Arizona Firm gets Army Contract to Reinforce Humvees
Marine Corps Times
4/29/2004

A Tempe-based company that makes armor for the military has signed a $30 million contract with the Army to harden Humvees used by soldiers in Iraq.

ArmorWorks hopes to deliver 1,500 Ballistic Advantage Armor Kits by year's end.

ArmorWorks' 1,000-pound kit is designed to perform like steel and withstand roadside bombs, land mines, machine guns and assault rifles.

The protective kits reinforce the sides of the Humvee with encased high-tech ceramic plates, which resemble bathroom tiles. Soldiers can install the kit in about four hours, according to ArmorWorks president Bill Perciballi.

A similar steel device would weigh 4,000 pounds.

Perciballi said ArmorWorks has about 100 employees and will hire another 100 to handle the Army contract plus double its work space to 80,000 square feet.

AM General Corp.'s Humvees came under recent criticism when a top Army general warned they are not as effective as General Dynamic Corp's Stryker.

On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee said it would review the Humvee's safety. A Humvee fitted with a kit was attacked by a roadside bomb in January.

"Everything was fine," Perciballi said. "They just kept driving. We got thank-you e-mails saying, 'Thanks for saving my life.' "

ArmorWorks a privately held firm with about 100 employees, will hire another 100 and double space to 80,000 square feet, said Perciballi.