Moog has bought Northrop Grumman`s Poly-Scientific division for $158m. Poly-Sci — which will be renamed Moog Components Group — makes motion control and data transmission devices, including sliprings, brushless DC motors, and actuators, mainly for the aerospace and defence markets. Poly-Sci employs about 1,000 people at three US locations and notched up sales worth $133m last year.

Poly-Sci, which was founded 50 years ago, was bought by Litton Industries in the early 1960s. Litton subsequently acquired Clifton Industries and merged it with Poly-Sci. Litton was itself acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2001.

In the first six months of this year, Poly-Sci`s sales amounted to $67m. Moog expects the new division to generate an income of $140 during the financial year that started in September 2003.

The aerospace and defence markets account for about two-thirds of Poly-Sci`s sales with the balance coming from the industrial sector, mainly for use in medical equipment.