A Brand New Game in Town: Arc-Flash Multiple-Hazard Gloves

The 2012 NFPA 70E standard brought forth some major changes for gloves. The new standard continues the move to arc-rated gloves. Since the 2000 version that first mentioned gloves in possible arc flash exposures, the standard has moved toward better hand protection. Statistics indicate the hands and face are the number-one and number-two body areas injured by arc-flash burns. Even low-level arcs often burn the hands, and it is completely unnecessary.

In 2012, the NFPA 70E Electrical Safety in the Workplace standard illustrates another change. You can use leather or arc-rated gloves for arc-flash protection unless there is also a shock hazard. Where shock is not a hazard, but arc flash is, (such as operation of low-voltage equipment with the doors closed), a new product classification has been gaining interest — arc-rated gloves. The new standard changed the leather requirement — which pre-2012 was the weight of leather glove — to require a rating or a minimum thickness of 0.7 mm. Few leather gloves can guarantee this thickness. Thus, arc-rated gloves will soon be the norm.

Multiple hazards exist in every workplace–chemical exposure, cut arc flash, flash fire–to list the common potential hazards. What if we had PPE that protected from those multiple hazards and was still comfortable? That is what PPE manufacturers are doing. About eight years ago, a Canadian company contacted me about wanting gloves for operators in a refinery who worked with controls and operated valves, did some mechanical troubleshooting but in the course of the day would operate LV motor starters, contactors, and disconnects.

These workers really needed a warm glove most of the year that had some cut resistance, was relatively impervious to minor chemicals in the workplace (mostly oils and tar), and could also protect in the event of an arc flash and a flash fire. The gloves they were using worked, para-aramid (Kevlar® or Twaron®) with a coating for grip and oil resistance, but “What would they do in arc?” We used the test method we were developing to test rubber insulating gloves meeting ASTM D120 for ignition and arc-flash protection to test these gloves, and they had between a 4 and 7 cal/cm² rating by the new proposed standard. The arc-glove market was born. In the next year after the standard passes ASTM F18, more gloves will be rated for both arc and multiple hazards.

These types of innovations keep people safe and comfortable. That’s what every safety director wants to see.

Hugh Hoagland is principal at ArcWear.com doing arc flash testing and product development, and a partner in e-Hazard.com doing arc flash training.

Click to view Superior Glove’s arc flash rated gloves: http://www.superiorglove.com/work-gloves/heat-resistant-gloves/arc-flash-gloves

Part of Earth Day is to encourage people – regardless of age, background or location – to take responsibility and assist in creating healthy communities where our children and families, friends and neighbors can flourish. There are many ways you can participate. Contact your local community, or check out some ideas here: http://www.earthday.ca/pub/resources/action.php

For Superior Glove, as part of ongoing support for our local community, this Earth Day we are assisting the Halton Hills Clean-Up Day. Local residents are encouraged to sign up and participate and help clean up litter throughout the community. Superior Glove has donated 5000 pairs of gloves to help volunteers with the clean-up tasks.

Acton Mayor Rick Bonnette stopped by to pick up some of the 5000 gloves donated by Superior Glove for the Community Clean Up Day

Happy Earth Day from the gang at Superior Glove!

And be sure to check out our special Earth Day Contest: http://bit.ly/13rCKiw

Today’s consumer typically values dexterity and ergonomics when selecting hand protection products. A seamless palm-coated knit glove offers these attributes – they are breathable and also provide workers with enhanced grip and durability.

Comfort is great, but safety is critical. By no means should safety be compromised in favor of comfort. That’s not to say the two need to be mutually exclusive, however.

Enter the world of palm coatings!

Adding a layer of protection to a knit glove can (and does) change everything. Comfort remains, yet application possibilities widen.

There is a seemingly endless range of combinations and as glove manufacturers we use a wide range of tough materials in our palm-coated gloves, over a wide range of string knits. Endless combinations are the result of combining cotton, nylon, Kevlar®, Dyneema® and composite-yarn gloves with palm coatings like latex, PVC, polyurethane, and nitrile – not to mention the foamed versions of some these coatings.

