US masks orders to continue for Avon

Melksham, UK – Avon Rubber’s protection and defence business expects continued orders for military masks in 2017, the company said in a five-month trading update on 9 Sept.

The company said that its CBRN/CO Escape Hood had the approval of the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It has also received a $9-million order from a “major US city police department for this new product.

A majority of the orders, said Avon Rubber, will be delivered in this financial year, ending 30 Sept.

Meanwhile, the Melksham-based company said that deliveries of JSGPM M50 mask systems to the US Department of State under a 10-year sole-source contract have continued.

“We continue to see a number of higher margin export opportunities for military masks although, as always, the timing of order receipt is unpredictable,” said Avon.

In the dairy products section, Avon said market conditions have been weak, mainly due to the low price of milk.

The company said it expected the “cyclical market dynamic” to reduce demand for its products, especially in the InterPuls business.

However, noted Avon, “milk prices in our major markets do appear to have bottomed-out and have started to improve in the final quarter.”

According to the company, the roll-out of InterPuls products in the US has started with the first revenues seen in the final quarter of the financial year.

These trends, said Avon, leave the board confident of the ability of the dairy business to make progress in 2017.

Fiscal full year results for the 12 months to 30 Sept will be announced on 16 Nov.