Ansell HyFlex 11-511 Work Gloves
March 31, 2010 — Believe it or not, we've actually spotlighted gloves as our Weekly New Product before. And why not? Supers, porters and handypersons in a co-op or condo work around heavy-duty mechanical items like boilers and water pipes, and handle sharp things like knives, window glass and board-members' wit. While work gloves can't do much about that last thing, this latest advance in work-glove technology — and yes, there is such a thing — by the 100-year-old company Ansell offers cut protection like probably nothing before. Heck, it even uses Kevlar, so these gloves aren't just protective, they're bulletproof!!
OK, we're exaggerating with "bulletproof." But Kevlar is, of course, most famous for its use as body armor. Here, it provides cut protection while being completely silicone- and latex-free, which reduces product contamination and skin sensitivity.
As for cut protection, the model HyFlex 11-511 boasts an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Level 4 Cut Rating. We looked that up: It refers to an ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Cut Protection Performance Test value, which measures the amount of force in grams it would take a standard cutting blade 25mm away (about an inch) to pierce the fabric. Level 4 (out of 5) means it would take 1,500 or more grams of force, which certainly does sound like a lot. (For our European friends, this model also offers EN Level 4 cut protection, referring to the Comité Européen de Normalisation standard.)
Great for use in glass installation, mechanical maintenance and handling sharp parts and knives, the HyFlex 11-511 uses a proprietary nitrile foam technology that the company says "provides increased wear in thumb crotch and palm area." It also has a patented "knitted variable stitch design" that Ansell claims offers "improved fit by releasing tension in high stress zones of the glove."
All we know is, these are some seriously high-tech gloves. It's hard to imagine a co-op / condo staff member who wouldn't appreciate your caring so much to give them the very best. And if that helps to reduce workplace injury and related costs, well, how can we not say, "All you need is glove"?
Ansell • 200 Schulz Drive, Red Bank, N.J. 07701• (732) 345-5400 • toll-free (800) 800-0444 • info@ansell.com