Palm covered gloves are suited for handling small parts, the automotive industry, metal stamping, construction and general purpose, by offering better grip, dexterity, increased abrasion resistance, puncture resistance and durability.

Palm Coatings:
Choosing the proper palm-coated work glove is critical… we have a video to help you along the process. Watch video here.
Now let’s go over the different coating types, their features and benefits.

Latex Covered
Latex is used as a barrier material for gloves or glove coatings, and it is often just assumed to be another name for rubber. That is not the case however, because the process by which latex is created is markedly different than that of natural rubber.

Latex has very high elasticity and outstanding grip compared to other glove materials, and withstands extreme temperature and tear resistance.

Chemically, it resists alcohols, and some ketones, but performs poorly around most hydrocarbon and organic solvents (i.e. gasoline). However, because of allergy issues, it is not always an option for some workers.

Polyurethane Covered
With its great stretch, strength, and softness, as well as low particulate shed, polyurethane adds a whole other class of properties to the palm-coated glove category.

Although it has been around for roughly seventy years, appreciation for its non-allergenic properties for use in medical equipment has grown only recently.

It is a thermoplastic polymer of urethane that starts out as a hard resin and can be taken in numerous directions from hard to soft, depending on the desired end-use.

Known as having the unique quality of being quite ‘grippy’ without being sticky, finishing processes or substances like powder and chlorination are not required to reduce tackiness.

Polyurethane’s softness, combined with great puncture and abrasion resistance, make it a most versatile polymer. It is a very desirable coating for cut-resistant gloves, because it provides grip and boosts puncture resistance, all without adding bulk or reducing touch sensitivity. In addition, the low-particulate shed makes it a perfect choice for those working with electronics and in cleanrooms.

Chemically, polyurethane has excellent resistance to oils, solvents, fats, greases, gasoline (which makes it the opposite of rubber), oxidation and ozone but has poor resistance to hot water and is not recommended for use above 79°C (175°F).

PVC Covered
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a synthetic thermoplastic polymer of vinyl chloride, is a very inexpensive material, making it one of the more common coatings for coated work gloves.

The process to make it is fairly simple, and very similar to that of rubber production. However, it is one-hundred percent synthetic, and as such, is stronger, does not cause allergic reaction and therefore has a wider range of applications. It is the synthetic version of latex, and while it lacks the inherent stretch and grip of natural rubber, it is nonetheless prized for its incomparable strength.

As a palm coating, PVC offers good abrasion resistance, though it may be susceptible to punctures, cuts, and snags. And while it is flexible, it does not provide the tactile sensitivity associated with most rubber products.

PVC coating offers similar wear and abrasion resistance to nitrile, but has one major added benefit – many types of glue will not adhere to it. This makes gloves with PVC palm coating ideal for woodworking and many other glue-related jobs. It is also great for automotive assembly and trim applications, as glue won’t stick to the PVC palm surface.

Another benefit of PVC in work gloves is the fact that it stays flexible at lower temperatures; hence, it makes a great choice for a palm-coated winter glove. PVC starts to soften at approximately 82°C (180°F).

PVC is effective against water and most aqueous solutions, detergents, and diluted bases and acids. It only has acrylonitrile and butadiene. It offers limited chemical resistance to organic solvents.

Nitrile Covered
Nitrile rubber does not contain any latex proteins. It offers excellent resistance to punctures and tears, being three times more puncture resistant than rubber when used in gloves.

With regard to chemical resistance, the principle difference between latex and nitrile is that nitrile stands up well to oil, making it a good choice for metal stamping or handling small oily parts.

Nitrile, while not flame-resistant, does perform well in a range of temperatures between -4°C (25°F) and 149°C (300°F).

Additionally, nitrile can be foamed when used as a palm coating, so that when in contact with smooth, oily surfaces, the foamed nitrile behaves like a sponge. Oil on the surface is soaked up, displaced and grip is improved considerably. Another foaming process uses ‘micropore’ technology to create a bubbled surface that will not allow oil to penetrate to the hand while absorbing it at the same time.

