Back to our roots: Our first filter

The first filter to leave our factory all the way back in 2005 was a curved particulate filter designed to form part of a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) unit for a well-established head protection specialist based in the UK.

Context

PAPR units feed purified air to users by filtering airborne contaminates and blowing clean air through a connecting hose into either a tight-fitting respirator, helmet, or loose-fitting hood. These units are quite often used in the welding industry in combination with a welding helmet, as the dust and fumes generated from welding activities can cause fatal diseases in humans who experience prolonged exposure. Hence, a particulate filter is required in such units to prevent those who work in the welding industry from inhaling these potentially harmful particles.

Before The Filter Design Company’s involvement, the client was unhappy with their filter supplier. Although their filters were performing effectively, their products were expensive and inaccessible, which consequently made their overall PAPR unit price uncompetitive in the marketplace.

Solution

That’s where we came in. Our filtration solution had been previously designed by one of our owners. It exceeded the requirements of the EN 143:2000 European standard, was manufactured to give a consistent pressure drop to enable effective user control of the PAPR unit, and was a more cost-effective solution than the client’s previous supplier. Not only this, but because of our filter quality, consistency and performance, the client requested minimal changes and was impressed with our products over high volumes.

And we’re still manufacturing the filter to this day.

Contact us if you would like us to design or manufacture a respiratory protection solution for you.