The automotive industry is one of the most demanding sectors in terms of selecting personal protective equipment. Employees in production, assembly, paint shops and quality control departments perform tasks that require precision, manual dexterity and hand protection against many threats at the same time.
Selecting protective gloves in the automotive industry is always a compromise between safety, comfort and work efficiency. Which models work best and what is worth paying attention to?
1. What characterizes the work environment in the automotive industry?
The automotive industry covers many areas with different specifics:
- assembly of electronic components and systems,
- contact with metal elements and sharp edges,
- work in a humid or oily environment,
- operation of touch screens, tablets and scanners,
- requirement to maintain cleanliness of details (e.g. no fingerprints, fibers, dirt).
Therefore, in this industry, mainly lightweight, flexible gloves with a precise grip are used, but also resistant to abrasion, cuts and dirt.
2. Recommended types of protective gloves in the automotive industry:
Gloves coated with microfoam nitrile
- Provide excellent grip – even on wet or oily surfaces,
- Breathable – important for long-term work,
- 15G and 18G versions guarantee high dexterity and feel.
Application: precision assembly, work with small parts, logistics.
PU (polyurethane) coated gloves
- Thin, light, very flexible,
- Great tactile feel, ideal for work requiring precision,
- Often used in antistatic versions (ESD).
Application: electronics assembly, work on low-voltage electrical installations.
Cut-resistant gloves (level C–F according to EN 388)
- For workers handling sharp edges (e.g. sheet metal, bodywork),
- HPPE, Kevlar®, glass fiber – various levels of protection,
- Also available in versions with touch and breathable coating.
Application: press shop, metalworking, paint shop, welding lines.
Touchscreen gloves
- They enable the use of tablets, scanners and mobile devices without removing the glove,
- Used in logistics, assembly and quality control departments,
- Saving time and improving work safety.
Application: control departments, internal logistics, traceability.
Dust-free and fiber-free gloves
- They do not leave marks on details,
- They minimize the risk of contamination of sensitive surfaces,
- Versions intended for so-called clean assembly.
Application: finishing assembly, visual inspection, packaging of finished elements.
3. What should you pay attention to when choosing gloves in automotive?
- Dexterity and fit – gloves must not limit precision,
- Level of mechanical protection – adapted to the position (e.g. A–F cut according to EN 388),
- Compliance with ESD standards – when working with electronics,
- Resistance to oils, greases, coolants – when working with metal and machinery,
- Technological cleanliness – no fibers, odors, impurities.
Example models of automotive gloves:
G-REX F 09: https://g-rex.co/en/product/f09-en/
G-REX F 10 OIL: https://g-rex.co/en/product/f10-oil-en/