Avon/ Zodiac/ Milpro -UK?

[Arctic]

Hi,

Does anyone here happen to know what professional Zodiac products (if any) are still built here in the UK, at the former Avon factory in Wales? I recently heard that the milpro division separated from the original Zodiac company. See the following news clip for a summary:

"Further to the various newscasts, relative to the insolvency procedure concerning Z-MARINE company, ZODIAC MILPRO would like to make clear that our company is completely independent from Z-MARINE.

The ECUME contrat is highly ambitious and challenging RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) project, conducted by ZODIAC MILPRO group and its subsidiary Zodiac Hurricane Technologies in Canada.

The ZODIAC MILPRO Group is a medium-sized French Group, of more than 300 employees worldwide, that is totally independent from the other groups coming from the historical ZODIAC Marine environment, in terms of shareholders as well as in terms of commercial, technical and industrial organization.

ZODIAC MILPRO INTERNATIONAL, headquartered in Paris (32bis, Bd Haussmann – 75009), provides Inflatables and RHIB crafts for Military (Special Forces, Navy, Coast Guards…) and Professional (Rescuers, Fire-brigades, Customs, Fishery controls, etc.) applications under the brands ZODIAC MILPRO®, ZODIAC HURRICANE®, HURRICANE® et MILPRO®.

World leader on its markets, the company is on a regular expanding trend for several years, in France as well as internationally."

[office888]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Hi,

Does anyone here happen to know what professional Zodiac products (if any) are still built here in the UK, at the former Avon factory in Wales? I recently heard that the milpro division separated from the original Zodiac company. See the following news clip for a summary:

"Further to the various newscasts, relative to the insolvency procedure concerning Z-MARINE company, ZODIAC MILPRO would like to make clear that our company is completely independent from Z-MARINE.

The ECUME contrat is highly ambitious and challenging RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) project, conducted by ZODIAC MILPRO group and its subsidiary Zodiac Hurricane Technologies in Canada.

The ZODIAC MILPRO Group is a medium-sized French Group, of more than 300 employees worldwide, that is totally independent from the other groups coming from the historical ZODIAC Marine environment, in terms of shareholders as well as in terms of commercial, technical and industrial organization.

ZODIAC MILPRO INTERNATIONAL, headquartered in Paris (32bis, Bd Haussmann – 75009), provides Inflatables and RHIB crafts for Military (Special Forces, Navy, Coast Guards…) and Professional (Rescuers, Fire-brigades, Customs, Fishery controls, etc.) applications under the brands ZODIAC MILPRO®, ZODIAC HURRICANE®, HURRICANE® et MILPRO®.

Your history lesson of the day:
World leader on its markets, the company is on a regular expanding trend for several years, in France as well as internationally."

When Zodiac Marine & Pool absorbed Avon, the factory in Llanelli was shut down and they moved some of the production to their factory in Roses, Spain (same factory the FC470 was made at...ES-prefix for Zodiac HIN plates). Some of the hull production moved to Saint Jean d'Illac, the rest was split among their other factories in mainland Europe.

The MilPro separation was MANY years ago when the Zodiac Marine & Pool division broke up.

Blimps, military boats, airplane seats, satellite protective film, commercial liferafts, and recreational boats...all made by separate firms now. Some kept "Zodiac" in their name, but they're all their own companies with no relationship to each other. Although it's kinda funny between Milpro and Rec, because they still share a lot of parts.

[Arctic]

Thanks. So no boats are built in the UK these days? That's a shame.

[gileszmilpro]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Thanks. So no boats are built in the UK these days? That's a shame.

We still build SeaRiders there.