SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 23, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- A 50-year-old business forced to rebuild after its factories were destroyed in the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 now celebrates its 100th anniversary at its second home here in Sunnyvale.
Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Marine Systems business unit is a leading provider of missile launch systems, propulsion systems and power generation systems for naval submarines and surface ships.
In 1906, it was known as the Joshua Hendy Iron Works, and specialized in building mining and energy systems. After the earthquake, the company was offered 32 free acres of agricultural land by the Sunnyvale Land Company, which was eager to attract industry to the young community to promote population growth. Company president John Hendy, nephew of the founder, accepted the offer and new facilities were built along the Southern Pacific Railroad's main line.
Northrop Grumman commemorated the centennial with a special event here on August 10. Most of its 1,100 Sunnyvale-based employees gathered with dozens of invited guests and customers for speeches, presentations, dedication of a time capsule, and birthday cake. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo; Sunnyvale Mayor Ron Swegles; Marion Hendy-Rust, a descendant of the founder; Carl Guardino, president & CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group; Lynden Davis of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Jim Pitts, president of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector; and John Casey, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. Northrop Grumman also presented donations to Junior Achievement and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation, Inc.
"Our first 100 years have been distinguished by a long heritage of engineering and manufacturing excellence," said David Perry, vice president of Northrop Grumman Marine Systems, who presided over the event. "With our skilled workforce and highly specialized manufacturing capability, we will continue to deliver products critical to our nation's future."
Founder Joshua Hendy arrived in San Francisco during the Gold Rush in 1849, but saw quickly that supplying the miners would be a more reliable route to success. After founding a saw mill and pursuing related lumber and mining interests, he founded the Joshua Hendy Machine Works in 1856. The company specialized in manufacturing steam engines, boilers, and mining and saw mill machinery. For decades afterward, the company remained an industry leader by constantly innovating. Products included hydraulic elevators and monitors, ore concentrators, ore feeders and stamp mills. The name was changed to the Joshua Hendy Iron Works in 1895 when a cast iron and steel foundry was added.
After moving to Sunnyvale, the company specialized in mining and energy systems until the outbreak of World War II, when it moved more heavily into military production. Products manufactured included torpedo mount tubes, EC-2 Liberty cargo ship engines, steam turbines and reduction gear sets for the U.S. Navy. Westinghouse Electric Corporation bought the Joshua Hendy Iron Works in 1947. In 1996, Westinghouse sold its Electronic Systems Group, which included the Marine Systems unit, to Northrop Grumman Corporation.
A pioneer in missile launch technology, Northrop Grumman Marine Systems has produced every fleet ballistic missile launch system from its inception through the Trident submarines currently deployed. The Sunnyvale site is a critical supplier of turbine generator sets for nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. The company is also the Navy's supplier of main propulsion units for nuclear attack submarines. Current products also include the Multiple All-Up-Round Canister system, turbine generator sets for CVN-21 aircraft carriers, and both main propulsion units and ship service turbine generators for Virginia class submarines.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.