Third in a series
We often get questions about whether currency exchange rate fluctuations will affect glove prices. The answer is maybe—but the reality is other factors figure more prominently. Even if fluctuations do have an effect, it’s not definitive—and it takes a long time to happen.
One of the most common questions we get, whether from calls to our customer service line or asked of our reps at trade shows, is “Are disposable gloves food safe?”
Most modern disposable glove factories produce a high percentage of products without defects. It could even be as high as 99 percent—but even a 1% failure rate is too much when you are sourcing thousands of containers a year.
If you regularly wear vinyl gloves on the job, economics are likely the No. 1 reason why.
AMMEX has been in business for more than 35 years. During that time, except for a few divergences, we have been intensely focused on disposable gloves. We think about them all the time—and not many companies can say that.
Everybody knows that nitrile disposable gloves are best for working with chemicals, especially in automotive maintenance. Right?
The dangers of fentanyl have been widely reported. The drug, developed in 1959 as an intravenous analgesic and anesthetic, is one of the most abused synthetic opioids in North America and a primary driver of overdose deaths among young people.
Second of three parts
The disposable glove market faces several unique cost drivers that impact the industry. Prices are expected to rise due to factors including increased factory utilization rates, higher prices for raw materials, and a weakening U.S. dollar.
First of three parts
The disposable glove market continues to have several unique cost drivers impacting the industry. Factories have reduced the number of production lines from pandemic highs, increasing utilization rates and reducing excess supply. Raw materials, from chemicals to synthetic rubber, are rising in cost. Other drivers, such as labor supply in Southeast Asia, packaging material increases, logistics, and a weakening U.S. dollar, are also playing a role.
Anybody who uses hand protection is well aware of the potential dangers on the job—or they likely wouldn’t be wearing gloves at all. Thousands of injuries occur nationwide every year. Maybe at your facility it’s one or two. For the folks that happened to, of course, that’s one or two too many.
Billions of disposable gloves are sold every year as companies do whatever they can to protect their workers. Are most of them sufficient? Probably. Are a substantial portion of them Gloveworks Nitrile with Raised Diamond Texture? Frustratingly, no—RDT, as we affectionately call it, in fact makes up less than 1% of the overall glove market.
