Each year, we at LION Safety meet with hundreds of infrastructure companies, managers and owners about their ARC Flash Workwear and PPE supplies. We do our absolute best to make sure each company gets their specific need met with respect to design, delivery, specification, volume and price. On some occasions we aren't the best fit to supply these companies, managers and owners - be it design, delivery specification, volume and price or other needs we just can't meet.
Because of this fact, many companies, both new customers and existing customers, ask us to give them feedback and reviews on the best ARC Flash Workwear & PPE manufacturers that have product in the market available to buy today. As you can imagine, this is a hard question to answer because as we all know, every company has their own niche in the market - the one thing they feel they do better and different than everyone else.
This could be any of the following:
1. Positioning themselves as a premium brand and go to knowledge experts.
2. Priding themselves on their level of stockholding, or simple positioning themselves as volume producers for high demand environments.
3. Creating great user-friendly products designed for everyone and tested to the highest sARC Flash Standards.
That being said, if we were to mention some of the main ARC Flash Workwear & PPE manufacturers that have managed to stick around for years, a few to make the list (in no particular order) would be:
1. Progarm: Located in Kingston upon Hull, Progarm has been specialising in ARC Flash protection for many years. It is all they focus on, quite literally they position themselves as the ARC Flash specialists and don't speak about anything else. Nothing else.
2. Tranemo: Located in Northumberland, Tranemo have been doing Flame Retardant, Anti-Static, and ARC protective workwear for years. Tranemo believe in protective clothing for everyone and are seen as an industry leader in protective workwear including ARC Flash protection.
3. Orbit International: Located in Birmingham, Orbit International offers a vast range of workwear, PPE and safety equipment. One of these ranges covers ARC Flash protection and they do this well with a range that is available and works.
4. Portwest: Located in Westport, Ireland, Portwest is a global clothing manufacturer. Portwest pretty much cover head to toe workwear & PPE for everyone. One of these ranges is in ARC Flash Protection. Portwest understand producing at volume and add a great dimension to the whole UK market.
Although I could certainly mention many more manufacturers in the UK, this list of 4 deserved mentioning, especially if you find you are on the search for a new ARC Flash Workwear rollout or you are looking into it for the first time.
ARC Flash protection is expensive however it is an absolute must for any operatives working in an arc flash risk zone. Once you know you need ARC Flash protection, the decision isn't when and if you should buy it, the question becomes which brand are you going with, which brand can satisfy your demand and how fast can you get it.
As always before you decide on a brand of ARC Flash Protection, do your homework. Be informed. And think long-term.
Looking further into ARC Flash Standards and Protection? Have a read of our blog:
Everything you need to know about ARC Flash Standards