Avon acquires International Safety Instruments

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Avon Rubber plc has bought International Safety Instruments Inc. based in Lawrenceville, Georgia for $20.7 million (Euro 17 million). The acquisition is “a key element of Avon's growth strategy for its new protection division, Avon Protection Systems (APS),” said Avon, in a statement on the deal.

ISI's owner and chief executive Donald Dawson will receive a further $2 million if he remains with the company until 2007.

Avon said it set up its new protection division to meet the respiratory protection needs of those who have to make the first response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) attack globally. APS, bolstered by the addition of ISI, will build on Avon's long track record in design and manufacture of NBC respirators, the group added.

“Avon's unparalleled face-piece-design capability, materials development experience, and filtration technologies, together with ISI's pneumatics, head-up display, telemetry and communications integration achievements, allow a range of powerful development opportunities,” said Jonty Palmer, APS managing director, emphasising the complementary nature of the two companies' technologies

“Together we will enhance our protection services to our existing customers whilst offering the potential of truly innovative solutions to current and future first responders and military users globally,” Palmer added in Avon's statement on the purchase.

Fire-fighters, military personnel, law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel increasingly require flexible protection from their equipment, said Avon. ISI has long experience and a reputation for innovation in complementary 'Self Contained Breathing Apparatus' and related technologies.

As part of Avon, ISI will continue to meet users' needs for user friendly breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras, said Avon.