Avon Protection has set its sights on becoming the biggest supplier of helmets to the US military as it battles to revive its fortunes.
The Wiltshire-based firm described 2023 as a ‘transformative’ year after it closed its loss-making armour division.
Its chief executive Jos Sclater, who has been in charge since January, said the group will enter 2024 with a ‘stronger, more stable business’ that is focused on respiratory and head protection.
Avon Protection supplies products such as gas masks, ballistic helmets, thermal imaging cameras and underwater equipment to the UK and US military
The company supplies products such as gas masks, ballistic helmets, thermal imaging cameras and underwater equipment to the UK and US military as well as to police, border patrol and fire and rescue services.
‘Avon has an exciting future and is well positioned to become the largest supplier of ballistic helmets to the US Department of Defence,’ Sclater said.
But the scale of the turnaround needed was laid bare after revenues fell 7.5 per cent to £195million in the year to the end of September.
It swung to a loss of £16million, having made a £4.8million profit the year before. Avon cut its dividend and reduced its staff by around 100.