The range of gloves on the market today is geared toward task-specific applications – meaning there is a “right” glove for every worker performing a specific task. (There’s a left glove too… but you see where we’re going with this).

Today’s consumer wants a glove that offers not only safety, but enhanced dexterity, longevity, comfort, and grip. While low-priced options can sometimes appeal to a customer, they prove to perform inadequately and tend to incur higher investment due to replacement costs in the long run (not to mention worker injury costs). So it’s best to do your research, understand the options available, then make an educated choice when it comes to glove selection.

If you have questions about choosing the right palm-coated glove – or anything else – please call our Customer Service Department at (800) 265-7617.

In industrial jobs, a lot of these super powers would make life a heck of a lot easier. Imagine if an oil rigger could have Superman’s strength, running the drill pipe into the well with ease.

Imagine if chainsaw and skidder operators had the Hulk’s strength (some come pretty close), with the ability to fell, delimb and buck trees by hand? At Superior Glove, we know—just like those of you working in the forestry industry know—that operators in this field do a lot by hand, and a lot of dangerous tasks by hand.

Hand-held chainsaw machines are one of the most dangerous tools in use. So we don’t mess around when designing hand-protection products. But did you know most chainsaw gloves on the market in North America are not tested to any standard? That’s just plain crazy.

We test our chainsaw gloves according to EN 381:1999, which is a European test. Just look at the difference below between the average “chainsaw” glove on the market and ours.

The typical glove on the market literally has one thin layer of nylon, which would do nothing to a chainsaw. Pretty frightening to think some people are out there working under the false assumption that they are protected.

When purchasing or using chainsaw gloves, it is imperative to ensure the glove has been tested to the EN 381: 1999 standard. Otherwise, you may as well not wear any gloves at all.

Have a look at this video to see exactly how we test all of our chainsaw gloves here at Superior.

Imagine if your hands could stop a running chainsaw? This is where reality replaces fantasy. With Superior Glove’s line of chainsaw mitts and gloves, this actually becomes possible.

Stop imagining and start experiencing… we use the best in fabric technology, the most elite materials in the industry and our design team ensures that function, quality and comfort all come together to offer you the best possible options in the industry. Not pretty good – the best.

Imagine if there was a product that could withstand a chainsaw running at 3140 feet per minute. Well we made one, and this is how it works:

Our chainsaw protective fabric is designed to work on a number of different principles. The outermost layer protects against trivial damage that could damage the filler material – it is tough but slippery to repel this kind of damage. The inner layers are comprised of long, loose fibers of ballistic nylon or Kevlar®. When a running saw comes in contact with the glove, this outer layer is immediately cut through, but the inner fibers are drawn out and wrap around the chainsaw’s drive sprocket. This creates a solid lock and halts the running chain completely – thereby limiting injury to the wearer’s hand. Once this happens, the gloves need to be replaced, and the saw must be field-stripped to remove the fibers and resume function.

Beyond cut-resistance, chainsaw operators also need protection from vibration, which can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) or more specifically, “white finger.” Superior’s chainsaw gloves feature several vibration-dampening layers along with incredible cut protection materials. We’ve also ensured the design allows the glove to remain dexterous, because good grip and comfort play a large role in safe tool handling.

Look at our selection of chainsaw gloves/mitts here. But if you take away one thing from reading this article, it should be to always ensure chainsaw gloves are tested to the EN 381:1999. Without that – you’re just not protected.

Acton, Ont., March 22, 2013 – Superior Glove Works, a North American leader in work glove manufacturing, has been named Independent Distributors Inc. (IDI) 2012 supplier of the year, beating out several large international corporations.

The award is based on a survey and subsequent votes submitted by all of the IDI members. This is the second time Superior Glove has won this award, with the first honor being bestowed in 2009. Achievement is ranked in five categories: quality of vendor program; quality of customer service; quality of deliveries; quality of relationship with distributors; and overall value of supplier to the company.

