8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

September 11, 2006

CERADYNE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	000-13059	33-0055414
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

3169 Red Hill Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA	92626
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (714) 549-0421

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Exhibit Index on page 4

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On September 11, 2006, Ceradyne, Inc. issued a press release that it has received two ceramic body armor delivery orders totaling $13.3 million from the U.S. Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. A copy of this press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release of Ceradyne, Inc. dated September 11, 2006.

2

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CERADYNE, INC.
September 12, 2006	By:	/s/ Jerrold J. Pellizzon
		Jerrold J. Pellizzon
		Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

3

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release of Ceradyne, Inc. dated September 11, 2006.

4

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

Joel P. Moskowitz	Dan Matsui/Gene Heller
Chief Executive Officer	Silverman Heller Associates
(714) 549-0421	(310) 208-2550

CERADYNE, INC. RECEIVES $13.3 MILLION CERAMIC BODY ARMOR ORDERS

FOR U.S. ARMY

Costa Mesa, Calif.—September 11, 2006—Ceradyne, Inc. (Company) (Nasdaq: CRDN) received two ceramic body armor delivery orders totaling $13.3 million from the U.S. Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The orders are for $9.9 million of ESAPI and $3.4 million of ESBI (side plates) to be shipped in fourth-quarter 2006. These new delivery orders will be shipped against larger indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contracts announced earlier.

Dave Reed, Ceradyne president of North American operations, commented: “We are pleased that the Army continues to issue ESAPI and ESBI orders to our Company. Our expanded capacity in Costa Mesa, California, and Lexington, Kentucky, will allow us to meet the Army’s quality and delivery requirements. We continue to expect additional orders, including an order later this year for delivery during the balance of 2006 and early 2007.”

Ceradyne develops, manufactures and markets advanced technical ceramic products and components for defense, industrial, automotive/diesel, and commercial applications. Additional information about the Company can be found at www.ceradyne.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Ceradyne that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “future,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #