CoorsTek, a manufacturer of industrial ceramics, is accelerating its continued growth in the defense and ceramics industries with the acquisition of Avon Protection's manufacturing facility.


CoorsTek announced on the 19th that it has agreed to a contract to acquire the Lexington, U.S.-based manufacturing facility of Avon Protection, a manufacturer of protective gear for military, firefighting and other special-purpose applications.

CoorsTek has long invested heavily in the aerospace and defense industries. It has invested over $50 million (approximately KRW 65.2 billion) over the past two years, including a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bentonville, Arkansas. The acquisition of Avon Protection's manufacturing facility is part of this investment.

The manufacturing facility, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is a defense-related facility acquired by Avon Protection through its 2020 acquisition of 3M's ballistic protection business. It primarily focuses on manufacturing ceramic plates, a critical component in combat uniforms and fighter jets.

Avon Protection announced earlier this year plans to scale back its defense business by the end of next year. Bruce Thompson, chairman of Avon Protection, stated during the acquisition that the company would "focus on our core business: providing personal protection solutions to military personnel and first responders worldwide." The acquisition process is expected to be completed in the second half of next year.

“The acquisition of Avon Protection’s Lexington manufacturing facility will significantly contribute to the strong growth of Coorstek’s defense business,” said Michael Coors, Coorstek CEO. “This acquisition will not only drive business growth, but also position Coorstek to become a company that contributes to the advancement and innovation of the defense and ceramics industries.”