Thanks to low operating costs, intrinsic mechanical properties, and the increased production of light vehicles, the global welding products market is set to surge, climbing from $11.82 billion in 2015 to $19.76 billion by 2025.

Many manufacturers use one of two options to clear the air of welding fumes – filter the dirty air and recirculate clean air inside the facility, or exhaust the dirty air outside and provide clean replacement air from outside.

Welding and welding safety are nothing new to us all. In fact, welding of different types has been around since the 1800’s. While welding equipment today has dramatically improved, has respiratory protection for welders improved to the same degree?

Q. What is a fume plume? A. A fume plume is the clearly visible column of fume that rises directly from the spot of welding or cutting. Welders and cutters should take precautions to avoid breathing this area directly. Ventilation can direct the plume away from the face. (Fume removal is most effective when the air flow is directed across the face of the welder, rather than from behind.)

Organizations such as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) and OSHA offer safety guidelines to help employers and workers avoid welding hazards. Employers should ensure all workers have an opportunity to comply with the following important guidelines in the workplace:

Even with the proper precautions like flashback arrestors, exhaust hoods for fumes and gases, or fire extinguishers, welding carries a lot of risk. Needless to say, a good pair of gloves are as important to a welder as a welding hood – or at least they should be.

Established in 1928, the John Tillman Company, with the support of North America’s largest distributor network, has grown to be the largest and most trusted brand of hand and body protection for welders and industrial workers. To think it all started 90 years ago, a humble welder from the oil fields of Southern California developed a new welding glove out of frustration with the gloves he was using.

Overview: Fog limits the effectiveness of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for eye and face protection. According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it is one of the three most significant barriers to their use, ahead of lack of comfort and fit and scratching. If lenses are fogged, people won’t wear them. If workers can’t see, they could have accidents.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co., a leading worldwide manufacturer of arc welding equipment, is expanding its ClearLight Lens Technology to all digital welding helmets. ClearLight optimizes clarity for welding operators so they can produce better welds with less rework.