Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Completes Acquisition of ARDE Inc.

Nov. 26, 2008
Manufacturer of high performance spacecraft and missile propulsion components acquired.

CANOGA PARK, CA -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has completed the acquisition of ARDE Inc., a manufacturer of high performance spacecraft and missile propulsion components. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. company.

ARDE, located in Carlstadt, NJ, produces pressure vessels, propellant tanks and support structures, and provides integration of propulsion subassemblies. The company has more than 60 years of in-flight incident-free service to the space and missile industry, and has produced more than 4,000 spacecraft and missile tanks.

"The addition of ARDE to Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne enhances our offering of superior quality, leading edge products and services to our customers," says Jim Maser, president, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. "We see ARDE as a key enabler of our growth as a full-service provider of integrated propulsion solutions to the commercial, military and civilian space market."

Kirk Sneddon has been named general manager of ARDE and will be responsible for the integration of ARDE systems into the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne organization. ARDE is a major supplier of tanks and pressure vessels to Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne products.