Trend Airpro vs Trend Airshield.

[Slim]

Arrggh! I only got my airshield about six months ago as well! I realise that it is not Trend's fault, but I am with Mike, they should sell the filters and batterys cheap as a good will gesture.

Is it still being sold at full price? and will prospective buyers be told that they will not be able to get spares?

 

[Paul.J]

How many spares do you need to buy.It's not as though the filters are cheap :shock:
It took me a long time to decide on buying the Airshield and am glad that i did in the end,but i wouldn't have if i'd have known they were to be discontinued.
Surely Trend new earlier that this new legislation was coming through :?:
As Mr Angry used to say "Makes my blood boil"
Paul.J.

 

[Woody Alan]

My Airshield is only is about 6 months old,£160, and i am really disappointed with this announcment
Does this also mean that the filters weren't upto the job to start with.Have i also been breathing in unecessary dust
Can't filters be made to suit the Airshield.

It seems I am not alone in this regard. I understand progress etc but perhaps there should be an exchange program rebate etc for purchases in the last 12 months. Considering all the other Trend purchases I have made ...hinge jig...TCT countersunk bits..plug cutters...corner chisel...router bits.. I certainly feel a bit let down here at the very least I should have had some discount on the outgoing model. I think annoyed is an understatement at the moment. Actually I'll go as far as to say the profit margin on those must have been huge, after all what are we talking about, miniscule bits of filter material, a few I have to say fairly cheap plastic mouldings and an electric motor that comes out of China by the million for about 49 pence. Poor show :-(

Alan

 

[Paul.J]

Woody Alan wrote
but perhaps there should be an exchange program rebate etc for purchases in the last 12 months.
Good idea.This would make me feel better.
I feel i've been cheated.
Paul.J.

 

[andy@trend]

I fully understand all your comments and appreciate the feedback,

just to keep everything in perspective the AIRSHIELD although technically available until February 2008 has, in most dealers, already sold out,

The filters should be available until the final cut of date in 2010, 3 years time.

The AIRSHIELD was £165.00 +vat, whereas most dealers have been selling it for £139 - £149 including vat for 12 months+

As for discounting the filters, with 3 years left to go we have no plans at the moment to offer any further discounts than the retailers are currently offering, but who knows what may happen in 3 years,

The AIRSHIELD and AIR/PRO are also made in the UK,

regards

andy@trend

 

[Mike.C]

andy@trend,

The AIRSHIELD was £165.00 +vat, whereas most dealers have been selling it for £139 - £149 including vat for 12 months+

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PI ... er=Froogle

At £193 someone obviously does not know they can reduce the price :roll:

Cheers

Mike

 

[gidon]

I find this news pretty poor to say the least. I could probably stock up on filters if I had to - or even find another source. But not offering spare parts has nothing to do with any new legisltation surely? I could buy any part I want for a 30 year old Elu router but not a 2 year old Trend £150 mask. As I've mentioned the build quality is not very good on the Airshield - mine had various bits break in less than a year. I've got by in the knowledge that at some stage I would have to fork out for replacement parts. But now it seems when it gets too bad I'll have to completely write off the considerable outlay.
Andy I have no idea what position you have in Trend - whether you're just a messenger, but if you do have any influence then I would hope you could convey some of this group's feelings towards Trend's attitude to its many loyal customers.
Best regards
Gidon

 

[Woody Alan]

Andy

have been selling it for £139 - £149 including vat for 12 months+

Absolute rubbish I paid £159 for mine from D&M in Febuary and I searched around long and hard for a discount none to be had anywhere, perhaps you will at least offer a £20 refund on that basis.

The AIRSHIELD and AIR/PRO are also made in the UK,

This says that justifies the price, well as Gidon says, the build quality is poor and I am sure it would be worth getting it made abroad. The motors will still be bought in from China not made here.

Alan

 

[Vormulac]

Gutted - another poor sap here who only bought the much vaunted Airshield 6 months ago. I appreciate it's not Trend's fault if the halfwits who dream up policy randomly decide that they can't sell an existing product beyond a certain date, but even so, this sucks.

 

[Anonymous]

Blimey, glad I never bought one. Doesn't give me the confidence to buy the new one either.

Good to see Trend don't even have the decency to point these facts out on their website (assuming http://www.trend-uk.com is actually their website).

Never mind, as long as they're taking your money....that's the main thing.

