Dräger, an international leader in manufacturing medical and safety technology products, has commercialised a firefighting breathing apparatus with the world’s lightest type 4 composite cylinders, enhanced with graphene nanotubes to minimise weight.
Fire services in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UK, Germany, Indonesia, Qatar, and many other countries have already recognised the efficiency of the innovative breathing system. 16,000 breathing apparatus with graphene nanotube-enhanced cylinders are now being used by firefighter services globally.
Piotr Saferna, R&D leader of Techplast, which developed the nanocylinders, commented: “Reduced weight and a non-limited life performance are the key features of the developed compressed air breathing cylinders. The combination of lightweight sturdy cylinder material, which was achieved with the use of OCSiAl’s graphene nanotubes, with impact-resistant caps ensures the high durability and solid robustness of nanocylinders. They are 75% lighter than steel cylinders and 30% lighter than aluminum ones.”
In 2021, Dräger received exclusive rights to use these nanocylinders in its self-contained breathing apparatus. Mike George, Product Manager for PM Emergency and Rescue Services at Draeger Safety UK Ltd, said: “Thanks to a shell weight of only 2.8 kg and 6.8 l of air, the Dräger NANO Type 4 reduces fatigue and increases firefighter agility. Since 2021, we have provided fire service companies in more than twenty countries worldwide with self-contained breathing apparatus equipped with nanocylinders fully compliant with EN12245:2009.”
Now airport and industrial fire brigades, marine firefighters, and mine rescue teams have the opportunity to increase safety via a longer duration of air consumption and air supply if using a twinning option.
Headquartered in Luxembourg, OCSiAl is the world’s largest manufacturer of graphene nanotubes, also known as single wall carbon nanotubes. It employs more than 450 people worldwide in locations including the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Dräger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology. Its products protect, support, and save lives. Founded in 1889, Dräger generated revenues of around € 3.3 billion in 2021. The Dräger Group is currently present in over 190 countries and has more than 15,000 employees worldwide.
Techplast was founded in 2002 and based in Poland. It focusses on developing and production of composite cylinders with reduced weight and higher safety and durability. Techplast cooperates with many companies on the European and worldwide market.
