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                                                                      Exhibit 23


                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Brush Engineered Materials Inc. of our report dated January 22, 2001,
included in the 2000 Annual Report to the Shareholders of Brush Engineered
Materials Inc.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Brush Engineered
Materials Inc. listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration
Statements and Post-Effective Amendments of our report dated January 22, 2001,
with respect to the consolidated financial statements incorporated herein by
reference, and our report included in the preceding paragraph with respect to
the financial statement schedule included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of
Brush Engineered Materials Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2000:

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 5 to Registration Statement Number
         2-64080 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000.

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number
         333-63355 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000;

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number
         33-28605 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000;

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number
         333-63351 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000;

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number
         333-63353 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000;

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number
         333-63357 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000;

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number
         333-52141 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000;

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number
         2-90724 on Form S-8 dated May 17, 2000;

         Registration Statement Number 333-63351 on Form S-8 dated September 14,
         1998;

         Registration Statement Number 333-63353 on Form S-8 dated September 14,
         1998;

         Registration Statement Number 333-63355 on Form S-8 dated September 14,
         1998;

         Registration Statement Number 333-63357 on Form S-8 dated September 14,
         1998;

         Registration Statement Number 333-52141 on Form S-8 dated May 5, 1998;

         Registration Statement Number 33-28605 on Form S-8 dated May 5, 1989;

         Registration Statement Number 2-90724 on Form S-8 dated April 27, 1984;

         Post-Effective Amendment Number 3 to Registration Statement Number
         2-64080 on Form S-8 dated April 22, 1983.

                                                     ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
March 29, 2001