Global manufacturer Avon Rubber is predicting a positive 2015 as it continues to win new orders for its innovative products.
In an update to the London Stock Exchange the Melksham-headquartered group said trading in the first quarter had continued in line with expectations – with its dairy business performing particularly well.
As a result, it continued to be strongly cash generative with net cash at the end of last year soaring to £6.4m from £2.9m just three months earlier. 
Avon, which makes advanced rubber-based products including respirators for armed forces and emergency services around the world along with parts for the global dairy industry, has invested heavily in innovative new products and technologies while expanding in international markets over the last three years.
It said production in its main protection & defence division had switched to delivering JSGPM M50 masks under a 10-year contract with the US Department of Defence (DoD) from non-DoD work last year.
There had been a high level of quotes out for its higher margin export military masks, growth in its fire service products had increased in the first quarter and the level of inquiries for its new Deltair SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) for the fire service industry, pictured above, had been strong.
Its US industrial coated fabric goods business AEF had secured orders which would sustain production into the second half of the financial year, it said.
Trading in its dairy had been “extremely strong” in the first quarter, the group said, with “encouraging” take up of its innovative Cluster Exchange service by farms in North America and Europe.
It has also set up a sales and distribution facility in Brazil to service the Brazilian and wider South American dairy market.
Last November Avon reported a 21% leap in annual pre-tax profits of £16.6m despite sales slipping slightly to £124.8m.
