2 Dec 2015

TraffiGlove & DSM Dyneema to unveil new safety glove range with colored Dyneema® Diamond Technology

UK firm first licensee of Dyneema® Diamond Technology to offer red/amber/green safety gloves

The Netherlands, 2 December 2015 - TraffiGlove UK, a leading British manufacturer of personal-protection safety gloves, has partnered with DSM Dyneema to develop an innovative new line of solid colored, cut-resistant gloves.

This new product range, called ‘Iconic’, uses DSM’s Dyneema® Diamond Technology in combination with the UK firm’s well-established, color-coded traffic-light classification system for protective gloves. This makes TraffiGlove the first licensee of this DSM technology to introduce solid colored versions of high-performance safety gloves. The Bracknell, England-based company will offer its complete Iconic line of gloves in the familiar red, amber and green colors of its Original traffic-light system as an immediately visible signal of the cut protection level provided.

Using its own special coating technology, TraffiGlove coats every individual Dyneema® fiber before producing the Iconic gloves to ensure a uniform, bright and permanent color. TraffiGlove is the only company in the world to color safety gloves this way.

This partnership with DSM Dyneema has allowed TraffiGlove to set a course for ambitious growth through the introduction of value-added products. Moreover, the collaboration has allowed TraffiGlove to enter markets in which it had previously not been active, such as mechanical assembly, automotive and aerospace.

The two firms worked to develop the Iconic glove range in response to the market need for comfortable, well-fitting safety gloves with superior cut resistance. Statistics show that in Europe accidents often occur because workers fail to wear safety gloves or wear gloves not suitable for the task being performed. Workers tend to shun gloves that are uncomfortable, clumsy or simply too warm to wear. Hand injuries are among the most common work-related injuries reported today, and these accidents can have major impacts affecting both personal lives and business operation. Aside from the toll on workers’ health, hand injuries tend to be associated with considerable direct costs, as well as with indirect costs such as lost productivity, training for replacement workers and negative publicity.

“Leveraging all the advantages of DSM’s cutting-edge Dyneema® Diamond Technology, the solid colored Iconic range eliminates the drawbacks of previous generations of safety gloves,” said Olivier Boubeaud, Global Business director at DSM Dyneema. “The technology is based on our ultra high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber and offers a high-end solution for gloves that combine cut protection with comfort.”

As an official licensee with access to Dyneema® Diamond Technology, TraffiGlove has now moved to develop a value position in the cut-resistant glove market by creating the new Iconic glove. Lightweight, with MicroDex Precise palm coating for exceptional grip in dry, wet and oily conditions, the glove is designed to provide comfort, close-fitting dexterity and cut protection at EN388 Level 3, 4 and 5. The level of protection is instantly recognizable by the familiar Original traffic-light code, helping to ensure the right glove is selected for every application.

“TraffiGlove invented the Original colour-coded traffic-light safety system which has been imitated by manufacturers around the world,” noted Franz Lorenschitz, Marketing Manager at TraffiGlove. “As the first licensee to incorporate Dyneema® Diamond Technology into a complete range of colour-coded safety gloves, we are delighted to partner with DSM Dyneema to offer the ultimate in lightweight high cut protection.”

This DSM technology takes cut resistance and comfort to a new level. Together, TraffiGlove and DSM Dyneema are creating game-changing glove technology that promises a bright and colorful future for hand protection, with optimum safety for all end users.

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Notes for editors

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) fiber branded as Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® fiber floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.

UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.

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