PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
3M SPEEDGLAS LAUNCHES GENERATION 5 WELDING HELMETS SINCE RELEASING THE FIRST AUTO-DARKENING WELDING HELMET IN 1981, SPEEDGLAS HAS EMERGED AS THE LEADING BRAND IN WELDERS’ PPE: SETTING THE INDUSTRY BENCHMARK IN VISION, COMFORT, SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE.
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peedglas’ industryleading product evolution has culminated in the Generation 5 welding helmets, its latest collection which showcases a truly ground-breaking array of never-seenbefore features. Each helmet is designed from inception to be uniquely tailored to a specific application, from heavy-duty welding in hardwearing environments to critical precision TIG work. The result, after extensive input from professional welders, is an elite welding helmet range that manages to be both highly specialised and versatile in equal measure.
EACH HELMET CAN BE TAILORED TO SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS.
A world standard in precision viewing
The new 3M Speedglas Welding Helmet G5-02 marks a historic breakthrough in welding helmet technology, as it features the world’s first curved auto-darkening welding lens. Perhaps the most significant leap forward since the brand released the first auto-darkening welding helmet in 1981, Speedglas Curved Glass Technology maximises the user’s natural range of vision to create a 100 per cent wider field of view. While in the past a larger field of view would involve the compromise of a larger, heavier and more cumbersome helmet shell, the G5-02 lens allows the best of both worlds – wider views in an incredibly slim, lightweight helmet. The curved shape of the welding lens closely mirrors the welder’s face to increase peripheral vision, improve overall weight distribution and narrow the profile of the helmet. In addition to its ground-breaking aesthetic and 100 per cent wider views, the G5-02 creates a new world standard for precision optics with the introduction of Speedglas TrueView in combination with a light state of 2.5. Wearers will literally see the difference with a view that appears lighter, brighter and more realistic. The Speedglas G5-02 lens also delivers highly advanced electronics, with four arc sensors that will detect an arc down
to an industry-leading 1 Amp. This in turn ensures the lens can reliably react to the extremely stable arcs offered by the latest high-end inverter-based TIG machines. Finally, the Speedglas G5-02 is Bluetooth enabled, so a smartphone can be securely paired to a welding lens via the 3M Connected App. Operators can then use their phone to program up to four memory modes, each with its own settings for dark shades, sensitivity and delay. This option, when combined with the more intuitive, userfriendly control panel on the lens itself, means it has never been easier to adjust a lens setting to suit operational requirements. The app also lets the user record a maintenance log for their helmet, as well as access user manuals and parts lists.
The ultimate in heavy-duty protection
The 2017 IARC reclassification of welding fumes as ‘carcinogenic to humans’ simply confirmed what AUSTRALIANMINING
was already known – welding fumes are extremely bad for health and workplaces must protect their workers. Excessive exposure to welding fumes can cause multiple types of cancer, including lung, larynx and urinary tract. Action is required. The important point to understand is that, while the risk posed by welding fumes is serious, keeping workers safe can be straightforward. This is where the Speedglas G501VC Flip-Up Welding Helmet with Heavy-Duty Adflo Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) makes a difference. As one of the most popular respirators of its kind in the world, the award-winning Adflo PAPR has become synonymous with effective respiratory protection against carcinogenic welding fumes. With the right filters, it can consistently protect against welding fume particles, as well as a range of gases and vapours. The respirator fully complies with the Australian and New Zealand
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standard for powered air respirators (AS/NZS1716) and offers a required minimum protection factor (RMPF) of 50, meaning it will supply a minimum 50 times cleaner air than a welder would otherwise breathe unprotected. The Speedglas G5-01 comes standard with the Heavy-Duty Adflo PAPR: built to offer up to 12 hours’ continuous protection for long shifts in harsh environments. This results in a constant flow of clean air directly into the breathing zone for cooler, cleaner and more comfortable welding. In addition to the respiratory protection, the Speedglas G5-01 has a range of unique and fully customisable features to offer. Based on extensive input from welders working at high amperages who need to grind frequently, the helmet has been created to be adaptable to each individual’s needs and situation. This includes TrueView in the light state, variable colour technology in the dark state, climate control to adjust the airflow in your helmet, an optional task light, and the ability to adjust settings remotely via Bluetooth. AM WEARERS WILL APPRECIATE THE COMFORT OF THE GENERATION 5 HELMET.
