Jackson Products Ltd, the West Midlands (UK) subsidiary of US-based Jackson Safety Inc, personal and industrial safety equipment manufacturers, has introduced a new range of welding blankets from Wilson Industries, a division of Jackson Safety.

The Weld-O-Glass welding safety blankets are designed for use whilst welding and cutting to protect component surfaces and work areas against spatter, slag and other hot sparks, which may cause damage to components or even cause fires.
These welding blankets, which can also be used as a vertical protective screen, are available in a number of different weaves, material weights and sizes providing protection against temperatures ranging from 400°C – 1,500°C. For heavy duty welding, cutting and gouging, specially treated silica cloth is available. For use when grinding and cutting where minimal spatter is produced, a non-coated fibre glass material blanket providing a working temperature protection up to 420°C is available, whilst a coated fibreglass material is used for medium duty applications.
They are designed for use in a number of industries including shipbuilding, rail trackside and equipment maintenance, automotive repair and production, general workshop and outdoor fabrication, anywhere where a fire or surface damage is to be prevented.
The blankets with coated material provide resistance against abrasion and are easily cleaned, whilst uncoated blankets are more pliable and are better suited for draping over components and should be considered for stress relieving super heated components as the coating has a lower heat resistance and may smoulder under prolonged heat contact, the company explained.
All Jackson Safety welding blankets are self-hemmed and stitched with high strength fibreglass thread to prevent fraying and are also available with eyelets to secure two or more blankets together or enable them to be hung in a vertical plane.
Phil Chew, managing director EMEA, Jackson Products, said: “The acquisition of Wilson Industries and their range of environmental protection products have bought new products to our existing welder safety products, allowing us to offer a greatly enhanced product range.
“We always recommend to users that they use multiple blanket layers for added protection and that all welding blankets should be checked on a regular basis for integrity and damage. Before using welding blankets, we also recommend users seek advice from a qualified health and safety advisor.”
Last November, Jackson Safety, Fenton, MO, USA, acquired the assets of Wilson Industries based in Pomona, CA, USA, a leading manufacturer of welding curtains and blankets. The acquisition augmented Jackson Safety’s existing range of welding and laser safety equipment which it markets to customers within Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Wilson Industries products include welding screens, curtains and blankets as well as strip curtains and doors, environmental and auto bay partitioning, noise attenuation and radiant heat barriers.
“This acquisition is a further endorsement that Jackson is continually seeking to enhance its product range either through acquisition or by product development,” a company statement said.