How to specify composite layup gloves for fibreglass, carbon fibre and resin-adjacent work, with practical guidance on liners, coatings, EN 388 limits, lint checks, MOQ, lead time, AQL inspection and export terms.
The Glove Problem in Composite Shops
Composite layup gloves are not one universal SKU. A cutting table handling 200 gsm carbon twill needs fingertip feel and low snagging. A trimming bench handling cured glass edges needs abrasion and cut resistance. A resin mixing station needs a chemical barrier selected from the resin SDS. Those are three different risks, and forcing one general warehouse glove across all stations usually gives either poor dexterity or false protection. For dry reinforcement cutting, ply kitting and preform handling, buyers normally test 13 gauge or 15 gauge polyester, nylon, HPPE or glass-free cut-resistant liners with PU, flat nitrile or micro-foam nitrile palms. For wet epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester resin, acetone wipe-down, styrene or MEKP catalyst, the relevant family is chemical gloves tested to EN ISO 374-1:2016+A1:2018, not a knitted dipped glove. GloveMark makes knitted dipped handling gloves and some sewn synthetic handling styles. We do not certify PU palm gloves as chemical barriers, and we will not print EN 374 claims on a carton unless the exact SKU has valid permeation data. A practical composite plant often uses station-specific gloves. Dry carbon placement may use a 15 gauge nylon PU palm glove. Cutting aramid or carbon stacks may move to EN 388:2016+A1:2018 level B or C cut resistance under ISO 13997. Cured-part trimming may need an 18 gauge HPPE liner with sandy nitrile for dusty grip. Resin work should be specified separately from the SDS and operator change frequency. Before a 20,000 pair order, ask for the EN 388 report, fibre content, coating type, size set, and samples tested on the actual mould, cloth and trimming process.
Dry Carbon and Fibreglass Handling
Dry carbon fibre, aramid cloth and fibreglass mat punish gloves that look fine in a catalogue. A rough latex crinkle palm grips concrete blocks well, but it can lift tow ends from woven carbon or catch on chopped strand mat. For ply placement, a smoother PU palm on 13 gauge polyester, 15 gauge nylon or 18 gauge nylon gives better touch and less fibre disturbance. If operators must feel a wrinkle or bridge in the cloth, 15 gauge is usually the starting point; 13 gauge is tougher but less sensitive. Cut risk depends on the station. Plain nylon or polyester is suitable only for low-risk dry placement. Rotary cutters, shears, steel rulers, trimmed preforms and sharp carbon edges call for engineered yarns. Many buyers start with EN 388 cut level B and move to level C where operators handle trimmed stacks. Ask whether the yarn contains glass fibre, steel, HPPE, basalt, aramid or a blend. Glass fibre in the yarn can lift the cut score, but some aerospace and high-cleanliness composite shops avoid glass-containing glove yarn near carbon layup because broken filaments and itch complaints are hard to manage. Low lint cannot be proven by a nice product photo. During sample approval, rub the glove palm and back on black carbon fabric for 20 strokes, inspect under white workshop lighting, and compare against a control glove already accepted by production. Check the cuff after 30 minutes at the cutting table, because loose fibres often collect there first. If the glove is packed in individual polybags, open five bags and inspect for loose coating crumbs or yarn dust. These checks are simple, but they catch contamination problems before the order ships from Yiwu or Ningbo.
Resin, Solvent and Contamination Limits
Epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester resin, acetone and MEKP catalyst should be specified from the SDS, not from glove marketing language. A knitted dipped glove is porous at the back of hand, cuff and liner. PU, nitrile foam and latex coatings are not full liquid barriers when applied to a knit shell. Resin can wick through the liner, and solvents can attack coatings faster than an operator expects. If a supplier claims a dipped handling glove protects against acetone, ask for EN ISO 374-1 type A, B or C classification and permeation data under EN 16523-1. GloveMark fits the dry and mechanical side of composite production: ply kitting, tool loading, dry fabric handling, demoulded-part movement, trimming support, sanding support, inspection and packing. For wet layup, factories commonly use disposable nitrile around 0.08 mm to 0.12 mm thick, sometimes double-gloved, with frequent changes. Neoprene, laminated film or thicker chemical gloves may be needed depending on chemical exposure time. We can help separate SKUs by station, but we do not replace the site safety officer or the chemical glove maker for EN 374 decisions. Contamination control also includes packaging and handling. Avoid powdered disposable gloves near carbon and resin systems. For coated work gloves, keep carton interiors clean, avoid recycled inner paper that sheds fibres, and decide whether pairs are bulk packed, 12 pairs per polybag, or individually packed. If the line uses pre-preg stored at 5°C to 10°C, test the glove after cold-room exposure because some coatings stiffen and reduce layup feel.
