Kimberly-Clark Professional Remakes PPE with Breakthrough Coverall Design and New Line of Respirators
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Apparel has Stretch Panels under Arms, Across Back for Greater Range of Motion;
Color-Coded Respirators Simplify Selection and Help Managers Assess Compliance
ROSWELL, Ga. (April 9, 2008) - Kimberly-Clark Professional today announced a major design innovation in protective apparel and a line of color-coded particulate respirators in a continuing expansion of its head-to-toe KleenGuard brand portfolio of comfortable and stylish protective gear.
The KleenGuard A30 Breathable Splash and Particle Protection Stretch Coverall combines outstanding comfort and dry particulate protection with a stylish new design that features stretch panels under the arms and across the back. It offers increased range of motion, quality protection and better fit, at a competitive price. The Kimberly-Clark Professional iFlex stretch technology builds in freedom of movement and enables the coveralls to move and stretch with the wearer. Made with the same stretch material found in Kimberly-Clark Huggies brand diapers, the patent-pending stretch panel provides the same level of protection as the primary fabric. Not surprisingly, this stretch coverall was preferred by 95 percent of end users for fit and 94 percent for comfort over a leading competitor in independent testing.
"The new A30 coverall with iFlex stretch panel is one of the most unique designs in protective wear," says Susan McCauley, Chief of Safety, Maryland Environmental Service, who just purchased the products for her facility. "The stretch panels enhance user comfort and protection while eliminating the areas most likely to rip out during use. This is a unique technology that is designed for worker protection, and our employees are more likely to wear them."
Key features include:
· A new elastic front to complement the existing elastic-back design.
· A greater range of sizing options - from medium to XXXXL - to fit women and men, as well as a wide range of body types.
"These are not your father's coveralls," said Donna McPherson, senior category manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. "We've revamped the apparel category with coveralls that combine both comfort and style to help drive compliance. Size offerings were also expanded to accommodate the needs of a diverse workforce, because for a garment to fit comfortably it can't be too big or too small."
The new coveralls were developed after a series of end-user focus groups revealed that some workers were altering their protective apparel by cutting holes in coveralls to make them more comfortable, thereby compromising worker protection. To see the coveralls in action, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx0nUH2tiFk .
The KleenGuard A30 Breathable Splash and Particle Protection Stretch Coverall is recommended for use in pharmaceutical research, tasks involving fine particle contamination, and for the aerospace, maintenance and general manufacturing industries.
The new KleenGuard M-Series Particulate Respirators offer a full range of comfort features aimed at increasing compliance. The new line also introduces color-coded protection to the market, with each type of respirator available with different colored straps. This innovation was added after customer research showed that safety managers needed to determine from a distance if employees were using the correct respirators for a given task. The KleenGuard M10, M20 and M30 Particulate Respirators are available in: NIOSH N95 valved and non-valved (blue strap), R95 valved (yellow strap), P95 valved and N99 valved (orange strap).
Designed for all-day wear, they feature:
· Highly visible, color-coded, woven head straps.
· Soft, foam nose pads.
· Exhalation valves to release uncomfortable moist air (M10 valved, M20 valved and M30 valved models).
· Ultrasonically bonded head straps to help keep the respirators securely in place, without pulling or breaking.
· Four levels of protection against dry and oily particulates.
· Full perimeter foam and adjustable head straps (M30 only)
Typical uses include: grinding, sanding, sweeping, woodworking and machine work.
For more information about KleenGuard brand products, visit kc-safety.com or call 1-800-255-6401.
About Kimberly-Clark Professional
Kimberly-Clark Professional is an indispensable business partner, delivering leading-edge health, hygiene and productivity solutions that provide tangible value every day, everywhere. Known for innovative, quality solutions for away-from-home washrooms, "clean" and "industrial" manufacturing environments, and DIY settings, the global brands of Kimberly-Clark Professional include Kleenex, Scott, Kimcare, WypAll, KleenGuard, and Kimtech. Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in Roswell, Ga., is one of Kimberly-Clark Corporation's (NYSE: KMB) four business segments and can be visited on the web at www.kcprofessional.com.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people - almost a quarter of the world's population - trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries.
Kimberly-Clark Professional today announced a major design innovation in protective apparel and a line of color-coded particulate respirators in a continuing expansion of its head-to-toe KleenGuard brand portfolio of comfortable and stylish protective gear.
The KleenGuard A30 Breathable Splash and Particle Protection Stretch Coverall combines outstanding comfort and dry particulate protection with a stylish new design that features stretch panels under the arms and across the back. It offers increased range of motion, quality protection and better fit, at a competitive price. The KleenGuard A30 Breathable Splash and Particle Protection Stretch Coverall is recommended for use in pharmaceutical research, tasks involving fine particle contamination, and for the aerospace, maintenance and general manufacturing industries.
The new KleenGuard M-Series Particulate Respirators offer a full range of comfort features aimed at increasing compliance. The new line also introduces color-coded protection to the market, with each type of respirator available with different colored straps. This innovation was added after customer research showed that safety managers needed to determine from a distance if employees were using the correct respirators for a given task. The KleenGuard M10, M20 and M30 Particulate Respirators are available in: NIOSH N95 valved and non-valved (blue strap), R95 valved (yellow strap), P95 valved and N99 valved (orange strap).