Superior Glove excelled in all categories, resulting in winning this year’s supplier of the year, with remarkably high marks in the quality of deliveries area (including on-time, accurate and well-packaged deliveries). The company also ranked especially high in the competitive pricing component of the quality of vendor program category.

Combined with Superior Glove’s recent Canada’s Best Managed Companies win, this supplier award by Canada’s largest industrial distribution network helps cement Superior Glove as a true leader in its field. The dedication to solving hand-protection needs in the industry is unmistakable, and Superior Glove is clearly doing an excellent job executing on its promises.

About Superior Glove Works
Superior Glove Works is a clear leader in the industrial work glove industry. Vertical integration, a sound business approach and a dedication to research and innovation has led the company to be one of the largest work glove manufacturers—with customers in Canada, the USA and Europe. Specializing in cut-resistant gloves, Superior offers an astounding 3,500 styles of work gloves to the safety glove market. Providing “engineered hand protection for every industry” is more than just a slogan—it is the impetus for growth and the foundation on which Superior Glove was built. For more information visit: www.superiorglove.com.

About IDI 
IDI is a network of Canadian distributors specializing in bearings, fluid power products, industrial supplies, janitorial supplies, power transmission products and safety supplies. Founded in 1981, IDI is a business group of industrial distributors that wish to retain their independence in a rapidly changing and dynamic marketplace. As the largest industrial distribution network in Canada, IDI’s mission is to advance the interests of its members, customers, suppliers and staff, and to work in harmony towards the continuation of their success in a free enterprise system. IDI currently consists of 100+ member companies in 200+ locations across Canada, employing 2,300+ employees and commanding sales in excess of $1 billion. For more information visit: www.idiind.com.

– 30 –

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Joe Geng
Vice President, Superior Glove Works
Superior Glove Works Ltd.
800-265-7617 ext. 2014
joe@superiorglove.com

Free glove testing. For any company. For any glove.
For real results.

Did we mention free?

About ten years ago, we made the investment to start our own in-house glove-testing lab. We started the glove lab for a couple of reasons. First, we found there was too much guesswork involved in glove selection. We wanted the ability to supply our customers with hard data in order for them to select the right gloves.

It used to be that people would often cut a glove with a box cutter and use that as their only criteria for glove performance. Not very scientific… nor is it very accurate.

Our customers (and prospective ones) are always at the forefront of what we do. For that reason, here at Superior Glove we offer free glove testing – regardless of who manufactured the glove. If a company wants to know the cut/heat/puncture/abrasion resistance of the glove they are using, we’ll test it free of charge.

The second reason we invested in our own glove testing facility is that having our own lab dramatically speeds up our research and development capabilities. With our own lab, we are able to make a glove in the morning, immediately test its cut and abrasion resistance and make a second, improved prototype before lunch. Without an in-house glove lab, this process would take weeks. And when you’re at the forefront of cutting-edge product development like we are – there’s just no time for that.

Glove Analysis
In the glove lab we observe the highest standards for quality control and we test according to the following standards:

ASTM F1790-05 Cut Resistance
Puncture EN 388:1994
ASTM D3389-94 Taber Abrasion
ASTM F1060 Conductive Heat Resistance

ASTM Cut Test
Superior has an in-house cut-testing machine that tests according to the ASTM F1790-05 standard. We can test any glove in our line – as well as the gloves you are currently using – to give you an unbiased comparison.

To see the test in action, watch this video on cut resistance.

Abrasion Test 
We test according to the ASTM D3389-94 standard for abrasion resistance using the Taber test machine. In this test, gloves spin while two grinding wheels abrade the surface of the glove, during which the number of rotations before wear-through are recorded. The ASTM level is then determined by the number of rotations applied before either the coating is worn through or the first loose thread appears. This test is important for determining which glove will last the longest and provide the highest value.

Puncture Test
Our lab can test against a modified version of EN388: 1994 standard. A sharp puncture probe is pushed through the palm side of a glove (or back of hand, if preferred) using a machine that measures the force required to puncture the glove. This gives customers in industries like recycling or lumber an important tool for determining which gloves provide suitable protection against puncture hazards.

