Defence manufacturer Avon Protection has changed its name for the second time in just over three years.
The Melksham-based group has become Avon Technologies in a move it said recognised its heritage while embracing the next stage of its development – accelerating growth through innovation in technology.
The group employs more than 900 people in seven locations in the UK and North America who design and make protective gear, masks and breathing equipment for the military and first-responder markets.
It said the latest name change, which follows the rebranding from Avon Rubber to Avon Protection in May 2021, would also “improve clarity” and ensure there is no confusion between its two strategic business units Avon Protection and Team Wendy and the wider group.
Avon bought Cleveland, Ohio-based Team Wendy, which makes head protection systems for military, law enforcement, search and rescue and the adventure markets, in 2020.
In the same year it sold its historic Milkrite InterPuls dairy industry business to Swedish group DeLaval. Rubber-based milking equipment was among the first products made by Avon when it was launched in 1881.
The business grew in parallel with Avon’s rubber tyre operations, later becoming Milkrite and adding InterPuls when it acquired the Italian business of the same name in 2015.
Avon Tyres was sold in 1997 to US group Cooper Tyre.
