• Swindon & Wiltshire News
• Tuesday May 23 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Avon Protection returns to profit after strong second half of the year

Avon Protection, the personal protection company which manufactures defence equipment for military, police, industrial and fire service personnel from its factory in Melksham, has returned to profit after a strong second half of the year.

The firm this morning (Tuesday) reported a profit of $0.9 million (£724,000) against a loss of $2.8 million (£2.25 million) last year.

Revenue was down 3.9 per cent to just over $116.2 million (£93.5 million), according to the firm’s preliminary results, due to a slower-than-expected delivery of helmets for the US Department of Defense and a decrease in orders for respiratory masks following a strong year prior.

CEO Jos Sclater told investors the firm had a strong order intake of $125.6 million (£101 million) with a record-high order book of $160.7 million (£129 million).

“Revenue during the first half was below our expectations, but a better second half is supported by the strong order book, the steps we have already taken to strengthen the factories focused on shipping the first lots of NG IHPS helmet to the US DoD, and the discontinuation of our armour business.”