third generation designs are produced that stop significant lethal threats.
In the vehicle armor arena, Ceradyne is working with Flyer LLC in California, which has a light strike vehicle that is of great interest to SOF. We have designed and fielded enhanced light armor protection for this vehicle that allows it to operate with the CV-22 and other helicopter lift assets. The lightweight armor also retains the inherent speed, mobility and agility of the vehicle that has just returned from a round of international reviews by interested SOF forces.
Ceradyne Diaphorm is now offering the SOF an advanced helmet design through our industry partner OPS-CORE. This new helmet design with increased ballistic protection for SOF operators may be the next generation of a fully integrated, extremely lightweight SOF helmet.
Q: What makes your product stand out? Why is it different or the best in the market?
A: Ceradyne is the only vertically integrated company serving this segment of the DoD and SOF market. We own and operate the source of our raw materials allowing precise control of our supply chain. Ceradyne invested more than $10 million in 2008 to design and develop ceramic-based armor solutions from body armor to LTAS government-tested and -approved vehicle armor. There have been and continue to be multiple companies that supply armor solutions to the DoD and SOF, but none are distinguished by their ability to react to new requirements and surge production demands like Ceradyne.
As a vertically integrated, high capacity producer, Ceradyne is a key component and vital resource to the defense industrial base. At the start of the global war on terror and combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the body armor business was based on small quantities of plates being supplied by request. Today Ceradyne has developed an infrastructure that allows worldwide support for armor protection through on-time production of varying levels and designs within an extended manufacturing capacity second to none.
Q: What is your position in the market sector?
A: Ceradyne is currently the sole source provider of body armor solutions and holds the only IDIQ contract award for BALCS won competitively about a year ago. We have been able to acquire and sustain about 70 percent market share of total DoD body armor requirements based on product performance, on-time delivery and price competitiveness. Our vehicle armor market segment is producing a number of vehicle armor prototypes with OEM’s, so we expect that our presence and technology applications in this market will continue to grow. As for helmets, we are engaged in the Army/Marine Corps solicitation for the ECH.
Q: What are some examples of recent successes with the military and your goals for the rest of the year?
A: Our most recent success has been the award of a $2.3 billion IDIQ contract for the manufacture of XSAPI body armor for the Army. As the next generation of body armor designed to defeat the single most lethal threat identified to date, XSAPI was a unique challenge in body armor design and performance.
Ceradyne is currently in full production on this contract and expects to meet all of its contract requirements in the coming year. We are also working closely with SOCOM to get Generation III of their highest protection plate fielded to their operators.
Q: How are you positioned for the future within the military?
A: Recent changes brought on by a new administration and associated philosophy regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will have an impact on future business. We are increasing efforts to ensure that our role as a necessary and vital segment of the defense industrial base remains paramount in the contingency planner’s mind. Until now, Ceradyne armor products were funded from War Time Supplemental Appropriations. As this goes away, a permanent funding method must evolve to ensure that Ceradyne continues to provide warfighters with the most technically advanced lightweight armor products. The men and women who protect this nation deserve nothing less from us.