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Welding Helmet
Trends and Technologies Questions
1. What challenges do you see
fabricators facing; in general, and specifically regarding welding
helmets? I see the challenges they have been
facing for years, a safe environment. I see fabricators facing the need
to become as efficient as possible and be as well prepared with the best
and most economical welding helmets available. 2. How are you addressing these
challenges? We have been producing a chin operated
welding helmet that gives the welder hands free operation for over
fifteen years. 3. How are welding helmets and the
technologies they use evolving to help meet these challenges? There has been a big change in helmet
design since the introduction of the light activated lens. This concept
was accepted at first because of the freedom it gave welders to use both
hands. Traditionally they nodded the complete helmet down causing neck
& back fatigue over time. Now after a few years of use the light
activated helmets are loosing their luster. Welders have gotten used to
using both hands but are disappointed in the vision and eye fatigue from
this type of design. Since the light activates the lens there is still a
fraction of a second delay before the lens darkens. To many welders this
causes discomfort. There are also hundreds of different models, many
made in China and other countries. They use a wide range of different
lens sizes making it very hard to find the right size lens. They are
also fragile, most can't handle the rough environment of a welding shop.
The Chin operated helmets are now becoming the helmet
of choice, they offer all the hands free features plus give the welder a
clear viewing window instead of a shaded lens the light activated
helmets must have to reduce
the initial flash before darkening. The Accu-strike chin operated
helmets also offer what fabricators have wanted for years and that is
complete eye and face protection while welding and grinding. The
Accu-Strike Chin operated helmet also offers a clear grinding shield.
Here is a description off how it works:
The chin strap operates the visor. Lower the jaw
slightly and open the visor effortlessly! The amount of jaw movement
controls the amount of opening. Release chin pressure and the visor
closes in place. Visor can also be locked open for grinding or extended
viewing. A slight (adjustable) nod of the head closes the visor. 4. What types of welding helmets are
your customers requesting most often? Why? My customers are by far and away
requesting the Accu-strike chin operated helmets. For reasons described
above. I carry a line of light activated helmets but they are out sold
by the chin operated Accu-Strike helmets. 5. Are welding helmet suppliers
fulfilling needs to meet fabricators’ objectives? How? Welding suppliers who take the time to
know the products they sell and take the time to research the market for
ways to help the fabricator are the suppliers who will continue to grow.
It’s important to know what type
helmets are available, not just assume a concept is better because
it’s high tech. sometimes simple is better. 6. What have you done with welding
helmets that is new? How has it been received? We have focused on eye protection,
after all that is why you where a welding helmet, it’s not that
important to have a gorilla face or skeleton looking mask. Our focus is
eye protection. That’s what you wear a helmet for. That's what the customer is happy to have. 7. Specifically, over the years a
shift from standard welding helmets to those that showcase more
personality; for example, those that are patriotic in nature or that
feature motorsports graphics. When did this change begin? What started
it? Where is this trend in welding helmets that display more personality
headed? It’s great to have a helmet that
displays individualism, if you want to stick decals of your favorite
team or what have you on the helmet than by all means do it, but again
the reason you wear a welding helmet is for eye & face protection,
so focus on that. 8. What are some current and critical
developments you’re seeing in welding helmets? I’m seeing more and more people
accepting a lens technology coming from all over the world that is potentially dangerous long term. 9. Without divulging trade secrets, in
a general way, what innovations in welding helmets can people expect to
see next year? In the future? From Cherokee they can expect to see
more of what we’ve done for over a decade and that is focus on eye
protection first, then comfort and ease of operation.
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