Needlers Ltd, one of the UK's leading suppliers of janitorial and personal protection equipment (PPE) to the food manufacturing industry, has developed an innovative, low cost, washable polyester glove liner which is set to solve an industry wide problem – the poor quality and rising cost of throw-away cotton glove liners.
Cotton glove liners are used in their millions, every day, right across the food manufacturing sector. They're worn under vinyl or latex gloves to keep hands warm and to prevent skin irritation. Once used, they're thrown away, because their thin cotton stockinette weave simply won't withstand the thorough and repeated washing required to ensure food safety.
In the last six months however, the cost of cotton has increased by over 50%. This prompted Needlers to work with its suppliers in the Far East to develop an alternative. Needler's new polyester glove liners provide a higher quality, lower cost and washable alternative which is set to become the new industry standard, as Alistair Needler, Managing Director of Needlers explains…
“It's not overstating the case to say that our new polyester glove liners are revolutionary. The industry has been putting up with poorly made cotton gloves, with their inherent foreign body risk, for years. Our new, non-linting glove liners will save customers 30%, don't use up valuable cotton crops and, because they can be washed and re-used up to 15 times, will ultimately reduce the number of used glove liners going to landfill, saving money and helping to improve the environment.”
After each use, the glove liners should be placed in the bar-coded wash bag provided. This is then sealed and can be laundered in the same wash cycle as other work wear. The gloves are dried in the wash bag too and delivered, sealed, back to site. This system has been trialled successfully with work wear laundry experts: Johnson Apparelmaster, Cannon and Sunlight.
Alistair Needler continues…
“In short, our new polyester glove liners are warmer, cheaper, safer and less harmful to the environment. Two of our customers, Bakkavor and 2 Sisters have already switched to the new glove liners and we expect many more to follow shortly. It's satisfying to have been able to source and develop a really innovative solution to a difficult and widespread problem.”
Needlers Ltd is one of the largest suppliers of janitorial and PPE to the food manufacturing sector, with Bakkavor Group, 2 Sisters, Greencore and ABP among the company's high profile, national accounts. Needlers prides itself on offering outstanding customer service, and makes daily deliveries across the UK using its own fleet of distribution vehicles.
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.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
