New Product Sales Cited as Ceradyne’s Net Soars

Ceradyne Inc. reported second-quarter net income of $350,000, up 148% from $141,000 a year earlier. The Costa Mesa-based maker of ceramic components for the automotive, aerospace and electronics industries said that second-quarter sales totaled $4.1 million, up 7.9% from $3.8 million.

In the first six months, Ceradyne said net income was $559,000, up 141% from $232,000. Sales in the first six months were $8.6 million, up 23% from $7 million.

A company spokesman attributed the hefty hike in earnings to sales of high-technology ceramics products introduced last year.

In March, Ford Motor Co. paid $10 million for an 11% stake in Ceradyne, which expects to produce components for a ceramic engine within five years.