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Protecting the hands of workers in sterile work environments is vital to the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries
Ansell, a global leader in personal protection solutions, has introduced TouchNTuff 83-500 Sterile Polyisoprene Gloves and TouchNTuff 93-700 Sterile Nitrile Gloves to fill this need. The new latex-free TouchNTuff gloves were developed in response to a global study among more than 130 wearers of single-use gloves across the life sciences segments. The study found that fit and comfort, along with using a material not made from latex, were important factors to glove wearers. The new TouchNTuff gloves address both factors while maintaining the strength and durability necessary to fulfill the dual roles of protecting wearers from coming into contact with potentially dangerous chemicals or agents, and protecting products from contamination by bare hands.
The global pharmaceutical market is expected to grow to more than $975 billion in sales by 2013, thereby increasing the need for sterile manufacturing environments. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the primary tool used in sterile environments to prevent product contamination and minimize worker contact with chemical agents, has historically centered on natural rubber latex gloves. However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates as many as 17 percent of people are allergic to latex, so the pharmaceutical industry has started moving away from using natural rubber gloves, requiring PPE manufacturers to create alternative solutions for hand protection. In creating the TouchNTuff Sterile glove series, Ansell worked closely with customers to understand these unique needs.
“The Ansell TouchNTuff series is an industry leading example of our continual commitment to safety, quality and innovation to meet the ever growing needs and demands of the glove market” said Bob Gaither, Senior Vice President and Regional Director - North America Market, Ansell Protective Products Inc. “The TouchNTuff 83-500 and 93-700 gloves offer new, latex-free solutions that minimize the risk of allergic reactions, while delivering superior protection without compromising comfort and tactility to ensure better employee compliance.”
TouchNTuff 83-500 gloves are constructed with polyisoprene, a polymer designed to mimic the structure and attributes of natural rubber, providing wearers with a “second skin” fit and feel that delivers greater comfort and tactility without the risk of latex sensitization. In designing the TouchNTuff 83-500, Ansell combined its expertise from successful applications of polyisoprene in other Ansell products with its patent-pending SureFit Technology. The result is a glove which fits securely to the forearm and prevents the cuff from rolling down, maintaining the integrity of a sterile environment. The gloves also offer an enhanced anti-slip finish on the surface of the fingers and palm for a higher degree of grip in both wet and dry work environments.
Utilizing the chemical resistance of nitrile, TouchNTuff 93-700 gloves offer robust performance and chemical protection. Designed for sterile environments, TouchNTuff 93-700 gloves provide a high level of chemical splash exposure resistance for a wide range of chemicals while maintaining an enhanced degree of comfort, longer cuffs for forearm safety, and textured fingertips for optimal grip performance. Laboratory tests also indicate that the gloves are four times more puncture-and tear-resistant than latex alternatives while being thinner, maximizing protection and providing superior comfort customary to the TouchNTuff brand.
TouchNTuff single-use gloves deliver superior protection, first-rate puncture and abrasion resistance, and exceptional performance. The combination of an ultra-thin construction and high chemical protection in a single glove allows manufacturers to find security where light-duty, chemical-splash protection is required. Since its inception in the early 1990s, TouchNTuff products have empowered workers with a range of single-use gloves designed to provide the ideal balance between comfort, performance and product consistency.
For more than 100 years, Ansell has been recognized for continually innovating and leading the hand protection and protective clothing industry by providing specialized solutions that meet the unique challenges faced by workers across sectors. With yearly sales of over a billion glove units in the TouchNTuff product range, everyday workers in a wide variety of industrial, laboratory, pharmaceutical and critical environment applications around the world place their trust in the TouchNTuff brand.
Notes:
i Ansell Internal Study, on file.
ii IMS Forecasts Global Pharmaceutical Market Growth of 4-6% in 2010; Predicts 4-7% Expansion Through 2013, The IMS Institute, October 7, 2009 imshealth.com/portal/site/ims/menuitemimshealth.co... (last accessed March 18, 2013)
ii Disposable Gloves, ISHN, May 20, 2010 ishn.com/articles/disposable-gloves (last accessed March 18, 2013)
About Ansell
Ansell (ansell.com) is a world leader in providing superior health and safety protection solutions that enhance human well being. With operations in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia, Ansell employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and holds leading positions in the industrial and medical gloves markets, as well as in the sexual health and wellbeing category worldwide. Ansell operates in four main business segments: Medical Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Specialty Markets and Sexual Wellness.
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