Lightweight assembly and handling gloves with polyurethane or nitrile foam coatings on 13, 15 and 18 gauge liners, built for dexterity, touchscreen use and all day comfort on production lines.
Assembly gloves are bought on feel and worn for whole shifts, so comfort is a safety property rather than a luxury. The first decision is the coating. Polyurethane is applied very thin, keeps the fingertip profile close to bare skin and gives clean, precise grip on dry components, which is why it dominates electronics and small parts work. Nitrile foam is slightly thicker and its open cell structure draws in light oil, so it holds grip on machined and lubricated parts where polyurethane starts to slip. Sandy nitrile goes further again for oily or greasy handling, at the cost of some fingertip sensitivity. Palm only coating breathes better and suits warm plants, while a three quarter or full dip protects the back of the hand from contact with oily surfaces.
Gauge is the knit density of the liner, and it drives how the glove feels. A 13 gauge liner is the general purpose choice, robust and moderately dexterous. A 15 gauge liner is noticeably thinner and gives better feel for fasteners and connectors. An 18 gauge liner is finer again and is the closest to bare hands, which suits inspection, electronics and small component assembly, but it wears through faster on abrasive work. Pick the finest gauge that survives the shift rather than the finest gauge available.
Touchscreen compatible fingertips are now a practical requirement rather than a feature. Line workers scan, confirm and record on tablets and handhelds constantly, and a glove that forces removal for every scan will be removed and left off. Where screens are part of the task, specify a conductive fingertip model from the start.
A glove worn eight hours a day sits against the skin longer than most consumer garments. OEKO-TEX certification on the liner confirms testing for harmful substances, which is worth having where workers report irritation, where shifts are long, or where hands are already sensitized. Breathability matters for the same reason, since a hand that stays damp inside a fully coated glove is more prone to dermatitis.
Be clear about the limits. These gloves are for handling, not for hazards. A thin polyurethane coating gives no meaningful protection against blade contact unless the liner itself is cut rated, offers no barrier against chemicals beyond incidental splash, softens near heat and provides nothing at all against impact. If the task involves sharp sheet metal, solvents, hot components or pinch points, the right answer is in the cut resistant, chemical, welding or impact ranges, and specifying a light assembly glove there is a common and expensive mistake.
Polyurethane is thinner and gives the best fingertip feel on dry components, which suits electronics and small parts. Nitrile foam is slightly thicker and its cell structure absorbs light oil, so it grips better on machined and lubricated parts. Sandy nitrile grips hardest on oily work but gives up some sensitivity.
Gauge describes how fine the liner knit is. A 13 gauge liner is a durable general purpose choice, 15 gauge is thinner with better feel, and 18 gauge is the finest and closest to bare hands. Finer liners give more dexterity but wear through faster on abrasive tasks.
Not unless the liner is specifically cut rated. The coating provides grip and abrasion resistance, not cut protection. Check the EN 388 code and the ANSI cut level on the individual product, and move to the cut resistant range if blade or sharp edge contact is part of the job.
It means the material has been tested for harmful substances, which is relevant because assembly gloves sit against the skin for entire shifts. It is particularly worth specifying where workers have reported irritation or where hands are already sensitized.
Carton pricing is shown on every product page and our team can quote mixed orders across the range for sites in Canada and the United States. Request a bulk quote or check the glove sizing guide before ordering.
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