ARMOR-PLATED VEHICLES LINED WITH GOLD : CRIME AND TERRORISM SPELL BANNER YEAR FOR CUSTOMIZER.

Byline: Kevin O'Hanlon Associated Press

Terrorism and crime are a threat worldwide. In Bill O'Gara's world, that's good for business.

His company, O'Gara Co. made its mark fitting limousines with armor for use by U.S. presidents, Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II. Now the company is enjoying big sales growth doing the same for officials and business people in countries rife with crime because of drug wars and unstable governments.

``Our business was driven by terrorism in the 1980s, and today, we've seen a much greater shift to crime, particularly in places like Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines and Russia,'' O'Gara said during a stroll through the company's 130,000-square foot plant in suburban Cincinnati.

``That's our real growth area, people who are concerned about kidnapping and random acts of violence.''

While the company still outfits limousines, it now offers the likes of armored Jeep Cherokees and Chevrolet Suburbans, which are preferred by officials and executives who don't want a high profile.

O'Gara's goal is to have enough armored Suburbans - popular because they are large and powerful - ready for ``walk-up'' business.

``When the incident happens or a threat is identified, they want the vehicle right away,'' said O'Gara, the company's CEO. ``But we haven't gotten to that point yet - we sell out before the vehicles are through being fitted.''

The company, which turned out about 500 vehicles last year, can refit a Suburban in about 400 hours, compared with 1,400 a few years ago.

Depending on the amount of protection wanted, a vehicle can be made to withstand 9 mm bullets, armor-piercing rounds, bomb blasts and land mines.

The process can add up to a ton to the weight of a vehicle and cost anywhere from $40,000 to $1 million.

O'Gara recently bought International Training Inc. of West Point, Va., and Palmer Associates of Mexico City. The companies specialize in providing training to counter terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes. O'Gara Co. plans to open another training facility in San Antonio, Texas, this year.

``We feel there's an opportunity to offer one-stop shopping where a customer can get an armored vehicle, driver training, security training and site protection,'' O'Gara said.

The demand for the company's products and services doesn't surprise Sean Milinowski, director of the Office of International Criminal Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The office is a private nonprofit organization founded by the school to study international crime and crime trends.

``If this company is not ahead of the curve, then they certainly are right on it,'' he said. ``Kidnapping and violence is a real concern for business people in many countries.''

The company now has operations in Russia, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Britain and Italy as well as in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The O'Gara family bought the firm in 1982.

O'Gara's net sales in 1996 were $82.8 million - a big increase from $32.8 million in 1995.

In a prospectus issued before the company went public last year, O'Gara estimated that the international market for security equipment alone will be $44 billion by 2000.

``I'm constantly amazed at the amount of crime that is out there in the world,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: (color) Bill O'Gara, CEO of the O'Gara Co. poses in front of several rows of armored Humvees at the suburban Cincinnati plant.

Associated Press