National Presto gets deal

Subsidiary will make ammo for U.S. Army

The U.S. Army has awarded a subsidiary of National Presto Industries Inc. a five-year, $77.7 million contract to supply 40mm ammunition, the company said.

Amtec Corp. is scheduled to make deliveries on the new contract beginning in late 2018, the Eau Claire-based maker of ammunition and small kitchen appliances said.

The actual total amount of the deal with the Army depends on military requirements and funding, as well as government procurement regulations and other factors controlled by the Army and the Department of Defense, the company said.

The new 40mm systems contract is for traditional practice and tactical ammunition rounds, the company said. The contract does not include the next generation of high- and low velocity training rounds. Those rounds, recently awarded to two competitors, are expected to be rebid in a couple of years, National Presto said.

The contract is the fourth consecutive agreement between National Presto’s Amtec Corp.for 40mm ammunition, covering 17 U.S. government fiscal years.

National Presto operates in two business segments.

Its housewares/small appliance unit designs and sells small household appliances and pressure cookers under the Presto brand name. It also designs and markets the self-service fire extinguisher Rusoh Eliminator.

The defense segment makes a variety of products. Among them are medium caliber training and tactical ammunition, detonators, fuses and cartridges.