Today's protective gear uses a wide array of state-oftheart materials and technology — designed not only to protect but also to enhance the user's experience and increase productivity. Nowhere is that more true than with welder's helmets, many of which now incorporate auto-darkening and intelligent shade-sensing technologies.

"The big advantage of auto-darkening technology is that is does actually increase worker productivity," says Sara Lippold, marketing coordinator of Jackson Products. "You don't have to constantly flip the helmet up and down, and you're not accidentally getting flashed by the welder. It helps with the eyestrain and the fatigue of the neck, and everything else in welding. It saves time, it saves money, and it's safer."

With auto-darkening technology, the helmet has a clear state so welders can easily view their work, but they're protected when they actually begin to weld — the speed of conversion from clear to shade modes occurs in a flash of an eye.

 

Jackson Products incorporates auto-darkening technology in a wide array of welding helmets, many with unique designs and styles, including one helmet that is decorated with flames. Actually, Jackson offers welding helmets under two distinct brands.

"Our Huntsman brand, which is a company we acquired several years ago, is very popular in the western United States and is recognized as the value leader," says Lippold. "Jackson, on the other hand, is pretty much targeted toward the professional welder."

Hobbyists get serious
Lippold also readily admits that the line between professional and hobby welders is beginning to blur, at least when it comes to the safety equipment that is being used.

"Actually, auto-darkening lenses are available on all of our three lines, the Phantom, which is at the upper end, the Impulse line, which we are just now launching, and at the entry level with the Striker line," says Alan Kinsler, director of international sales for Sellstrom.

Even in its lower-end Striker line, Sellstrom offers variable shades between DIN 9 and 13, with fixed shades available between 10 and 11. And when the arc flashes, there is less than 1 millisecond switching speed from light to shade modes.

But no two welding applications or job sites are entirely the same. MIG arcs differ from TIG, and TIG differs from Rod. All are affected by amperage. This means you need a lightweight yet versatile helmet that affords full protection but also full convenience for the end-user.

Within the last nine months, Optrel, a brand from French company Bacou-Dalloz, rolled out two very unique products. Intended for all electric arc welding processes, including electrode welding, MIG/MAG, plasma arc welding, TIG, and fluxed-core wire welding among others, these two new helmet lines have automatic shade adjustment levels from DIN 9 to 13, as well as constant protection from UV and IR rays. And like others, they are powered by solar cells. They both have an angle of adjustment of 120 to 60 degrees to prevent accidental triggering by other welders in the area.

So what's so different with these two helmets? The Orion OSE has an exclusive sensor technology that eliminates the need for the welder to make a manual adjustment for various shade intensities. The other takes a light with the welder into darkened work areas.

"Eye protection in terms of shade level is very much dependent on arc intensity," explains Tom Botthof, product manager, welding helmets, Bacou-Dalloz. "This arc intensity is measured by the helmet and then is sent through electronic circuitry. Calculations are then made through an algorithm, and shade intensity is set according to arc intensity."

The other unique helmet from Bacou-Dalloz is the Helios, which incorporates three builtin electroluminescent dials to light up dark work areas.

A delay switch activates or deactivates the systems, and light sensors trigger an automatic cutoff as soon as welding begins. The LEDs are rechargeable, and they can last for two days under normal working conditions.

Light-sensing technology is not the only factor to consider when purchasing a helmet. You also need a helmet constructed from a lightweight material. Those materials should then be configured into a lightweight and ergonomic design that provides for maximum protection of the face and neck while providing for ease of motion.

"At our company, there is always the drive to look for lighter-weight materials to reduce the strain on the neck or head," says Lippold from Jackson Products. "But we also strive to make sure that our products are durable and long-lasting. We are constantly working to improve our products."