- 1975: A UK company called RACAL Electronics released the Airstream PAPR for mining operations, kicking off a revolution in respiratory safety. With NIOSH approval they were clear to sell in America.
- 1977: RACAL released the Airstream Industrial PAPR, expanding the product’s reach beyond the mining industry.
- 1982: RACAL’s Airmate introduced a lightweight and compact option to the market, making the product easier to use in close quarters.
- 1987: RACAL’s Powerflow featured a lightweight face-mounted high-efficiency filter, further widening the options for application.
- 1993: 3M gets in the game with the GVP (Gas Particulate Vapor) PAPR, pushing the invention further by protecting against harmful gases as well as solid particulate.
- 1995: 3M launches the Dual Airline, which introduced the now-familiar sight of a full-face tight-fitting mask attached to a compressed airline, giving the user the option of switching from negative pressure (lungs pulling the air) to positive pressure (air mechanically supplied into the face mask).
- 1998: 3M acquires RACAL and all of their products, propelling them to the top of the PAPR market.
- 2001: A company called Hornell launches the Adflo PAPR, geared specifically toward welding applications.
- 2004: 3M acquires Hornell and the Adflo.
- 2009: The Versaflo line of PAPRs launches.
- 2010: Debut of the TR-300, with a sleek compact design that manages to fit a fully functional air processing unit into a 3½”-wide space that hugs close to the user’s back.
- 2015: Debut of the TR-600, a fully high-performance unit that comes in two basic variations: one for pharma applications and the other for heavy industry. Chemical-specific filters are available to customize according to work conditions.
History of Versaflo
Hello everyone, it’s been a while! Today I’m giving an overview of 3M’s trailblazing line of PAPRs, the Versaflo series. We’ve outlined their latest models before, but I’ve learned a lot about the history of 3M’s work in respiratory protection since then.
Respiratory protection has been around for thousands of years. The earliest innovations dates back to the Roman era, when miners would use animal bladders to protect themselves from inhaling toxic lead oxide. Today, respiratory devices are required all across the labor world to protect workers’ lungs, and 3M has been leading the pack. Here’s a timeline so you can get a sense of how far the technology has come.
