$9.1M Contract Awarded by US Army

Avon Rubber PLC
4 April 2000

                               
                      AVON RUBBER p.l.c.
                               
     THE XM50  JOINT SERVICE GENERAL PURPOSE MASK (JSGPM)

Avon  Rubber  &  Plastics Inc., Cadillac, Michigan,  has  been
awarded the Program Definition and Risk Reduction phase (PDRR)
of  the  Joint  Service General Purpose Mask (JSGPM)  contract
issued  by  the  US  Army  Soldier,  Biological  and  Chemical
Command.

The  total  PDRR phase of the award is valued at $9.1  million
over  a  period  of 24 months.   Subject to the US  Government
exercising  their  options to fund  remaining  phases  of  the
program  the  total  value  for this contract  and  subsequent
commercial sales could exceed several hundred million dollars.

The  Avon led team includes Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego, California, Guild  Associates
of  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  the  Joint  Services  of  the  U.S.
Department  of  Defense as members of the  Program  Integrated
Product Teams.  It is estimated that the contract will  employ
some 82 scientists, engineers and technicians in total and was
won on the basis of best overall value to the US Government.

The  JSGPM  program will replace all existing general  purpose
protective  masks  for the Army, Marine, Air  Force  and  Navy
ground  forces and will represent a leap forward in  technical
competence and protection for the US Armed Forces.

The  award  of this contract demonstrates the world leadership
which  Avon  has developed in the field of personal protection
masks   built  upon  its  highly  successful  S10   and   FM12
respirators, over two million of which are in use  around  the
world.
                               

                               
Enquiries to:


Avon Rubber p.l.c.
Bill Taylor, Business Services Director       Tel: [phone]

Ludgate Communications
Richard Hews                                 Tel: [phone]
Leone Lewis