A Growing Equipment Market

The welding equipment market was valued at 19.7 billion dollars in 2024 and is projected to reach 27.8 billion dollars by 2030, at roughly 5 percent annual growth. Asia-Pacific leads regional expansion with about 36 percent market share and around 6 percent compound annual growth. More welding equipment in service means more welders to protect.

Fiber Laser Welding Changes The Hazard

The expansion of fiber-laser welding shifts the hazard profile toward radiant heat and reflected energy. PPE specifications increasingly reference EN ISO 11611 Class 2 with enhanced radiant heat resistance, which affects fabric weight and garment construction rather than only the certificate on the label.

Robotic And AI Assisted Cells

Robotic and AI-assisted welding systems move the operator from the arc to the cell boundary. What that operator needs is a lightweight flame-resistant garment that supports mobility, rather than the heavy leather appropriate for manual out-of-position work.

See the MS-316 FR Cotton Coverall – Flame Resistant Workwear | Mingshun

The Standards That Matter

International compliance across EN 12477 for welding gloves, ISO 11612 for protective clothing against heat and flame, EN ISO 11611 for welding garments and ANSI Z87.1 for eye protection remains the framework buyers work within. FR garments in our range are made to EN ISO 11612, EN ISO 11611, EN 1149-5, IEC 61482-2, NFPA 2112 or ASTM D6413 depending on the model.

See the F1215DB FR Cotton Coverall – Flame Resistant, Anti-Static, Arc Flash Protection

Regulatory Changes For Suppliers

In the United States, the SBA introduced a recertification requirement in January 2025 for small businesses undergoing ownership changes, and Hart-Scott-Rodino filing timelines were updated from 10 February 2025. Distributors working with US federal or large industrial accounts are the ones most affected.

What We Are Working On

Our current development work focuses on protective equipment for laser welding applications and on lighter FR garments suited to automated welding operations, informed by feedback from welders using the current range.