Thermal Test 
Our lab test measures for ASTM F1060-87 levels of conductive heat resistance. Glove material is placed on a hot plate at a selected temperature. A sensor determines how much heat energy is transferred through the glove and this energy is translated into a ‘time-to-pain’ or a ‘ time-to-second-degree-burn’ number. This test provides valuable data as to which gloves provide the best insulation against heat in applications like welding, plastic extrusion, and foundries.

Would you like your company gloves tested?

Call us at (800) 265-7617 to inquire about glove testing.
Request More Information

Superior has maintained a strong relationship with the steel industry since the early 1960s. We have worked together to develop many styles over the years, using industry feedback to take our products from good to excellent. Through end-user trials, we’ve kept pace with the changing demands of this industry, resulting in some of our bestselling styles. With this comes a great amount of knowledge about glove selection for this industry.

Robert Gheesling is a US Territory Sales Rep with Superior who has tremendous experience working with metal stamping applications. We asked him to put together some tips for you.

We worked hard to figure out how to properly select gloves so you wouldn’t have to. Follow the selection tips below to help guide your search.

Choosing a glove for a metal stamping factory. 

1. Start with gloves rated a minimum ASTM – F1790 cut-level 4

Unless you are stamping really small parts (less than 3 lbs.) you need an ASTM – F1790 cut-level 4 glove. Remember the EN388 standard is used in other countries and not in the USA. There is not a direct correlation between the two. Make sure you get the ASTM – F1790 gram rating.

Robert recommends a minimum of about 2000 grams cut resistance according to ASTM – F1790. There are a lot of gloves out there in the 1500-1700 gram range, but these tend not to offer enough cut protection in most stamping applications.

Examples include styles like these:

2. Check the abrasion resistance.

Once you’ve narrowed your selection to gloves with at least 2000 grams cut resistance, don’t get hung up on the cut resistance numbers. A glove with 2700 grams cut is not necessarily better than a glove with 2200 grams cut. At this point, you should look at the abrasion resistance numbers and reference ASTM D3389-94 (1999).

Robert recommends getting the abrasion tests from an independent lab or at least tested at the same lab, as there is too much variation from lab to lab.

3. Go for a 7-gauge glove.

Most metal stamping equipment leaves some burrs on the metal, which poses a metal poke hazard.

Robert recommends a glove that isn’t too thin, 13-gauge and often even 10-gauge gloves don’t provide enough protection, a 7-gauge glove is preferable. If the burrs on the edge of the metal are really bad, try a glove with a leather palm, a foam nitrile coating or even a terrycloth style to provide even more protection from the metal burrs.

Examples include styles like these:

4. Test a few different gloves.

Select a few gloves (two to three preferably, any more than that can mean you haven’t done your homework in the previous steps and the process gets too complicated) and do a glove trial! This will help determine how long the gloves actually last.

Robert recommends determining your cost per use for each glove. Don’t be fooled!
The chart below demonstrates how significantly protection level is affected by abrasion.

5. Bonus Tip.

Just because we care.

Robert recommends not using leather gloves (without a cut-resistant liner) for metal stamping. On its own, leather is not very cut resistant. When it is soaked in metal stamping oil, the cut resistance continues to drop, providing even less protection over time. With so many options available beyond leather, you’re better off following the steps above to find the best glove for your use.

Leave comments below to let us know what you look for when choosing a metal stamping glove.

Safety standards mandate that appropriate hand protection is compulsory when hands are exposed to hazards such as harmful substances, severe cuts, lacerations or abrasions, punctures, chemical or thermal burns and harmful temperature extremes.
When it comes to chemical-resistant gloves, proper selection is imperative for ensuring worker safety and preventing skin absorption that can lead to serious complications and/or injuries.

It’s important to match the right glove material with each application or task. You first have to assess the job for chemical exposures, and then select the appropriate chemical-resistant glove based on material, length, thickness, and other properties.
Because many factors come into play with various applications and related job duties, workers are often exposed to a variety of chemicals. In those instances, choose a glove that is most resistant to the chemicals being used for each separate chemical… this means you may need to change gloves as you move on to a different task.
Listed below you’ll find an overview of the most common types of chemical-resistant glove materials. Use these to help navigate the options.

