Trading Update

Avon Rubber PLC
08 September 2006


Embargoed until 0700                                            8 September 2006
                                 
                                 AVON RUBBER PLC
                            ('Avon' or 'the Company')
                                        
                                 TRADING UPDATE

Avon Rubber p.l.c. has undertaken significant changes during 2006 and as a
result the Company is issuing this update to aid the understanding of the impact
of these changes before our year end on 30 September.

    Automotive

    At the time of our interim statement in May we announced the agreement to
    dispose of our Automotive businesses. We expected the transaction to be
    completed by the end of June and no later than the end of July. As a result of
    certain events which we subsequently announced, completion was delayed until 11
    August 2006. The delayed completion means that Avon's full year results will
    include Automotive's traditionally weaker trading months of July and August, as
    well as higher interest charges due to the late receipt of proceeds. Recent
    announcements of downturns in the automotive market reinforce the rationale for
    exiting this area of our business.

    Protection
    
    In our interim statement we reported that we had experienced delays in the
    introduction of the newly developed rapid escape hood. Since that time further
    slippage has occurred in finalising the necessary approvals. This has delayed
    our initial production of this exciting new product. In North America we have
    also experienced delays in finalising agreement of the design specification for
    the new M50 respirator, which has resulted in a later start to the initial
    production.

    Both of these products are now in production and we expect to exit this
    financial year with the M50 production rates at the level required for the
    following financial year and the escape hood being produced at rates necessary
    to achieve targeted levels by the end of the first quarter of the 2007 financial
    year. Demand for both of these products remains in line with our earlier
    estimates. In addition ISI has experienced lower than expected demand due to
    delayed allocations of Federal Fire grants. We expect these grants to be
    released in October. These various delays have resulted in a deferral rather
    than a loss of sales.
    
    Other Businesses
    
    Our dairy business continues to deliver strong operational performance,
    particularly in North America. We are also seeing consistent strong operational
    performance from our engineered fabrications business in Picayune, Mississippi.

As a result of these various factors our second half trading performance will be
significantly weaker than we anticipated at the time of the interim
announcement.

During the year we have undertaken a major restructuring of the Group. We
disposed of the Automotive businesses, restructured the UK operations as
outlined in the interim statement and, as previously announced, effected the
sale and leaseback of our UK manufacturing site at Hampton Park West. We have
also signed an agreement to sell Zatec, our business machines operation based in
Raynham, Massachusetts. We anticipate that these and other actions are likely to
result in a non-trading charge for the year in excess of the £15.9 million
(pre-tax) charge reported in the interim results.

The 2006 financial year has been a year of major strategic change and, whilst
the results for the year will not be as good as previously anticipated, we are
confident we have put in place the foundations for the exciting growth
opportunities we anticipate over the next few years.

                                   -- End --


For further enquiries, please contact:

Avon Rubber p.l.c                                                 01225 896831
Terry Stead, Chief Executive
Peter Slabbert, Group Finance Director

(Local/Trade Press)                                               01225 896300
Fiona Stewart

Weber Shandwick | Square Mile                                    020 7067 0700
Richard Hews / Rachel Taylor / Stephanie Badjonat


NOTES TO EDITORS:

 Avon Rubber p.l.c. is an international polymer engineering group adding value
  through material, manufacturing and industry sector expertise. The Group is
              currently capitalised at approximately £50 million.



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