Two innovative local businesses, ProGARM and FlamePro, have teamed up to provide flame-retardant personal protective clothing (PPE) to the team behind the Bloodhound supersonic car, which is working to break the 800mph land speed record attempt in South Africa.
Based in Gilberdyke, near Hull, the family owned businesses have kitted out the team of engineers with a full range of protective clothing, including FlamePro’s 603 Wildland Jacket and ProGARM’s best-selling 6100 Arc Coverall, which is designed to protect workers from the dangers of an Arc Flash – a type of electrical explosion which can reach temperatures up to four times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Bloodhound is currently in Northern Cape for high-speed trials as it works towards an assault on the land speed record in 2020. The existing 763mph (1,228kmh) land speed record was set 22 years ago by Andy Green, who is also the pilot of Bloodhound.
Bloodhound will be trailed at progressively faster and faster speeds as engineers seek to be satisfied by its design and the proper working of each of its elements.
With a EuroFighter jet engine onboard, Bloodhound is expected to reach 600mph (965km/h) this year, while the addition of a rocket motor in 2020 should help to eventually push Bloodhound over 800mph (1,290kmh).
Mark Lant, technical expert at ProGARM, said: “It goes without saying that we’re absolutely thrilled to be a part of this project! This world record attempt is surely one that will go down in history, and we’re delighted to be able to play a part in this and help to make it a success story.
“The safety of the team involved has to, of course, be the first priority. The dangers that the engineers are at risk of cannot be understated, which is why it’s of vital importance that everyone involved is equipped with the highest quality garments possible.
“This PPE has been designed extremely carefully to ensure that everything down to the zips, Velcro and seams are manufactured from protective and durable materials, to provide the upmost protection during this hugely exciting world-record attempt.”
