Press Release
25-04-2007:Chemring Marine Ltd shows new products from leading pyrotechnics brand Pains Wessex at SASMEX 2007
Continuing to operate as two separate brands under a single business unit formed by Chemring Marine, visitors to SASMEX will be able to see the complete range from the world’s leading brands of Pains Wessex and Comet in one location.
New on show at SASMEX is the Pains Wessex Mark 8 range, which offers new styling, size and method of operation. Designed mainly for use in liferafts, where stowage space is always at an absolute premium, the MK8 range is more compact, saving vital space in rafts compared to previous products.
All Pains Wessex MK8 products – which include a Red Handflare MK8, Parachute Red Rocket MK8 and Lifesmoke MK8 – conform to the stringent SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) standards and have gained Marine Equipment Directive (MED) approval, with other national approvals being obtained as required. Also new to the range is a White Handflare MK8 and an Orange Handsmoke MK8 targeted for the leisure market, and designed to the same specification as the commercial products.
The Red Handflare MK8 demonstrates the development of technology and product styling now available. A compact flare, which is ideal for storage on a boat or within a liferaft, the Red Handflare MK8 features an ergonomically designed grip handle with unique telescopic design.
To operate, the user holds the flare where indicated by the grip ribbing at the bottom, and extends fully the telescopic section. A screw top at the ignition end of the flare is removed, and users grasp a small ball and pull to ignite the flare. After a two second
safety delay, the flare ignites and burns for a minimum of 60 seconds, producing a bright red 15,000 candela light.
The Red Handflare MK8 is for short range signalling use in day or night time, and is used in an emergency onboard commercial and leisure vessels. The White Handflare MK8 is used for collision warning, signalling and illumination.
The Parachute Red Rocket MK8 is designed to attract attention at long range, firing a 30,000 candela red signal to a minimum of 300 metres altitude. The signal burns for 40 seconds suspended under a parachute.
The Parachute Red Rocket MK8 follows a similar operating design as the Red Handflare MK8. Users grip where the ribbing indicates at the bottom of the flare (holding the flare upright with the red end down), remove the screw cap, and grasp the ball which is then pulled to ignite the rocket. A key benefit from this design is the reduced recoil – making it easier to fire, even in traumatic or in stressful situations. The Parachute Red Rocket MK8 is designed for day or night time use, and is used in an emergency by both commercial and leisure vessels.
Also available in the new range is the Lifesmoke MK8 for day time use. This signal provides a dense orange smoke, for a minimum of three minutes, which is used to indicate position and wind direction (a great aid for helicopter pilots) during a search and rescue operation. The Lifesmoke MK8 is again a significantly more compact design than the previous model and features a flat, peel off top cap which facilitates stowage and packing.
To operate the Lifesmoke MK8, the cap is removed to access the friction wire firing mechanism. Once pulled, there is a two second delay to allow the signal to be thrown into the water safely.
The new Handsmoke MK8 is also available and is significantly more compact than its predecessors. The Handsmoke MK8 is held in one hand while the top cap is unscrewed with the other. A friction wire firing mechanism is then pulled upwards which
releases a dense orange smoke for 60 seconds.
Also on show will be the Pains Wessex Speedline 250. This self-contained line-throwing unit comprises a rocket designed to propel 4mm diameter line up to 250m. Designed for ease of operation in the most extreme weather conditions, the Speedline 250 can be used in all situations where a line is required to be passed quickly and accurately including between vessels, ship-to-shore, shore-to-ship and shore based rescue services. Also available is an optional buoyant flotation head to aid passing the line to swimmers in distress.
The Pains Wessex Manoverboard 360 is also of interest to commercial users. This self-activating smoke signal, with unique all round lighting system, is designed to attach to an emergency lifebuoy. When released it indicates its position by dense orange smoke and two lithium battery powered lights. Safe to use on petrol or oil-covered water, the unit can be automatically or manually deployed from the stainless steel mounting bracket, and is ideal for use on ships or rigs. Some large tankers and oil rigs need to mount this marker at heights in excess of the SOLAS 30 metre requirement. To satisfy this need the MOB 360 has been tested up to 50 metres, well in excess of the SOLAS requirements. It is fully compliant to the latest international SOLAS legislation and meets world-wide approval standards.
Pains Wessex products are supported worldwide by a network of qualified distributors, and trusted for their reliability and superiority by rescue services, the navy, merchant ships, fishing fleets and yachtsmen and women throughout the world.
Part of the Chemring Group, and available through Chemring Marine, the company is built on a hundred-year history of innovation and development and now employs over 2000 people at 15 operations in the UK, US, Germany, Spain, France and Australia. www.chemringmarine.com
For press information, please contact Alice Driscoll or Katy Kenyon at ADPR Ltd, Tel: +44 (0) 1935 826451 or e-mail alice.driscoll@adpr.co.uk or katy.kenyon@adpr.co.uk
Company information
Robert Hill Tel: +44 (0) 2392 623902
Steve Lucas Tel: +44 (0) 2392 623906
April 07 – PR 24
ENDS