Wiltshire engineering and manufacturing company records improved results in the first half of the year.
Avon Protection, which is headquartered in Melksham, made a profit before tax of £724,000 compared to a loss of £2.25m last year.
Revenue was down 3.9% to just over £93m according to the firm’s preliminary results. Avon Protection said that the outlook for the end of the year looked positive, and that it is on track to delivering its armour obligations by end of financial year.
Avon Protection makes products for the world's militaries and first responder, including gas masks.
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Jos Sclater, chief executive, said: "Avon Protection is a business with strong foundations and extraordinary potential. We have moved fast to develop our new STAR strategy and have already taken meaningful steps forward, focusing initially on strengthening the fundamentals with a view to building short term momentum. In addition, we have developed strategic initiatives to further improve the business over the medium term to accelerate growth, improve margins and returns on capital, and protect more lives through the sale of our innovative products.
"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 U.S. DOD and the discontinuation of our armour business.
"During the last four months we have increased the pace of change, so I would like to thank everybody across the business for their help and determination to realise our full potential. I am confident that, together, we are setting Avon Protection up for a successful future."
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