New Speedglas 9100 Welding Shield Series
“Optimum comfort, trusted protection”
AWS will launch the next generation 3M™ Speedglas™ 9100 auto-darkening welding shield at the Safety in Action Exhibition 29th April - 1st May in Melbourne and the National Manufacturing Week Exhibition 27-30th May in Sydney. The new Speedglas 9100 series only the fourth in 27 years replaces the Speedglas 9000 series, becoming the new product benchmark for the entire market of premium personal protective equipment for welders. Speedglas 9100 is the result of comments from welders all around the world and over two years of product development.
The Speedglas 9100 design team aspired to create the ideal shield for the professional welder - a shield with optimised protection, comfort and performance. The radically new design approach fundamentally changes how the welder wears the shield, giving the welder a more comfortable fit, absolute stability, and perfect balance.
Beginning with the innovative head harness system, the shield’s pivot point is located just above the welder’s ears. This optimises its centre of gravity, keeping the shield closer to the welder’s head in both the up and down positions. Being as close as possible to the welder makes the shield feel lighter, more stable and more balanced at all times. In essence, the shield’s “lever effect” is greatly reduced, so the forces on the user’s neck muscles are minimised.
To reduce pressure on the sensitive nerves and arteries found along the forehead, scientists and ergonomic experts designed the front of the head harness so that it self-adjusts to match the welder’s head. Pressure is evenly distributed along a row of twin-pads so as to fit the exact shape of the user’s forehead. The cradle design of the head harness, combined with the self-adjusting twin-pads, more closely profiles the true shape of the user’s head. As a result, welders do not need to tighten the head harness as much as they would with conventional head harnesses to achieve a secure fit. In addition, the head harness system has been designed to avoid pressure on sensitive acupressure and acupuncture points identified on the top of the head, above the ear, and at the back of the head.
The shield has a smooth up and down pivot action that gently “locks” in the up position, where a light touch on the shield releases the lock. The new harness design replaces the traditional single top of the head strap, with two top-of-the-head straps. The straps are spaced so they cradle the top of the head, for a more secure, comfortable fit that also better distributes the weight of the shield.
The new head harness system allows for several adjustment combinations (back and forth, higher and lower, and tilt), so the welder can “customise” the shield to his/her exact personal preferences and comfort settings. A snap adjustment where the shield attaches to the head harness allows the welder to select one of four different settings, moving the shield either closer or further away from the user’s face. These back and forth adjustments allow for a variety of personal preferences as well as differences in nose sizes, safety glasses sizes or the use of particulate respirators. The user can also adjust the tilt of the shield to set a preferred viewing angle. The head harness suits head sizes (50-64cm).
The new Speedglas 9100 shield is also wider and deeper, providing greater coverage of ears, neck and the sides of the head. The design includes an improved version of the exclusive Speedglas humidity & fog reduction vent, providing better air quality within the shield by reducing the build-up of heat, moisture, carbon dioxide (CO2), and stale air within the shield. Welders have reported feeling more refreshed, energetic, and clear headed all day long. The optional patented Speedglas SideWindows have been made bigger for increased vision. The SideWindows now extend right to the base of the shield, giving the user the ability to see down using their peripheral vision, while all the time providing conventional shade 13 protection from harmful UV & IR radiation.
The new shield is made from a lightweight but durable material that meets the high impact mechanical strength requirements of AS/NZS1337. The shield is available with or without SideWindows; welders can also use removable cover plates for blocking out the SideWindows for occasions when peripheral vision could be distracting.
The Speedglas 9100 auto darkening welding lenses feature unrivalled uniform shading and minimal distortion across the entire viewing area. There are now seven dark shades settings to choose from: shade 5 (for gas welding/cutting), shade 8 (for micro-plasma and low-amp TIG welding) and 9-13 for most arc welding processes. If needed, welders now also have the option to lock-in their shade, including the light state (shade 3) for grinding. A new patented comfort mode for tack welding (shade 5) helps to reduce eye fatigue which results from the eye constantly adjusting to differing light levels. If a follow up arc is not struck within two seconds, the welding lens switches to the normal light state (shade 3).
The Speedglas 9100 series includes three new variable auto-darkening lenses models that are differentiated by size: Speedglas 9100V with a viewing area (45x93mm), the 35% larger viewing area (54x107mm) of the Speedglas 9100X and the 85% larger viewing area (73x107 mm) of the Speedglas 9100XX. An improved interface design for the inner and outer protection plates reduces the possibility of fogging or dust infiltration. A holding mechanism has also been built into the lens, designed specifically for magnifying lenses. Flame resistant Tecaweld head and throat protection add-ons are also available for optimised protection.