Electrical solutions consultant Magnet was appointed Southern African distributor for Dromex personal protection equipment (PPE) in April this year.

MD Brian Howarth said Magnet recognised an urgent need in the electricity industry for increased safety for workers and made a strategic decision to further extend Magnet’s product offering.

He believed that the PPE range would complement Magnet’s portfolio of electrical equipment, industrial instrumentation and automation systems, ensuring optimum protection for workers in all fields.

The Dromex range, now available from Magnet, encompasses respiratory masks and cartridges, eye protection spectacles and goggles, earplugs and earmuffs, gloves and safety shoes and boots. Also available are lightweight flame-retardant and acid-resistant body protection garments.

Key products for Magnet include DW-NOMEX flame-retardant suits and SAB-S D59 flame and acid resistant suits, which are also resistant to tearing, abrasion and chemicals.

The DW-NOMEX suits are permanently antistatic and can be worn in environments with explosive atmospheres such as the ones found in petrochemical, chemical, petroleum and utility industries. The DW-NOMEX suits are said to be lighter, more comfortable and more cost-effective than other flame resistant suits with similar levels of protection.

The workwear range, consisting of jackets, pants and overalls, meets stringent local and international safety specifications, including SANS 434 standard for mark-bearing work suits.

Dromex footwear is certified to ISO 20345:2011 standards and it can provide an easy-to-follow selection chart containing the relevant information on classifications, categories and performance requirements, to ensure the selection of the correct shoe or boot for the intended operation and its potential hazards.

DroVision Goggles have a clear polycarbonate, scratch resistant lens and an elasticated and adjustable headband for optimum protection and maximum comfort. These goggles, which offer 120° lateral vision, are compatible with some respiratory equipment.

Magnet’s new PPE range offers workers protection in diverse sectors including mining and quarrying, construction and civil engineering, chemical plants, electrical installations, fire defence and shipping.

The Magnet Group, established 1972, comprises six divisions/companies, all of which serve the industrial and commercial sectors. Combined, these companies provide a complete electrical solution, which includes design, supply, energy saving, automation and commissioning.

Dromex, once known as Industrial and Marine Sealing Solutions, was established in New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal, in 1998. At the time the company’s core businesses were supplying marine-based products to ship chandlers, and supplying PPE to industrial businesses.

Today the company is a major PPE supplier, with a warehouse capacity of 40 000 m² and an internal laboratory with a professional testing centre. All products are EN and SANS certified.