What Are PU Coated Gloves? | Polyurethane Work Gloves NZ
What Are PU Coated Gloves? A Guide to Polyurethane Work Gloves
Choosing the right work gloves isn't simply about protecting your hands. The gloves also need to suit the job being performed.
For many general handling tasks, workers need gloves that provide grip and protection while still allowing them to comfortably handle cartons, tools, components and small objects.
This is where PU coated gloves, also known as polyurethane coated gloves, can be an excellent choice.
PU coated work gloves combine a lightweight fabric liner with a polyurethane coating to provide a practical balance of grip, dexterity, flexibility and comfort.
But what exactly are PU coated gloves, and what types of work are they best suited to?
What Does PU Coated Mean?
PU stands for polyurethane.
In a PU coated work glove, a knitted fabric liner is combined with a polyurethane coating, usually across the palm and fingers.
The liner provides the fit, flexibility and comfort of the glove, while the PU coating provides a more durable gripping surface for handling objects.
The result is a relatively lightweight work glove that allows good finger movement while providing better grip and durability than an uncoated fabric glove.
What Are PU Coated Gloves Used For?
PU coated gloves are particularly useful for general handling and precision tasks where dexterity is important.
Typical applications can include:
- Warehousing and distribution
- Picking and packing
- Assembly work
- Manufacturing
- Light engineering
- Maintenance
- Horticulture and orchard work
- Handling small parts and components
- General workplace handling
The correct glove should always be selected according to the task and the hazards involved.
For businesses looking for a lightweight reusable general handling glove, Hygiene Direct supplies Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves.
Why Is Dexterity Important in a Work Glove?
Some jobs require heavy-duty hand protection. Others require workers to retain as much control and finger movement as possible.
Someone picking products in a warehouse, assembling components or handling small parts, for example, may find a bulky glove makes the job more difficult.
A close-fitting PU coated glove can provide a useful balance between hand protection and the ability to perform precise tasks.
The Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Glove has a breathable nylon construction, snug fit and flexible polyurethane coating designed for precise general handling work.
This makes it particularly useful where employees need to wear gloves while still being able to comfortably grip and manipulate objects.
What Are the Benefits of Nylon PU Coated Gloves?
The combination of nylon and polyurethane provides several practical advantages for general workplace handling.
Dexterity
The lightweight construction allows good finger movement, making PU coated gloves suitable for precision handling.
Grip
The polyurethane-coated surface helps provide a practical gripping surface when handling products, tools and components.
Comfort
A breathable nylon liner can be more comfortable during extended periods of use than heavier work gloves.
Close fit
The snug fit helps reduce excess material around the fingers, which can be particularly useful when handling smaller objects.
Reusable
Unlike disposable gloves, PU coated work gloves are designed to be reused when appropriate for the application and condition of the glove.
Are PU Coated Gloves Reusable?
Yes, PU coated work gloves such as the Bastion Messina are designed as reusable general handling gloves rather than single-use disposable gloves.
That makes them quite different from the disposable nitrile and vinyl gloves commonly used for cleaning, hygiene, food handling and other applications.
The important point is that reusable and disposable gloves perform different jobs.
If the task is picking cartons in a warehouse or handling components, a reusable PU coated glove may make considerably more sense than continually replacing disposable gloves.
If the task requires a disposable barrier or protection appropriate to a particular substance, a different glove may be required.
PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves
This is an area where it's easy to become confused because both types can be described as workplace or industrial gloves.
However, PU coated nylon gloves and disposable nitrile gloves are quite different products.
PU coated gloves are generally designed for reusable general handling applications where grip, flexibility and dexterity are important.
Disposable nitrile gloves provide a disposable barrier around the hand and are used across a wide variety of cleaning, hygiene, healthcare, food handling and industrial applications, depending on the specifications of the particular glove.
Neither is automatically "better". The right choice depends on what you're asking the glove to do.
We'll look at these differences in more detail in our separate guide, PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves: What's the Difference?
Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?
This is an important distinction, particularly for businesses purchasing gloves for cleaners and maintenance teams.
You should not assume a glove is chemical resistant simply because it has a polyurethane coating.
The Bastion Messina is designed as a general handling glove. It should not be promoted or selected as a chemical-resistant glove unless appropriate chemical-resistance certification and manufacturer information specifically support the intended use.
If employees are handling cleaning chemicals or other substances requiring chemical protection, the glove should be selected according to the particular chemical, concentration, exposure and glove manufacturer's specifications.
We'll explain this in more detail in Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?
Introducing Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
Hygiene Direct's Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves are a practical option for New Zealand workplaces requiring comfortable, reusable gloves for general handling and precision tasks.
The Messina features:
- 13-gauge nylon construction
- Grey polyurethane coating
- Lightweight and breathable design
- Snug fit
- Good flexibility and dexterity
- Colour-coded wrist bands for easy size identification
- Sizes from Small through to XX-Large
They're particularly suited to businesses involved in warehousing, distribution, picking and packing, assembly, manufacturing, light engineering, maintenance and other general handling work.
How Do You Choose the Right Work Glove?
There isn't one type of glove that's right for every workplace or every job.
Before selecting work gloves, consider:
- What will the person actually be handling?
- Is dexterity important?
- How much grip is required?
- Is the work wet or dry?
- Are chemicals involved?
- Are there cut, puncture, heat or other hazards?
- Does the glove need to be disposable or reusable?
- What glove size provides the correct fit?
For straightforward general handling and precision tasks where comfort, grip and dexterity are important, a PU coated nylon glove can be an excellent option.
For applications involving different hazards, another type of glove may be more appropriate.
Bastion Messina PU Coated Gloves from Hygiene Direct
The Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Glove gives businesses a lightweight, comfortable and reusable option for everyday general handling work.
Shop Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
Not sure which glove is right for your application? Contact Hygiene Direct and we can help you select an appropriate glove for the job.
Related Articles
- How to Choose the Right Gloves for General Handling Work
- PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves: What's the Difference?
- Best Gloves for Warehousing, Picking, Packing & Assembly Work
- Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?