Avon Rubber, the West Wiltshire-based rubber products manufacturer, expects to continue to grow despite a weak economic outlook and a fall in annual sales.
Revenue dropped 8% to £107.6m in the year to September 30 at the Melksham group, mainly due to falling orders with the US Department of Defense. The group supplies respirators and other protection equipment to the US military and homeland defence as well as governments across the world.
But the firm said its dairy business, which represents 28% of total revenue, improved sales by 10%. Dairy products include equipment used in milking parlours.
Group pre-tax profits rose from £7.1m to £10.2m.
Avon said it expects to make further progress in 2012, despite an uncertain economic outlook for the defence industry. It said it will accelerate its investment in new products in its protection and defence division, while looking to maintain its position in the global dairy market.
