Buyers rarely order “a work glove”. They order a glove for a task — handling glass, moving cartons, cutting sheet metal. The industry determines the coating, the liner and the cut level before price ever enters the conversation.
This guide maps six common industries to a starting specification. Use it to build a brief, then confirm the detail against the sample and test report.
Selection at a glance
| Industry | Typical spec | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Crinkle latex, EN 388 2X42 or higher | Wet and dry grip, abrasion resistance |
| Automotive | Foam nitrile, A2–A3 cut option | Oily parts, dexterity, comfort over a shift |
| Warehousing & logistics | PU or foam nitrile, A1–A2 | Light handling, tactile feel, breathability |
| Glass handling | Cut D–F with sandy grip coating | Sharp edges plus wet/oily grip |
| Metal fabrication | HPPE liner, cut E–F | Sheet material and burred edges |
| Agriculture | Crinkle latex, long cuff option | Wet, outdoor, debris |
Construction
Building materials, tools and outdoor work. The glove meets abrasion constantly — brick, block, timber, tool handles — and often in wet conditions.
Start with: crinkle latex for wet/dry grip and abrasion resistance. Long cuff where debris enters at the wrist.
Watch for: abrasion rating being treated as a formality. On site, position 1 of the EN 388 marking is the one that wears out first.
Automotive
Parts, assembly and maintenance. Oil is present, dexterity matters, and workers wear the glove for a full shift.
Start with: foam nitrile — oil grip without sacrificing breathability. Add an A2–A3 cut option where stamped parts have edges.
Watch for: full-coating nitrile in assembly. It protects against liquid but costs dexterity and comfort over eight hours.
Warehousing & logistics
Cartons, stock and repeated handling. Low cut risk, high repetition — the glove needs to be comfortable and let the wearer feel what they are picking up.
Start with: PU for maximum dexterity, or foam nitrile where light oil is present. A1–A2 cut level.
Watch for: overspecifying cut level. A4+ in a warehouse adds cost and reduces feel for no safety benefit.
Glass handling
Glass surfaces, edges and handling methods. Two requirements collide: cut resistance at the edge, grip on a smooth surface.
Start with: cut D–F with a sandy grip coating. Confirm the cut rating is from an ISO 13997 test, not the older Coupé method, for sharp-edge risk.
Watch for: assuming grip and cut resistance come from the same coating. They usually don’t — check both.
Metal fabrication
Sheet materials, components and burred edges. The highest cut exposure of the six.
Start with: HPPE liner at cut E–F. Coating choice follows the handling — nitrile for oily sheet, latex for dry.
Watch for: the difference between “cut resistant” and “cut proof”. No glove is cut proof, and the test report states the level achieved, not an absolute.
Agriculture
Crops, equipment and outdoor tasks. Wet, abrasive and often at wrist height.
Start with: crinkle latex, long cuff option. The crinkle finish sheds water and mud better than a smooth coating.
Watch for: seasonal volume swings. Confirm lead time against your harvest window, not against a generic quote.
How to turn this into a brief
A supplier can quote accurately only if the brief covers four things:
- Coating & finish — the family and the surface
- Liner & fit — material, gauge, cuff, size range
- Coverage & appearance — palm or full, colors, markings
- Performance & documents — required protection and destination market
Send those four, or send a reference glove, and a comparable quotation follows.
Next step
Tell us the industry and the handling task — we’ll propose a construction and support it with model-specific documents before you approve the order.
*Specifications above are starting points for discussion, not fixed product claims. Confirm coating, liner and cut level against the sample and test report for the quoted model.*