Capabilities

Chemring Energetic Devices possesses capabilities within multiple areas, including: engineering design and analysis, energetics, systems engineering, electrical systems, manufacturing, production, testing and inspection, and modeling and simulation. We provide highly-engineered, customized, and reliable products to meet the specific requirements and the high standards of its customers. In addition to providing customized solutions, we support many customers on build-to-print programs, third party testing, and problem solving including failure/root-cause analysis.

We welcome the opportunity to provide optimal solutions to your specialized requirements.

Space initiators and release mechanisms

Aircraft safety components

Missiles components

Testers

Manufacturing

Manufacturing activities are consolidated in Downers Grove, Illinois, where we co-locate engineering, management and manufacturing and test. CED has recently invested millions of dollars in facility upgrades and manufacturing capability improvements – particularly in automation equipment. Our facility is approximately 25 miles west of Chicago in Downers Grove, Illinois.

CED manufactures unique electromechanical, pneumatic and pyrotechnic components, cutters, valves, actuators, separation bolts/nuts, initiators, and electronic test equipment used for military escape systems, missiles, satellites, and launch vehicles. With over 50 years of operation, we excel at designing and manufacturing increasingly complex components to meet customer requirements.

Testing, Inspection, and Certifications

CED’s Quality Management System has been certified to ISO-9001/AS9100 standards and this is the foundation of our continuous improvement. CED is also ISO-10012 compliant, which ensures close monitoring and control of the well-equipped and experienced inspection team. Coupled with the ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 sampling plan, the system provides a solid foundation for monitoring and developing strong supplier partners and ensuring production conformity.

CED is a FAA-certified repair and overhaul facility. CED is fully compliant with BATFE, DoD Contractors Safety Manual for Ammunition and Explosives (DoD 4145.26), all city, state and federal statutory requirements, and certified to the international standards ISO 14001 for the implementation of an environmental management system and OHSAS 18001 for the implementation of occupational health and safety systems.

Important Documents

TITLE DOCUMENT
CED Repair Station Certification Documentpdf
CED NADCAP Certificate Documentpdf
CED AS-ISO Certification Documentpdf

Modeling and simulation

CED prides in its expertise in providing optimum solutions for mechanical devices and systems for a wide range of applications, especially those utilizing pyrotechnic and/or pneumatic power sources – often referred to CAD/PAD (Cartridge Activated Device/Propellant Activated Device) or ECS (Energetic Components and Systems). CED understands that the proper design methodology of such devices or systems must incorporate careful understanding of the physics involving the thermo-fluid aspects as well as the structural aspects that are simultaneously present in pyrotechnic/pneumatic devices. Due to the multi-physics nature, pyrotechnic science has often been considered an “art” and the applications heavily relied on experimental iterations. However, it is not only possible, but also crucial to establish a good analytical model that captures the essential processes involved in a pyrotechnic event for optimum design and manufacturing of such devices.

CED’s proprietary ballistics software, called CIBAC (CED Internal Ballistics Analysis Code), provides the analytical tools to model and simulate pyrotechnic events including the combustion, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and solid mechanic aspects of pyrotechnics. Using carefully trained engineers, CIBAC is used routinely at CED and has been proven to successfully predict and simulate performances of numerous pyrotechnic and pneumatic devices. This analytical tool allows CED to be both cost and time-efficient in design and production. CIBAC, along with CED engineering’s vast industry experience, offers a comprehensive tool for failure investigation, test fixture design, risk analysis, and system integration.

Additionally, CED uses multiple analytical and simulation tools including:

  • Computer Aided Design (CAD) – Creo 2.0 w/ Windchill 11.2 and AutoCAD 2015
  • Electrical Computer Aided Design (ECAD) – Altium Designer, OrCAD and P-SPICE
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA) – ANSYS Workbench Version 16 and Creo Simulate
  • Data Analysis – DADiSP, Matlab
  • Shock Physics/ Explicit Hydrocode – ALE3D and CTH
  • Thermal Chemical Equilibrium Code – NASA CEA and PEP
 

Engineering

Chemring Energetic Devices’ engineering staff has deep experience in design, development, qualification, analysis and production of products utilizing energetic materials. With multiple engineering disciplines, CED’s engineering department stands ready to support customer requests for development of new products with the most stringent design requirements.

