ATK Ammunition Systems Group, a division of Alliant Techsystems that makes ammunition and weapons for military, police and sports, opened new headquarters Friday morning in Clearfield.
Fifteen executives are moving to Clearfield from ATK Ammunition's previous headquarters in Anoka, Minn., near the Twin Cities. Four Utahns were hired as office staff.
At a Friday news conference announcing the move, Ammunition Systems President Mark DeYoung, an Ogden native, chose to move the company back to his home state because it is in the center of the seven group manufacturing plants. Flights from Salt Lake City International Airport to manufacturing plants in Kansas City, Mo.; Mesa, Ariz.; and Lewiston, Idaho, last no more than three hours.
"We do about $100 million a year with Hill Air Force Base. They have the Air Logistics Command. ... It's nice to have a customer who is a neighbor."
The Ammunition Systems Group is the world's largest ammunition manufacturing entity. It develops and supplies small- and medium-caliber ammunition, medium-caliber gun systems, gun propellants, tactical rocket motors and shooting and hunting accessories. Key markets include the U.S. military, law enforcement, international customers and sportsmen. The group operates facilities in California, Idaho, Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin.
DeYoung said that the company did not receive any financial incentives from the state to move to Clearfield.
DeYoung was flanked at Friday's event by U.S. Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch. Representatives of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop also attended. They all said they were happy about the move and that the company contributes to national defense.
ATK Ammunition Systems Group generates $1.4 billion in revenue. It employes more than 6,000 people.
Its parent company has 5,600 employees in Utah. In addition to those in the Ammunition Systems Group, there are employees of the Launch Systems Group headquartered in Brigham City and Mission Systems Group headquartered in Baltimore.
Alliant is a $4.1 company with about 17,000 employees in 21 states.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com