Second half boost for Avon Rubber

Avon Rubber, a provider of respiratory protection to military and industrial markets, said full year results are expected to be in line with current market expectations after a strong second half performance.The group, which makes high tech rubber-based products for a number of manufacturing sectors, said trading in the second half of the financial year was, as expected, stronger than in the first half as both of its divisions made progress."We enter the new financial year with a strong order book in Protection & Defence, while in our Dairy business innovative new products and expanding global reach continue to deliver gains in market share," it said in a statement.Chief Executive Peter Slabbert added: "We continue to invest in innovative new products in both Protection & Defence and Dairy and believe that these industry leading technologies will deliver revenue growth and higher margins in the future.""The uncertain economic climate will present challenges in the coming year but I am confident that both sides of Avon's business are well positioned to make further progress in 2013."Net debt at the year-end was £8.7m.CJ Avon Protection