Core Engineering Disciplines:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Production Engineering
  • Pyrotechnic and Analytical Engineering
 

Safety

Chemring Energetic Devices’ highest priority is safety with environmentally responsible development, manufacturing, and use of its products.

CED’s Health, Safety, and Environmental (HS&E) performance is recognized in the industry as the benchmark for the safe handling of energetic materials. We take very seriously our responsibility to ensure that every single employee returns home safely at the end of his or her workday and that no harm comes to others working on our behalf.

  • ISO 9001 Quality Management System
  • AS 9100 Aerospace Quality Management System
  • MIL-Q-9858A Quality System Qualification
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
  • OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Association Standard
  • FAA Repair Station Certification
  • European Aviation Safety Agency Repair Station Certification
  • NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) Non-Destructive Testing Certification

Career Opportunities

CED is always seeking talented and motivated individuals to add to the strength of its workforce.

We provide our customers with leading edge technology for the aerospace and defense industry.

We offer competitive salaries along with an outstanding benefit package. If you want to energize your career, explore the possibility of a career with Chemring Energetic Devices.

CED is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

To satisfy BATF, and ITAR requirements, all candidates must be able to pass a BATF Background Check, be a US Citizen or permanent resident, and participate in CED’s Drug Testing Program.

Search here for all our latest opportunities

Suppliers

Chemring Energetic Devices tracks the quality and delivery performance of machined part suppliers who have earned the status of "Key Supplier."

Our Key Suppliers openly demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement toward 100% conforming parts and on-time delivery.

Current suppliers

Each month we provide Key Suppliers with a report of their performance. To assist with quality improvement efforts, we also supply a breakdown of nonconforming condition categories.

Contacts

Please contact us immediately with questions regarding requirements, purchase orders or related documents: Mark Fosdal, Purchasing Manager, [email protected], 1-630-981-8395

For questions about invoices and related items, please contact: [email protected]

Potential suppliers

If you would like Chemring Energetic Devices to consider your company for inclusion as an approved supplier, please complete instructions below:

  1. Download the CED Form 582 Potential Supplier Evaluation Form
  2. Download CED Form 9006 ITAR Certification
  3. Complete both forms and email as PDFs, in addition to other requirement documentation to: Mark Fosdal, Purchasing Manager, [email protected], 1-630-981-8395

Important Documents

TITLE DOCUMENT
P-201A CED General Terms and Conditions for Subcontracts PO’s on Government Contracts Documentpdf
P-201B CED General Terms and Conditions for Commercial Purchases of Goods or Services Documentpdf
Supplier Code of Conduct Documentpdf
CED Form 582 Potential Supplier Evaluation Form Documentxml
CED Form 9006 ITAR Certification Documentdoc
Form 477 Deviation Waiver Request Documentpdf
P-202 Additional Terms & Provisions to Purchase Orders Documentpdf
P-205 Additional Inspection Services Requirements Documentpdf
P-900 Supplier Quality Assurance Manual Documentpdf
Q-208 CED Approved Processors List Documentpdf
Supplier Information Documentxml

Archived Documents

TITLE DOCUMENT
Archived P-201A CED General Terms and Conditions for Subcontracts PO’s on Government Contracts prior to April 2025 Documentpdf
Archived Supplier Code of Conduct prior to April 2025 Documentpdf
Archived P-201B CED General Terms and Conditions for Commercial Purchases of Goods or Services prior to April 2025 Documentpdf
Image of Chemring Energetic Devices facility in Downers Grove, approximately 30 miles west of Chicago

Contacts and location

Headquarters and Manufacturing Facility

2525 Curtiss Street
Downers Grove
Illinois 60515
USA

Tel: 001 630 969-0620
Fax: 001 630 969-4719

Alternatively, please complete the following enquiry form

Sales

Simon Small
Director, Missiles & Space
[email protected]
(630)981-8397

General Sales, International Sales, Missiles, Space, and Weapon System Products 

Scott Butler
Director, Aircraft Pyro & Testers
[email protected]
(331)998-3202

Ebby Bryce
Segment Manager, Life Support Programs
[email protected]
(757)927-2461

Life Support Equipment and Testers

Support

Tester Calibration Support*
The Tester Recal Team
[email protected]
(630) 969-0620

Commercial Aircraft Support
Karen Kern
Contracts Manager
[email protected]
(630) 969-0620 x1404