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                                                                   Exhibit 23(a)

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
(Form S-8) pertaining to the Brush Engineered Materials Inc. 1997 Stock
Incentive Plan for Non-employee Directors (as Amended and Restated as of May 1,
2001) of our report dated January 22, 2001, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of Brush Engineered Materials Inc. incorporated by
reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2000
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                        /s/  ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
June 7, 2001