Here at ProGARM we are passionate about new product development and are always looking for the next innovation to improve your Arc Flash personal protective equipment.
That means we have a year-round new product development programme and a dedicated team which helps us to ensure we have cutting-edge technology in our garments, bringing you the ultimate in comfort and safety while you get on with your job.
Our Arc Flash product development process
All good product development processes should start with feedback, and we constantly gather that from customers, suppliers and our sales team. We want to know what people are loving about our Arc Flash garments, but also what they wish the garments had.
We scour the world for new innovations that we can include in our range of Arc Flash protective equipment, attending technical fabrics exhibitions and visiting suppliers to gather the best ideas.
Having identified the existing product we’re reviewing or new product we want to produce, stage one in the process is always looking for the right fabric.
Our VXS+ fabrics have inherent protection, which means the Arc Flash protection can never wash out, so any fabric we use must meet this requirement. We also assess colours and how colourfast the material will be, the fibres the material is made from, the way it is woven or knitted, along with its technical performance.
Any fabric we use must meet the prescribed standards, which can include Anti-Static, Arc Flash, chemical splash, high visibility, and flammability. We will check every time that the fabric meets the right standards for the garment we’re developing, and sometimes will request extra tests or test data to ensure this is the case. [L1]
Other components are also carefully chosen, from the zips to the other fastenings and threads, as everything has to meet the relevant standards, along with our own internal high bar of quality. We’ll also do some production testing, looking for how the fabric behaves once it’s made into a garment. Does it shrink or warp? What happens to the colour? We are particular about how colour-fast our fabrics are, because we know that it matters to our customers.
We’ll also do some production testing, looking for how the fabric behaves once it’s made into a garment. Does it shrink or warp? What happens to the colour? We are particular about how colour-fast our fabrics are, because we know that it matters to our customers.
Designing Arc Flash garments for the wearerpecialist Arc Flash tests
The actual design of a product will be guided by what the wearer will need it to do. That could be a wind turbine engineer who needs loops on their trousers for tools, or a groundworks crew which need to be able to bend repeatedly without their trousers pulling tight at the knees.
Our decades of experience in the rail, petrochemical, renewable energy, utilities and industrial sectors along with our constant seeking of feedback mean we understand what tweaks would make a garment really work with the wearer, not against them.
Wearer-led product innovation can be something as small as moving a seam so it doesn’t rub when you’re wearing a safety harness all day or a diamond shape in the crotch to make bending down less uncomfortable. Or it could be as big as using a brand new material because it will provide better protection and keep you cool in hot environments.
Samples of new garments are extensively tested both at ProGARM HQ and by selected clients who agree to provide us with feedback. Only after a successful wearer trial will be put a new product into production.
Every new garment is then certificated by the appropriate body [L1] to give you complete assurance that it will do the job it needs to, should the worst happen.
If you have feedback on our garments or want to tell us about the thing you wish PPE manufacturers would produce, get in touch by calling +44 (0) 1482 679600.
Make sure that you’re specifying the right PPE for your team.
Read our free guide on the top considerations when choosing Arc Flash clothing & PPE below and make the best choice for you and your team via the link below ⬇.
