Wiltshire manufacturing group Avon Rubber has taken over one of its US suppliers in a $5.1m (£3.2m) deal. Melksham-headquartered Avon said the acquisition of Florida-based Hudstar Systems would “modestly” boost earnings in its next full financial year.
Hudstar designs and makes electronic control systems used in powered and supplied air respiratory protection systems – largely for Avon’s Deltair self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), pictured, which it launched last year to sell to the fire service industry. 
As Hudstar is a private company it does not produce audited accounts, but Avon said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange that it expects to achieve cost savings from the acquisition.
Avon chief executive Peter Slabbert said: “The addition of Hudstar’s technology and expertise in electronics adds to Avon’s capability and will, in addition to providing short-term cost savings, provide longer-term product development opportunities in this key technology area.”
Last November Avon reported a 21% leap in annual pre-tax profits of £16.6m despite sales slipping slightly to £124.8m.
