Graco Inc. introduces Stellair ACE and Stellair, which it says are the only industrial air spray guns that have achieved Ergonomics Performance Certification.
The company says that advanced testing by United States Ergonomics proves that the manual pressure feed sprayers reduce fatigue potential, increasing productivity for industrial painters.
“Painting is really hard work,” says Peter Linder, vice president of North America sales and global product management for Graco’s Industrial Division.
Linder is among the Graco executives who worked a shift in a factory paint spray booth to better understand the needs of industrial painters.
“My shoulder especially hurt at the end of the day,” he says. “That experience drove home the need to champion a spray gun product line that painters will ask for because it adds to their wellbeing and makes the job of painting easier.”
Made for Industrial Painters: Stellair ACE and Stellair
StellairACEWhile ergonomics was considered in previous spray gun designs, Graco says it recognized the importance of continual improvements by involving United States Ergonomics, a global ergonomic consulting service and product testing company.
The collaboration resulted in the industry’s first paint spray guns certified for ergonomic performance.
Stellair ACE weighs 209 grams (7.4 ounces)—up to 50% lighter than almost any other manual pressure feed spray gun—due to its carbon-reinforced polymer construction. It uses up to 25% less muscle effort than comparable industrial air spray guns.
Stellair, with aluminum metal construction, weighs 410 grams (14.46 oz), still making it among the lightest industrial spray guns available. Stellair lessens muscle exertion by up to 18% compared to similar air spray guns.
The company says reducing weight was not the only ergonomic advancement factored into the new spray gun design. Graco engineers also focused on minimizing hand pressure points, improving overall gun balance, and enhancing hose flexibility. Research and testing by United States Ergonomics allowed them to objectively measure the improvements.
Certification Through U.S. Ergonomics
StellairUnited States Ergonomics researched and evaluated manual air spray gun ergonomics at three critical stages: design analysis and optimization, design review and testing, and ergonomic assessment. Each stage involved professional painters who work in industrial settings.
“Painters consistently rated the new Graco paint sprayers superior in weight, hand fit, feel, balance, trigger control, and adjustability,” says Kevin Costello, CPE, president of United States Ergonomics. “Their feedback was important to the Ergonomics Performance Certification. We expect field trials in production paint shop applications to fulfill formal certification requirements.”
Visit www.graco.com/stellair.
