Rubber Journal Asia Gloves Industry
Latex that befits the gloves sector The healthcare and food industries, which
rubber gloves, around 63% of the wo r l d ’ s s u p p l y to 180 countries, and the industry is e x p e c t e d t o are amongst the top recession-proof hit US$3 trillion by 2015. But things a r e n o t a l l that rosy according to market analys t s . industries, have rubbed on their luck to the Malaysian research house RHB Research is giving gloves sector. While the Eurozone crisis Malaysia’s glove sector an optimistic review, citing weighs down on revenues for many industry that the market conditions are favourable. It says that Hartalega’s next generation integrated glove segments, demand for rubber gloves has complex (NGC) will commence in August 2014, with remained stable throughout the global an expected increase in total capacity to 43 billion pieces/year by 2020. Meanwhile, Supermax has also economic ordeal. Nonetheless, the gloves posted a healthy second quarter financial result and sector is also undergoing its own “paradigm has two new plants that will be fully commissioned by 2014 to further boost its sales. shift”, in terms of materials used and the Nonetheless, there are major bottlenecks the level of safety and efficiency, says Angelica manufacturers have to deal with, including labour shortage, fluctuating rubber prices and the imposition Buan in this report. of minimum wage levels in the country. Meanwhile, Thailand and Indonesia, which are two top rubber producers, are also catching up in the manufacture of rubber gloves. Recently, the Public Health Minister of Thailand, Pradit Sintawanarong, ccording to the latest report from Indian was quoted as having said that gloves exports will market research firm Konsept Analytics (KA), ramp up from 20 billion baht to 50 billion baht the rubber gloves sector remained unperturbed over the next five years, making the country a close in 2012, despite the Eurozone crisis. There were contender to Malaysia. some regions that were previously reported to have Since more than 12 billion gloves o f c a p a c i t y low penetration for gloves but with health and has been added in the last 10 months i n A s i a safety regulations being imposed on the healthcare (with several new projects currently a r e u n d e r and food industries, use of gloves has become way and expect ed t o come online soon ) , t h e imperative. sect or will experience an overcapacit y si t ua t i on . The research firm says that other key factors This is furt her affirmed b y t he lar gest that generated demand for gloves were increasing maker of gloves in the world, Top G l o v e , t h a t healthcare reforms that are adopting more stringent said recent ly it is consolidat ing it s o pera t i on s regulations in the light of emerging diseases like in China where it has two vinyl fact o r i e s . the H1N1 as well as decreasing material costs. With According t o C h a i rma n natural rubber having posted Tan Sri Lim W e e C h a i , significant price increases “…key factors that t he firm will be more over the last two years, generated demand for caut ious ab ou t expa n d i n g manufacturers have turned to it s b usiness a n d w o ul d the use of nitrile rubber, says gloves were increasing inst ead focus on KA. improving th e q u a l i t y The report cites Malaysia healthcare reforms…” of its product s a n d m i x as still dominating the global rat her t han ramping up product ion c a pa c i t y i n glove market, with the presence of the four top t he 2014 financial y ear. The compan y’ s c urren t rubber gloves manufacturers globally namely Top utilisation rates are 90% for nitrile g l o v e s , 8 0 % Glove, Supermax, Kossan and Hartalega. for latex gloves and 50% for vinyl gl o v e s . I t w i l l The report says that the country, being one of the also readjust it s hig h surg ical g love pro d uc t i o n largest producers of natural rubber, affords these volume as it has fulfilled a supply c o n t r a c t t o manufacturers an advantage in terms of raw material Africa. Nit rile g loves cont inue t o b e t h e grow t h availability as well as access to R&D capabilities as driver, t houg h t he firm had a 40% gro w t h part of the support given by the government. volume this year, slower than last y e a r ’ s 6 5 % Me a n w h i l e ac c ord in g to A mRes earc h , in growth. 2 0 1 2 , Ma l a y si a ex p orted 100 billion p iec es of
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5 November / December 2013
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Rubber Journal Asia Gloves Industry Zeon’s Nipol ME Series gloves do not contain the proteins found in NRL
Meanwhile, Ho describes the prerequisites for coalescing of the latex particles and film formation. “There is a minimum film forming temperature (corresponding to Tg) and also above 0°C to be observed and applied. Sufficient adhesion between adjacent latex particles for inter-particles fusion to occur and film to develop mechanical and barrier properties is needed. The rate of coalescence of latex particles depends on rate of inter-diffusion of polymer molecules across interface (molecular size, chemical) nature of the polymer and thermal energy of the ambient and the process drying rate.” Latex dipping, while it is a rather sophisticated method that requires “lots of engineering innovation for sophisticated high-speed dipping machine”, is likewise presented as a measure to improve a glove’s efficiency as a barrier device. Ho adds that the latex’s surface treatment by coating polymeric lubricating layer could improve lubricity for donning. The coating should not delaminate from surface upon stretching and usage, he stresses.
Compatriot Zeon Corporation has also started marketing its new polyisoprene rubber, which is incorporated with polyisoprene emulsion using the company’s proprietary emulsion production technology. The Nipol ME Series is suitable for highly pliant, tight-fitting products that require tensile strength and tear strength equivalent to natural rubber, says the Japanese firm. It adds that the Nipol ME Series does not contain the proteins found in NRL, making it a suitable material for surgical gloves.
Effective barriers against pathogens rom minimising risks to causing allergies, the latex in gloves has to be an effective barrier device. This was emphasised by Professor Ho Chee Cheong, an adjunct professor at the University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia, in his presentation at the latex conference. He says that the latex material has to form a The latex material has to form a continuous film to be an effective continuous film for protection against pathogens barrier device, according to Prof Ho Chee Cheong of UTAR, Malaysia (barrier property); be mechanically strong and Meanwhile, Aik Hwee Eng, from Ansell elastic; hydrophilic (compatible with damp skin); Malaysia said that the firm has innovated its first and should be soft and conform to the contour of antibacterial infection the hand. He added that protection medical glove. when the latex glove is worn, “….the allergenic factor of He said that medical gloves it has to exhibit low surface with an anti-bacterial friction against skin, with rubber gloves is rooted in coating on the outside minimal surface contact with the protein content of raw surface will be playing a the skin. big role in the healthcare “The Initial contact latex….” setting. between latex particles “ This proprietary achieved by gelation anti-bacterial coating is fast-acting, capable of (chemical means) is followed by inter-particle reducing the bacterial load when in contact with diffusion of rubber molecules. Cross-linking contaminated surface such as a dirty hand during of rubber molecules – network formation and dispensing or any surface during use. The relevance mechanical strength development is enabled. A of this glove in the healthcare setting is vital in complete fusion/coalescence of latex particles gives reducing the transmission of pathogens by gloved a continuous, coherent film without any residual hands that could cause the healthcare-associated structures,” he says in his presentation at the infections,” he explained. conference.
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7 November / December 2013
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