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Avon Lippiatt Hobbs established
a manufacturing and marketing company in the USA and
purchased Norbreen Resins of Rochdale, Lancs, a highly
specialised formulator. Worldwide licences for patented
techniques of trenchless pipe-laying were negotiated
with British Gas and the Water Research Centre.
The range of leisure craft produced by Avon Inflatables
was augmented by the introduction of boats for commercial
and military purposes - necessitating a considerable expansion
of production facilities.
At Trowbridge, additional factory space was required for
the manufacture of more complex and technically advanced
ranges of automotive hoses.
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A length of hovercraft
skirting being finished at Bell-Avon, USA
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The rapid development of hovercraft
in the United States brought Avon to a joint venture with
one of America's leading high technology groups. Avon Industrial
Polymers and Bell Aerospace Textron formed Bell Avon Inc,
located at Picayune, Mississippi. This company produces hovercraft
skirts and other flexible fabrications for military and commercial
applications.
To reinforce the group's finances an approach was made to
shareholders in September 1984 to support a one-for-one Rights
issue of 6.6 million new ordinary shares and this was fully
subscribed. |
