FRP Release October 2007

Press Release

October 2007

Full rate production decision on M50 mask for US JSGPM program

The Joint Program Executive Officer for Chemical and Biological Defence, has approved the Joint Service General Purpose Mask (JSGPM) Program for entry into the Full Rate Production Phase of Systems Acquisition. The first order is expected to be at the rate of 100,000 masks per annum and is anticipated to exceed $40 million. The minimum contract period is five years with subsequent orders of equal volumes including spares and accessories following year-on-year.

The JSGPM program is likely to become the largest respiratory protection contract ever undertaken and will equip all five US armed forces. The design and development by Avon of the M50 mask has resulted in the most advanced respiratory protection mask ever, offering huge improvement in comfort, usability, and operational effectiveness, as well as protection.

M50 and its extensive range of associated products will be manufactured at Avon’s state of the art production facility in Cadillac, Michigan, the only manufacturing operation in the world with the capability to produce the unique M50 twin conformal filters.

Commenting on the full rate production of the M50, Gary Dunn, Marketing Director, Avon Protection Systems Inc said “We are extremely proud that following 7 years of intensive work, our product will enter service with US Forces this year. The JSGPM Program has resulted in the most advanced respiratory protection mask ever; offering huge improvements in comfort, usability, operational effectiveness and most importantly protection.”

Terry Stead, CEO, Avon Rubber plc. This is a wonderful day for Avon and puts us on track to become the largest supplier of CBRN respirators in the world. It is the result of over 7 years of dedicated effort working with the US Department of Defense and we are very proud of this achievement.

About Avon Rubber p.l.c (“Avon”).

Through Avon Protection Systems Inc, Avon Rubber plc designs and manufactures a range of highly advanced CBRN respiratory protection solutions. Our most recent successes include being awarded full rate production of the M50 mask which will equip all 5 US armed forces, achieving CE status for the new Atlantair range of SCBA equipment and also supplying the FM12 to the Turkish armed forces through MKEK. Avon Rubber plc also owns Avon-ISI Inc, experts in the development of SCBA equipment for fire, law enforcement and military applications. Avon - ISI's latest development, the Viking Z Seven SCBA, has just attained NFPA certification allowing it to be sold to fire fighters across the USA.