And remember, ANSI/ISEA 105-2011, American National Standard for Hand Protection Selection Criteria, provides guidance for selecting appropriate gloves for identifiable workplace hazards that could result in chemical burns, severe cuts and lacerations, and burns caused by heat and flame exposures.

Supported vs. Unsupported:
Chemical-resistant gloves can be fabricated as supported or unsupported. Unsupported means that the glove was manufactured by dipping a porcelain form directly into a material or polymer; no supporting liner is used. Unsupported chemical-resistant gloves provide enhanced dexterity and tactile sensitivity. Supported means that a material or polymer is dipped onto a knitted liner. Supported chemical-resistant gloves provide enhanced comfort, strength and durability.

Types/Materials:
1. LATEX
Natural rubber (latex) has a very high elasticity compared to other glove materials, excellent cut, puncture and tear resistance, and outstanding grip and temperature resistance. It withstands water, alcohols, and some ketones, but has poor chemical resistance against most hydrocarbon and organic solvents. It can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Applications: Janitorial, Food Processing, General Maintenance
√ Good For: Ketones and mild acids.

2. NITRILE
Nitrile rubber is a co-polymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. It offers excellent physical-hazard resistance to punctures, cuts, snags and abrasion. Nitrile rubber has considerable resistance to oils, fuels, and certain organic solvents. It is commonly used as a coating for dipped gloves and also in the construction of laminated, impregnated cut-and-sewn gloves. In addition, nitrile chemical-resistant gloves also provide outstanding wet or dry grip. All these properties combined make nitrile gloves well suited for the toughest industrial jobs.
Applications: Chemical Handling, Auto Assembly, Petro-Chemical, Food Processing
√ Good For: Oils, greases, petroleum products and some acids and caustics.

3. PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic polymer of vinyl chloride. An ideal alternative for those with latex allergies, PVC chemical-resistant gloves offer good abrasion resistance, but may be susceptible to punctures, cuts, and snags. While it is flexible, it does not provide the tactile sensitivity associated with most rubber products. PVC starts to soften at approximately 82˚C (180˚F). PVC is effective against water and most aqueous solutions, detergents, and diluted bases and acids, but has limited chemical resistance to organic solvents. PVC is one of the more common coatings for coated work gloves.
Applications: General Maintenance, Fisheries, Construction, Janitorial and Gardening
√ Good For: Most acids, fats and petroleum hydrocarbons.

4. CHEMSTOP NEOPRENE
The trade name for chloroprene, DuPont™ Neoprene polychloroprene is an extremely versatile synthetic rubber and the first commercial synthetic rubber created. Neoprene is exceptionally flexible and has good abrasion and cut resistance, while resisting the effects of aging, sunlight, ozone, oxidation and weather.
Applications: Automotive, Degreasing, Mechanical, Janitorial
√ Good For: Some acids and caustics.

5. CHEMSTOP BUTYL/ VITON-BUTYL
As synthetic rubbers, butyl and viton/butyl provide the highest permeation resistance and extreme chemical protection, especially around chlorinated solvents and aromatic chemicals. Despite the heavy-duty protection, our butyl and viton/butyl gloves do not inhibit dexterity.
Applications: Petrochemical, Chemical Industry
√ Good For: Esters and ketones, chlorinated and aromatic solvents.

If you need assistance selecting the appropriate chemical-resistant glove or would like more information on our products, please call us direct at (800) 265-7617 or send an email to sales@superiorglove.com.

Acton, Ont., February 26, 2013 – Superior Glove Works, a North American leader in work glove manufacturing, has been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 2012. This prestigious national award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO forums.

“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we believe that there are three vital building blocks to sustainable growth: strategy, capability, and commitment; Superior Glove Works has demonstrated it is a model of success in all three areas and is duly recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed,” explained John Hughes, National leader for Canada’s Best Managed Companies program and leader of the Greater Toronto Growth Enterprise practice for Deloitte.

