Centigon
Encyclopedia
Centigon is today a division of the Carat Security Group
but it traces its roots back to coach builders O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt and Sayers & Scovill.
O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt was a specialty vehicle manufacturer based in Fairfield, Ohio
, in the United States
. The company became part of Armor Holdings, Inc a world leader in security products and services which in late 2005 reorganized its mobile security division under the Centigon brand name. Centigon was originally founded in 1998 as the O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt subsidiary located in Colombia
to service the Andean Pact area. It mostly produced armored versions of civilian vehicles. In 2007 Armor Holdings was purchased by BAE Systems plc
. BAE sold Centigon to Carat Duchatelet Holdings in February 2008. In March, 2010, Centigon became one of three brands under the recently launched master brand, the Carat Security Group
, headquartered in Liège, Belgium.
Harry S Truman. O'Gara thereafter provided mobile security for more than sixty international heads-of-state, every American President between 1948 and 2001, numerous U.S. government agencies, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. O'Gara armored a variety of vehicles, including limousine
s, sedans, sport utility vehicle
s, and cash-in-transit
vehicles, to protect against varying degrees of ballistic and blast threats. The company also built armored personnel carriers, mobile water cannon
and pursuit vehicles. It was the prime contractor to the U.S. Military for the supply of armoring and blast protection for the ubiquitous Humvee
.
During the 1990s manufacturing subsidiaries were opened in Mexico
, Brazil
, France
, Russia
, Colombia and the Philippines
. In 2000 O'Gara introduced IMPAKтм, the world's first aramid
bullet resistant fabric designed for passenger vehicles.
On 23 April 2001 Armor Holdings agreed to buy the security products and security group of The Kroll O'Gara Co., including O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt, absorbing the latter and retiring its name. The acquisition was completed on 23 August 2001 for $53.7 million.
On 7 May 2007 BAE Systems
announced its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc.
was to purchase Armor Holdings for US$
4.1 billion (US$4.5 billion including net debt). The acquisition was completed on 31 July 2007. Discussing the integration of Armor Holdings, President and CEO of BAE Systems Inc. Walt Havenstein
said the company was undecided on the future of the Centigon division: "We still have to assess how we want to approach that market, either from a U.S.-centered perspective or from a global perspective, so that's a little less clear". BAE completed the sale of Centigon to Carat Duchatelet Holdings on 26 February 2008.
In March, 2010 the Centigon brand was placed under the new overall branding umbrella Carat Security Group, sharing status with Carat Duchatelet and the newly created Carat Defense brands. The Centigon brand features standard wheelbase armored sedans, sport utility vehicles and cash in transit offerings. Brand offerings include the exclusive OEM-certified armored Land Rover Discovery IV, Jaguar Sentinel and independently certified armored Land Cruiser 200. Global production under the Centigon brand exceeds 1400 armored vehicles per year worldwide.
Carat Security Group
Carat Security Group is a large, privately held manufacturer of mobile armor. Based in Liège, Belgium, it was formed through the February, 2008, acquisition of armor manufacturer Centigon by industry rival Carat Duchatelet...
but it traces its roots back to coach builders O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt and Sayers & Scovill.
O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt was a specialty vehicle manufacturer based in Fairfield, Ohio
Fairfield, Ohio
Fairfield is a city in Butler County in the U.S. state of Ohio, near Cincinnati. Fairfield was incorporated in 1955. The population was 42,510 at the 2010 census. The city school district is one of the largest in Ohio, with Fairfield High School graduating 842 students in June 2009. Fairfield is...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The company became part of Armor Holdings, Inc a world leader in security products and services which in late 2005 reorganized its mobile security division under the Centigon brand name. Centigon was originally founded in 1998 as the O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt subsidiary located in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
to service the Andean Pact area. It mostly produced armored versions of civilian vehicles. In 2007 Armor Holdings was purchased by BAE Systems plc
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
. BAE sold Centigon to Carat Duchatelet Holdings in February 2008. In March, 2010, Centigon became one of three brands under the recently launched master brand, the Carat Security Group
Carat Security Group
Carat Security Group is a large, privately held manufacturer of mobile armor. Based in Liège, Belgium, it was formed through the February, 2008, acquisition of armor manufacturer Centigon by industry rival Carat Duchatelet...
, headquartered in Liège, Belgium.
History
O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt was established in 1876 as a custom coach builder. The company built its first motorcar body in 1906. Production of commercial armored vehicles began in 1942. A few years later prepared a bullet-resistant car for then PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harry S Truman. O'Gara thereafter provided mobile security for more than sixty international heads-of-state, every American President between 1948 and 2001, numerous U.S. government agencies, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. O'Gara armored a variety of vehicles, including limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
s, sedans, sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
s, and cash-in-transit
Cash-in-transit
Cash-in-transit or Cash/valuables-in-transit are terms used to refer to the physical transfer of banknotes, coins and items of value from one location to another....
vehicles, to protect against varying degrees of ballistic and blast threats. The company also built armored personnel carriers, mobile water cannon
Water cannon
A water cannon is a device that shoots a high-pressure stream of water. Typically, a water cannon can deliver a large volume of water, often over dozens of metres / hundreds of feet. They are used in firefighting and riot control. Most water cannon fall under the category of a fire...
and pursuit vehicles. It was the prime contractor to the U.S. Military for the supply of armoring and blast protection for the ubiquitous Humvee
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
.
During the 1990s manufacturing subsidiaries were opened in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Colombia and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. In 2000 O'Gara introduced IMPAKтм, the world's first aramid
Aramid
Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"...
bullet resistant fabric designed for passenger vehicles.
On 23 April 2001 Armor Holdings agreed to buy the security products and security group of The Kroll O'Gara Co., including O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt, absorbing the latter and retiring its name. The acquisition was completed on 23 August 2001 for $53.7 million.
On 7 May 2007 BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
announced its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc.
BAE Systems Inc.
BAE Systems Inc. is a major subsidiary of the British defense and aerospace company BAE Systems plc. As per its Special Security Agreement, BAE Systems Inc...
was to purchase Armor Holdings for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
4.1 billion (US$4.5 billion including net debt). The acquisition was completed on 31 July 2007. Discussing the integration of Armor Holdings, President and CEO of BAE Systems Inc. Walt Havenstein
Walt Havenstein
Walter P. "Walt" Havenstein is an American businessman, engineer and former United States Marine. Since September 21, 2009 he has been president & CEO of Science Applications International Corporation...
said the company was undecided on the future of the Centigon division: "We still have to assess how we want to approach that market, either from a U.S.-centered perspective or from a global perspective, so that's a little less clear". BAE completed the sale of Centigon to Carat Duchatelet Holdings on 26 February 2008.
In March, 2010 the Centigon brand was placed under the new overall branding umbrella Carat Security Group, sharing status with Carat Duchatelet and the newly created Carat Defense brands. The Centigon brand features standard wheelbase armored sedans, sport utility vehicles and cash in transit offerings. Brand offerings include the exclusive OEM-certified armored Land Rover Discovery IV, Jaguar Sentinel and independently certified armored Land Cruiser 200. Global production under the Centigon brand exceeds 1400 armored vehicles per year worldwide.