Avon Protection shifts focus, winding down armor business

MELKSHAM, United Kingdom—Avon Protection P.L.C. has decided to wind down its body and flat armor business following an in-depth strategic review, the company announced Dec. 15.

The review of issues around test failures of body armor parts for the U.S. military recently forced Avon Protection to delay the announcement of results for its 2021 fiscal year.

The "orderly" wind-down, over the next two years, will enable Avon to fulfill existing body and flat armor customer commitments and allow it to focus on its respiratory and head protection business.

"2021 has regretfully been a challenging year for Avon Protection and our stakeholders," said CEO Paul McDonald of the group, which until recently traded as Avon Rubber.

"However," he added, "we have taken decisive action to address the body armor issues and refocus the group as a global leader in respiratory and head protection."

European Rubber Journal will report further on this development and Avon Protection's annual results in its coming edition of the ERJ Daily Newsletter and in the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of European Rubber Journal magazine.