Achieving Canada’s highest level of business excellence and winning out over hundreds of applicants nationwide does not come by chance. “Our success is due to a dedicated approach to enhancing our business operations and maintaining a high level of quality that sustains our growth and expansion,” says Tony Geng, President of Superior Glove Works.

Applications are reviewed by an independent judging panel that evaluates how companies address various business challenges, including new technologies, globalization, brand management, leadership, leveraging and developing core competencies, designing information systems, and hiring the right talent to facilitate growth.

“We are a family-owned operation that started with a focus on leather gloves. The tremendous growth we’ve achieved and the success we’ve accomplished is a testament to my father, Frank Geng and his ability to get the business up and rolling,” said Tony Geng. The company will launch the exciting announcement of this designation with celebratory events held in both of its principal facilities. “To achieve this level of recognition is a great honour and we’re excited to celebrate together with our community, our customers and our employees,” said Joe Geng, Vice President of Superior Glove.

For Superior Glove, maintaining sustainable growth is not mutually exclusive with supporting Canadian business and economy. The head office (with attached manufacturing facility) is in small-town Acton, Ontario and a second facility is located in Point Leamington, Newfoundland. “Our Point Leamington factory originally started in 1988 in half of the Town Hall. From the original 700 square feet and three sewing machines, we have since moved our manufacturing across the street and expanded five times in the last 24 years. We are committed to our roots and dedicated to ensuring sustainable growth,” adds Tony Geng.

About Superior Glove Works
Superior Glove Works is a clear leader in the industrial work glove industry. Vertical integration, a sound business approach and a dedication to research and innovation has led the company to be one of the largest work glove manufacturers—with customers in Canada, the USA and Europe. Specializing in cut-resistant gloves, Superior offers an astounding 3,500 styles of work gloves to the safety glove market. Providing “engineered hand protection for every industry” is more than just a slogan—it’s the impetus for growth and the foundation on which Superior Glove was built. For more information visit: www.superiorglove.com.

About Canada’s Best Managed Companies
The program, which is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO forums, evaluates and honours the top Canadian-owned and managed private firms with annual revenues of at least $10 million. Each year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this prestigious designation that evaluates companies based on four overarching principles of business: strategy, commitment, capability and financial strength. For more information visit: www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

– 30 –

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Joe Geng
Vice President, Superior Glove Works
Superior Glove Works Ltd.
800-265-7617 ext. 2014
joe@superiorglove.com

We have a long history of glove making and with experience comes skill… so we definitely consider ourselves the best. In fact, since our modest beginning in 1910, we’ve now expanded into four manufacturing facilities… which means our superb glove making is enjoyed globally.

 
Protection Comes First

While glove making is fun and exciting, we all know protection is important. When developing our products, we always put you first and ensure protection remains at the forefront of everything we do.

When it comes to our glove making, though we don’t really have a “type,” we do have a special relationship with cut-resistance gloves. See how vast our experience is. (Psst, just between us, we got so comfortable we even made a video).

You’ll be happy to know that our glove making encompasses a range of “types” – they include chemical-resistance gloves, clean-room gloves, cotton and string-knit gloves, heat-resistance gloves, welders, mechanic gloves and so much more.  Have a look through our work glove offerings to see which glove making styles you’re most compatible with.

 
Glove Doesn’t Always Last Forever

While glove is a beautiful thing, we know it doesn’t always last forever, so have a look at disposable glove options.

Latex allergy? No problem, we’ve got options for that. Enjoy some gloving in vinyl, nitrile or polyethylene. You’ll find options suitable for a variety of applications.

 
Glove Lab

Right within our head office, we operate our own glove lab where we work tirelessly to try out new glove making techniques and test the results of our efforts. Workers often lock themselves in the glove lab, refusing to quit until they achieve the perfect result of glove making. (*HR Department, please pay close attention to the letter G in these references to glove making.)

If you haven’t already experienced Superior Glove Making, we hope that this Valentine’s Day you might be inspired to do so.  And for all the Superior Glovers out there…

 
Remember, be safe and always wear a glove.