CoorsTek, a ceramics manufacturer whose operations include a facility in Grand Junction, has acquired a Kentucky business expected to further expand capacity to serve the defense industry.

CoorsTek announced it closed on the acquisition of the assets of Avon Protection in Lexington.

The acquisition is expected to expand the capacity of CoorsTek to serve the defense industry with the development and manufacturing of technical ceramic plates for body and aircraft armor. The acquisition will expand armor manufacturing capacity as well as employ more than 40 people. Additional hiring is expected this fall.

“This investment complements our overall industry portfolio, where we have invested over $50 million over the past two years, including a state-of-the-art advanced materials manufacturing campus in Benton, Ark.,” said Timothy Coors, chief executive officer of CoorsTek.

“We are excited to have the employees in Lexington join our team, along with adding the facility’s assets to our armor manufacturing business,” Coors added.

CoorsTek also operates an advanced manufacturing facility in Grand Junction that produces a variety of technical ceramics products for everything from electronics to medical devices to the armor protecting military personnel and vehicles. The company employs more than 350 at the Grand Junction facility. Staffing is expected to increase with expansions at the facility.