Ceradyne Inc., Advanced Technical Ceramics (Costa Mesa, Calif.) opened its new 115,000-square foot facility in Lexington, Ky. The plant manufactures lightweight ceramic body armor systems for the U.S. military and silicon-nitride technical ceramic components for diesel engines. The Advanced Ceramics Operations manufactures ceramics to near-net shape using sintering, gas pressure sintering and hot pressing techniques. Ceradyne develops, manufactures, and markets advanced technical ceramic products and components for defense, industrial, automotive/diesel, and commercial applications.