Avon Protection anticipates growth from strong orders

MELKSHAM, U.K.—Avon Protection P.L.C. expects the current financial year, started Oct. 1, 2022, to be "a year of good progress" with a "strong order pipeline" for its respiratory products and further growth in demand for head protection devices.

The Melksham-based group, however, expects full-year revenue to be weighted to the second half of the financial year, due to seasonality and timing of orders, according to the company's Jan. 27 trading update.

Over the first quarter of the year, ended Dec. 31, 2022, respiratory and head protection sales were at similar levels to the prior level, Avon said.

Overall, revenue in the first quarter was up 6 percent versus last year, driven by the previously anticipated increase in sales of armor products.

Avon said work to ramp up its production of "next-generation" integrated head protection system helmet is ongoing, ahead of first deliveries in the second half.

Furthermore, the first article testing process for the group's advanced combat Gen II helmet is "progressing well," with initial revenue expected in the first half of 2024.