Fusion Reusable Earplugs provide maximum comfort to improve compliance

New molding process first to fuse firm core and soft, patented flanges for all-day comfort, increased safety

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (April 11, 2003) With its newest earplug Fusion, Howard Leight is the first manufacturer to fuse an earplugs rigid core and soft flange materials into one solid piece. A division of Bacou-Dalloz Inc., Howard Leight introduce Fusion to provide the ideal balance of all-day comfort, easy insertion, maximum performance and increased safety in a reusable earplug to meet industrial, food, and safety needs. It also offers hearing protection for sports and home repair projects.

“We know that employees want a comfortable earplug, and safety directors need to offer a product that meets industry hearing requirements and encourages compliance,” said Bill Sokol, Hearing Protection Brand Manager, Bacou-Dalloz. “We developed Fusion for employees who need a more comfortable, better-fitting ear plug. The more comfortable the product, the more likely they are to wear ear plugs 100 percent of the time, which equals an increase in overall protection levels.”

Research shows that employees have not internalized the value of protecting their hearing and remained resistant to wearing hearing protection devices. To increase compliance, Howard Leight hopes to facilitate a shift in culture by incorporating comfort, the employees top-concern, into hearing conservation programs with Fusion.

Safety standards dictate that an earplug needs to provide proper attenuation and fit well with every insertion. While employees prefer an earplug that is comfortable, products that are extremely soft are often too pliable and difficult to insert securely. An earplug that is too firm is very painful to wear, making compliance more difficult. Fusion reusable earplugs combine these essential features to offer an ideal solution.

Using its unique injection-molding, dual-material manufacturing process, Fusions patented, quadruple SoftFlange exterior is thermally fused to its rigid FlexiFirm core to ensure all-day comfort, easy insertion, and superior attenuation by easily adjusting to the users ear canal.

Fusions advanced manufacturing technology was developed by Bilsom in Sweden, and then transferred to Howard Leight in 2001 when Bacou-Dalloz formed. This superior product technology ensures the two materials cannot separate, offering improved performance.

The latest in the Howard Leight line of hearing protection devices, Fusions unique combination of materials offers the highest protection available in a reusable earplug with a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 27.

Howard Leights Fusion earplugs include a soft-braided fabric detachable cord system to prevent on-the-job loss. They are available in regular and small sizes to ensure the best fit.

“Having a range of sizes available to best fit the users ear canal ensures that we are able to deliver on our promise of comfort for a broad range of employees,” Sokol added. This also increases the users sense of participation, making their selection personal and wearing the hearing protection devices more likely.

To encourage long-term use, the earplugs are packaged in a HearPack or flip-top box for easy storage between uses and increased accessibility.

Furthermore, Howard Leight continues to communicate the importance of self-protection, and the ultimate cost of possible hearing loss, with educational information on its Web site.

For more information or to request samples, call 800-343-3411 or visit www.howardleight.com or www.bacou-dalloz.com.

A division of Bacou-Dalloz Inc., Howard Leight Industries is a leading manufacturer of hearing protection devices, including reusable and disposable earplugs, banded hearing protectors and earmuffs. Founded in 1971, Howard Leight has excelled at product development and innovation in hearing protection for more than 25 years. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., its state-of-the-art facility houses a world-class audiology department that maintains the highest quality standards and is actively involved in the design and evaluation of hearing protection products. In 1998, Howard Leight Industries was acquired by Bacou USA Inc., who joined with Dalloz in 2001 to form the worlds largest personal protection safety equipment company. Bacou-Dalloz provides head-to-toe protection through their core businesses: hearing protection (helmets, earmuffs and earplugs); eye and face protection (safety eyewear, laser protection and eyewash products); respiratory protection (gas detectors and respirators); fall protection (harnesses, lanyards, lifelines and fall arrest systems); and body protection (gloves, apparel and shoes).