Coating Choices by Station
PU is usually the first coating to test for dry fabric placement. It is thin, smooth and gives good fingertip feedback on 15 gauge and 18 gauge liners. Its weakness is abrasion on cured glass edges and grip in dusty or resin-contaminated areas. Flat nitrile is tougher but less breathable. Micro-foam nitrile improves abrasion and gives more secure grip on slightly dusty composite parts. Sandy nitrile gives stronger grip for trimming and moving cured panels, but the texture is usually too aggressive for fine carbon ply placement. Latex crinkle has excellent dry grip and is economical, but many composite buyers reject it for two reasons: latex allergy policies and raised texture that can disturb fine cloth. PVC dots are also not our first suggestion for carbon layup because dot edges reduce sensitivity and may drag fibres. If touchscreen inspection tablets are used, conductive yarn can be added at thumb and index, but it must be tested with the actual screen protector and with clean, dry gloves. Once resin is on the fingertip, touchscreen performance becomes unpredictable. Cuff choice is a production issue, not only a comfort issue. A standard knitted wrist holds the glove in place, but sanding dust and glass fibres can collect in the rib. A longer 10 cm elasticated cuff helps under sleeves and reduces exposed wrist skin. A short open cuff is faster to remove but gives less control around loose fibres. For sewn synthetic gloves, check seam position between thumb and index because bulky seams can mark a ply or reduce pinch control.
MOQ, Sampling and Price Reality
MOQ depends on whether the buyer accepts existing yarn, coating and colour. For an existing 13 gauge polyester or nylon PU glove with custom cuff colour, printed size mark and carton label, a realistic starting MOQ is often 3,000 to 5,000 pairs per colour. For dyed liners, 18 gauge shells, HPPE blends, glass-free cut level C yarns, custom back-of-hand printing, special polybags or retail header cards, 10,000 pairs is a more realistic planning figure. Very small trial orders are possible only when they use stock materials and standard packing. Sampling normally takes 7 to 14 days if yarn and coating are available. If we need to knit a new liner, dye yarn, trial an 18 gauge shell or adjust coating viscosity, sample timing can move to 2 to 3 weeks. Bulk production is usually 4 to 7 weeks after sample approval and deposit, depending on coating line load, yarn arrival and packaging complexity. Peak periods before Chinese New Year need earlier booking because dyeing, knitting and dipping capacity tightens. Price is driven mainly by yarn and coating weight, not by a small logo. A basic 13 gauge polyester PU palm glove is in a different FOB band from an 18 gauge glass-free HPPE cut level C nitrile foam glove. For sourcing, approve two samples: a value glove for low-risk dry placement and a higher-spec glove for cutting or cured-edge handling. Use woven cuff labels, carton labels and simple polybag print where possible. Large heat-transfer logos or thick rubber patches add cost, reduce breathability and often bring no benefit on a production line.
Inspection Points Before Shipment
Composite glove inspection should cover function, cleanliness and packing, not just pair count. We normally suggest ISO 2859-1 sampling, general inspection level II, with agreed AQL such as 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects unless the buyer requires stricter limits. Major defects include wrong size, wrong coating, exposed fingertips, severe strike-through, open seams on sewn styles, missing labels or mixed SKUs. Minor defects include light print variation, small loose threads outside functional areas or carton scuffs. For low-lint or low-snag claims, agree the check during sample approval. A practical inspection can include visual lint comparison on black cloth, palm rub testing, cuff fibre inspection and coating crumb checks inside polybags. For coating quality, inspect fingertips, thumb crotch and sidewalls because thin coating or missed areas often appear there first. For sizing, measure palm width and glove length across at least S to XL, and confirm the size ratio before production, for example M 20 percent, L 40 percent, XL 30 percent, XXL 10 percent. Carton planning affects freight cost. Thin 13 gauge PU gloves may pack 120 to 240 pairs per export carton depending on size mix and individual packing. Thicker nitrile foam or cut-resistant gloves may be 60 to 120 pairs per carton. A 20 ft container may cube out before it reaches weight limit, so carton dimensions should be confirmed before freight booking. Under FOB Ningbo or Shanghai, the buyer forwarder handles main freight after export clearance. Under EXW Yiwu, the forwarder must manage local pickup, export handling and customs paperwork. For EU or UK safety distributors, do not use CE or UKCA marks unless the exact SKU has the correct technical file, declaration of conformity and test reports. Relabelling after arrival costs more than checking artwork before mass production.
Need Physical Samples?
For verified B2B buyers we ship 1-2 reference samples free (you cover the courier - ~USD 35 to most countries). Custom mock-ups with your logo run USD 60-120 depending on decoration, refunded against your first PO.
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