history

MILITARY ORDNANCE & AMMUNITION

MAST's Origin

In 1965 Jim Bell was off spending a few years in the Peace Corps in India. Growing up in his family's gun shop and a trained gunsmith gravitated him towards the numerous collections of fine British double rifles. The problem with these works of art was that since Eley-Kynoch stopped making ammunition, no one was shooting them. While returning from the Peace Corps, Jim stopped in at Holland and Holland and inquired about the ammunition situation. Holland indicated that they would be very interested in a source for ammunition and eventually placed a large order. The idea for Brass Extrusion Labs Ltd (B.E.L.L.) was born.

After a few years importing the British double rifles, Mr. Bell had made the necessary contact to start manufacturing ammunition. Mr. Bell manufactured custom and obsolete cartridge cases from 1973-1988 in Bensenville, Illinois at MAST's predecessor company Brass Extrusion Labs LTD (B.E.L.L.). Here he started making cases for Holland and Holland to manufacture the calibers that Eley-Kynoch discontinued in the early 1960's. Mr. Bell also manufactured cases for Midway Arms, Purdey, John Rigby & Co., Westley-Richards, and the US government. He started working on the 9mm SMAW cartridge and loaded 7.62 * 39 ammunition for the USMC in the early 80's. This family run business was typically around 10-15 employees including ownership. The company was in good order when a surprise offer to purchase the business was made to the family.

B.E.L.L. was purchased by PMC El Dorado Cartridge Corporation in 1988-89, with plans to continue and improve the custom cartridge business. After a short time they decided not to pursue that line of business. While at PMC the Navy/USMC tracked Mr. Bell down concerning another run of the 9mm SMAW Spotter/tracer cartridge, used as a sighting device for the SMAW (Shoulder Mounted Assault Weapon) rocket system. The ownership at PMC was not interested in government work. Mr. Bell and PMC went different ways, however Mr. Bell had 9mm SMAW in his scope.

MAST founded

When MAST was founded in 1990 in Las Vegas, NV with productions operations there as well. The first initials of the owners wives first names were used to come up with the name MAST. Jim Bell was the only partner with any significant ammunition history. By 1996 these original owners went by the way side and MAST became family owned. Since then MAST has had any where from 15 to 114 team members that are involved in different areas of the business. These include brass cartridge production (ended 7/04), government contracting, machinery sales, machinery consulting, general ammunition consulting, tooling manufacture, gaging sales, and ballistic equipment sales.

MAST Background

MAST has done a variety of ammunition related work since 1990. We have made brass cartridge cases, loaded ammunition, built ammunition for Department of Defense, sold ammunition machinery, rebuilt ammunition machinery designed and built ammunition machinery.

Milestone Events

1993 - MAST is awarded its first 9mm SMAW contract as a sub-contractor to ATK. MAST delivers its first 375 H&H to Federal Cartridge, which is now (as of 2003) owned by ATK.

1994 - MAST is awarded multi-million dollar turn-key contract for ammunition manufacturing machinery for Adcom Mfg of Adu Dabi, UAE. The contract is for 9mm, 5.56mm, 7.62mm and .50 caliber lines.

1996 - Last partner leaves MAST and it becomes 100% owned by the Bell Family.

1999 - Jay Bell takes over as President and CEO. Seeing that 9mm SMAW is nearing the end of its life cycle with the USMC, he aggressively pursues new business.

2001 - Company moved to Boulder City, NV in a 26,400 SF rural industrial facility.

- MAST awarded first 40mm M781 contract by US Army Rock Island for nearly 600,000 units base year.

- Company Started Lake City Army Ammunition Plant Operations (Independence, MO) for production of 40mm M781 for US Army

2003 - MAST awarded M81 igniter 5 year contract by US Army TACOM-ARDEC Picatinny Arsenal. Maximum potential award exceeds $20 million.

2004 - MAST awarded largest 40mm M781 contract. MAST's funded backlog nears $20 million.

- MAST closed its Nevada operations and consolidation to its LCAAP facility.

- Gerald Pickens takes over as President and CEO.

2005 - MAST awarded 45% M781 quantity for 40mm Systems Buy as part of Team DSE. DSE will be the prime contractor and MAST will be the sub/team member. This results in MAST's funded backlog to approach $30 million.

- MAST has second year in a row of record sales. Projections are for record sales for 2005 and 2006.

Current Leadership

Jay Bell - President and CEO