Dave

 

[CHJ]

The Price of Limited (No?) Competition £ 233.82 inc. VAT :shock:

I know I can't work on wood without this style of protection, but with the poor performance of many of the plastic parts on the current model which have resulted in my manufacture of replacements out of alternate materials such as aluminium etc. any future purchase of the new model at those prices will be done with poor grace on my part and an expectation of absolute perfection in product support if anything shows undue wear etc. within the 3year european fit for service period.


Edit:
I do note that the not so elegant Power Cap meets EN12941 THP1 for the princely sum of £179.81 inc VAT

and can be found discounted at a little over £165

 

[Mcluma]

Edit:
I do note that the not so elegant Power Cap meets EN12941 THP2 for the princely sum of £179.81 inc VAT

When i go to that website it states that its only THP1 ????

 

[CHJ]

When i go to that website it states that its only THP1 ????

Thank you Mcluma I stand corrected, same as the existing trend then?

Taken from http://www.sba.co.uk/content/doc_11.pdf

European Standards - an overview
Powered Air Respirators
EN 146 (rev) & EN12941
There are two core European Standards covering the operation and technical specifications for Powered Air respirators, these are
prEN146 (rev) and EN12941.
In brief, prEN146 (rev) describes (a) the main components that make up the powered respiratory device: a helmet or hood, covering at
least the face (eyes, nose, mouth & chin), a power operated fan (turbo unit) and one or more filters, (b) the respirator’s operation: the
fan should provide a flow of filtered ambient air to the wearer in excess of the wearer's demand, with the exhaled air being discharged
outside the respirator by exhalation valves or other outlets and (c) the classifications of respirator: powered respirators are classified
into three categories depending on the levels of protection they offer the wearer: THP1, THP2 & THP3. (TH = Turbo Hood or Helmet)
In addition to the requirements set out in prEN146 (rev), EN12941 requires a compulsory low flow warning device to be incorporated
within a respirator system*; see descriptive text for the Jupiter Turbo unit as an example of this approval.
* not required for EN12941 TH1 devices

Is it the case that the main criterior is that the "banned the use of electrostatic filters" is the main cause of concern with the existing Trend?

 

[Mike.C]

So the Power Cap, being a EN12941 THP1, will pass the new laws but does not afford as much protection as the new Trend.

I wonder how it compares to the present Airshield?

Cheers

Mike

 

[Paul.J]

Sorry if i've missed something in the explaination bit,but what exactly is wrong with the filters on the Airshield for them to be replaced,and why can't they be replaced with the new type. :?:
Paul.J.

 

[Mike.C]

Paul, it appears that the EU have banned electrostatic charge filters, and Trend claim that
"After investigation it was found that the new requirements could not be incorporated into the standard AIRSHIELD so it was decided to design a new unit completely, using new tooling."

Cheers

Mike

 

[Paul.J]

So basicaly the old filter wasn't upto the job.
If this is the case how did it pass whatever tests they go through.
Is there any cause for concern in carrying on using the airshield.
Paul.J.

 

[Mike.C]

Paul,

So basicaly the old filter wasn't upto the job.
If this is the case how did it pass whatever tests they go through.
Is there any cause for concern in carrying on using the airshield.
Paul.J.

To be perfectly honest Paul I do not know. Up until now I have been using mine (when I get out to the workshop) and it seems ok. In fact if these new rules had not come out I would not have had any doubt that it was protecting me perfectly.

Cheers

Mike

 

[CHJ]

So the Power Cap, being a EN12941 THP1, will pass the new laws but does not afford as much protection as the new Trend.

As I read it Mike thats it, the amount of possible "back draft" for want of a better expression may be greater.

I wonder how it compares to the present Airshield?

Much the same I would think as the current model AS has the potential to let ambient air into the crown area and any ill fitting skirt. I presume the new model has better face/head seal and exhaust path to meet THP2, although how that is guarantied for someone such as myself I have no idea unless it fits very firmly to the face.

Paul, I don't think there is any reason to doubt the current model filtering from my observation of the thing, it would appear if I read things correctly that the EU safety authorities are not totally convinced that relying on static charge filters to be effective in all instances is best practice.

With the compensation culture as it is in the USA I doubt any manufacturer would continue to sell a product there, laws/standards or no standards if there was a significant health risk.

If my observations are totally incorrect no doubt Andy or someone else will be along to put the record straight.

 

[Paul.J]

MikeC wrote
In fact if these new rules had not come out I would not have had any doubt that it was protecting me perfectly.
Thanks Mike.
I'd feel the same,but it as now put that doubt in my mind :?
Paul.J.