Ordnance, Manufacturing Lines Sold by Marquardt

Marquardt Co., a Van Nuys-based aerospace and defense manufacturer, has sold its manufacturing and ordnance divisions to a group headed by Marquardt’s president, Kenneth Woodgrift. Terms were not disclosed.

The Woodgrift group has formed a new company called Marquardt Manufacturing, also based in Van Nuys, which has 75 employees and will serve both the military and the civil aviation industry. Woodgrift will serve as president of the new company, and he remains president of Marquardt Co.

Marquardt Co., a subsidiary of Ferranti International, a British electronics concern, is left with 450 employees. It will continue to operate its three remaining aerospace divisions, which make thrusters used on space shuttle rockets and satellites, midair refueling equipment, emergency power units and engine testing equipment.

Ferranti has been trying to sell Marquardt, but a Marquardt spokesman declined to comment on whether there have been any offers.