The company anticipates projected growth in demand for its ceramic diesel engine components, ceramic brackets and ceramic armor. Despite the current state of the national economy, Ceradyne sees the potential for producing significant growth in its top-line and bottom-line results in 2002, according to Joel P. Moskowitz, the company's president and CEO.

The company will move production of diesel engine components and orthodontic brackets from its Costa Mesa manufacturing facility to the new site in Irvine. Located at 17466 Daimler Ave., the Irvine facility is expected to be fully operational by March 2002. Ceradyne will spend an estimated $500,000 in moving costs and capital improvements.

Once the move is completed, the 86,000-sf Costa Mesa facility will be used solely for the production of lightweight ceramic armor and other technical ceramics. This facility is located at 3169 Redhill Ave.