Teijin & Makita develop world’s first fan-cooled jacket
April 09, 2018 - Japan
Teijin Limited, a technology-driven global group, and Makita Corporation, a leading manufacturer of electric power tools, have developed the world’s first fan-cooled jacket, incorporating a two-layer pressure-controlled cooling structure. The fan jackets will be used on a test basis by crewmembers working on ships in high-heat climates of the Middle East.
Sales of the new fan jacket will start from mid-April 2018 through Makita’s existing marketing channels and be expanded by developing new channels with Teijin’s group companies and marketing partners.
The pressure-controlled fan jacket has a unique cooling structure that allows air to enter through the jacket’s outer shell and inner lining in both the front and back of the jacket. The design prevents fabric from bundling up inside the jacket to allow the user to work unencumbered. The air is discharged on a pressure-regulated basis through openings mainly in the neck, underarms and chest, where blood circulation is particularly active, for enhanced cooling effect.
The zippered arms and neck can be removed to enable the fan jacket to be used as a fan-cooled vest. Different combinations of Teijin high-performance fibres are available to make the jacket waterproof, stretchable, and anti-static according to customer needs.
The fan unit designed by Makita measures just 39.5 millimetres thick, which is 5.5 millimetres thinner than conventional units. The battery can be recharged with the same charging device available for other Makita cordless electric-power tools.
So far, conventional fan jackets have involved to fastening collar, cuffs, and under-waist to let the air taken from outside circulate in jackets, which leads to fabric bundling, and thus, less freedom of movement.
The innovative new pressure-controlled fan jacket was developed by combining Teijin’s expertise in high-performance materials that feature superior cooling and absorption properties and Makita’s expertise in specialty fans and battery systems.
The first customer realised through one of Teijin’s marketing channel is Mitsui O.S.K. KINKAI, Ltd., a group company of a Japanese major multi-model transport group Mitsui O.S.K Lines. (GK)
Sales of the new fan jacket will start from mid-April 2018 through Makita’s existing marketing channels and be expanded by developing new channels with Teijin’s group companies and marketing partners.
The pressure-controlled fan jacket has a unique cooling structure that allows air to enter through the jacket’s outer shell and inner lining in both the front and back of the jacket. The design prevents fabric from bundling up inside the jacket to allow the user to work unencumbered. The air is discharged on a pressure-regulated basis through openings mainly in the neck, underarms and chest, where blood circulation is particularly active, for enhanced cooling effect.
The zippered arms and neck can be removed to enable the fan jacket to be used as a fan-cooled vest. Different combinations of Teijin high-performance fibres are available to make the jacket waterproof, stretchable, and anti-static according to customer needs.
The fan unit designed by Makita measures just 39.5 millimetres thick, which is 5.5 millimetres thinner than conventional units. The battery can be recharged with the same charging device available for other Makita cordless electric-power tools.
So far, conventional fan jackets have involved to fastening collar, cuffs, and under-waist to let the air taken from outside circulate in jackets, which leads to fabric bundling, and thus, less freedom of movement.
The innovative new pressure-controlled fan jacket was developed by combining Teijin’s expertise in high-performance materials that feature superior cooling and absorption properties and Makita’s expertise in specialty fans and battery systems.
The first customer realised through one of Teijin’s marketing channel is Mitsui O.S.K. KINKAI, Ltd., a group company of a Japanese major multi-model transport group Mitsui O.S.K Lines. (GK)