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," DeYoung said. "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, surpassing sales by other gun and weapons manufacturers such as Winchester Ammunition and Remington. 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, who can purchase products under the Federal Premium and Speer brands. 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 and Clearfield Mayor Don Wood. 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.
"Our country is more secure because of ATK," Hatch said.
ATK Ammunition Systems Group generates $1.4 billion in revenue. It employes more than 6,000 people.
Parent company Alliant, based in the Edina, Minn., has 5,600 employees in Utah with an annual payroll of more than $370 million, according to the company. 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.
In Utah, the only presence of the ATK Ammunition Systems Group will be at the headquarters in Clearfield. Also in Clearfield are Alliant employees working in Launch Systems and Mission Systems. Alliant also has employees in Magna in Launch Systems and Mission Systems and in Logan in Mission Systems.
Alliant is a $4.1 company with about 17,000 employees in 21 states.
"The 17,000 employees we have do reside in 21 different states, but there is one state where we are truly partners," ATK Chairman and CEO Dan Murphy said about Utah.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com