Otect, part of the PH Group company and a cleanroom consumables manufacturer, is on a mission to redefine cleanroom safety with its latest product, the N310, a cleanroom glove system.
"Otect N310 is the first of its kind in the cleanroom industry, and by using SafeDon packing technology it sets a new standard for cleanroom gloves. Not only does it significantly reduce cross-contamination and glove bioburden, but it also makes the dispensing and donning of gloves faster and more efficient," James Sira, Director of the PH Group, said.
It is widely agreed that the most significant source of contamination in cleanrooms is people's handling of gloves in the gowning areas.
"Plus, it helps us cut down on glove wastage, provides substantial logistics savings, and even lowers our transportation carbon emissions," Sira added.
It is widely agreed that the most significant source of contamination in cleanrooms is people's handling of gloves in the gowning areas. So, despite the use of gloves, accidental contamination via the hands of personnel remains a risk for many industries where the highest levels of cleanliness are necessary.
The "upside-down" unique feature
PH Group's SafeDon cuff-first dispensing technology was launched in 2012. After 3 years of research and development, Otect managed to successfully apply the packing technology to cleanroom gloves, launching N310 Cleanroom Glove System this year.
The N310 Cleanroom Glove System utilises the SafeDon cuff-first dispensing technology to present cleanroom gloves cuff first, ensuring only one glove is dispensed at a time. This also prevents personnel from touching the glove’s most critical surfaces (thumb, fingers, and palm) when dispensing and putting on gloves, reducing the Bioburden on the gloves by up to 96%.
The gloves are also dispensed downwards and tightly enclosed to ensure no airborne particles of dust will settle inside the dispenser or on the gloves.
By bringing this technology into the cleanroom industry, we see we can make a difference by reducing the bioburden of cleanroom gloves
James Sira, Director of PH Group, said: "SafeDon was initially developed to combat hospital-acquired infections by minimising cross-contamination from handling all parts of the gloves during dispensing. We recognised that our glove packing technology could revolutionise the cleanroom industry, where glove dispensing methods have remained unchanged for decades."
"By bringing this technology into the cleanroom industry, we see we can make a difference by reducing the bioburden of cleanroom gloves, improving the user experience of dispensing and donning, and reducing the environmental impact of gloves in the cleanroom industry," Sira continued.
Otect N310 is available in sizes S to XL, currently in white nitrile 300mm ISO Class 5. Otect is developing the range of cuff-first dispensing gloves to cater to other product requirements.
Demonstrating contamination on cleanroom gloves
Who is the product for?
Otect N310 can cater to diverse industries that work within critical environments: semiconductor, biotechnology, medical devices, electronic manufacturing, pharmaceutical, aerospace, food, and life sciences to name a few.
Otect N310 can cater to diverse industries that work within critical environments
"Gloves packed by SafeDon technology are extensively used in healthcare settings, industrial markets, and the food sector. We're now extending these benefits to the cleanroom market, so professionals in critical environments can also enjoy their advantages," Sira added.
Sustainability considerations
The Otect N310 prevents glove wastage through its one-glove-at-a-time dispensing mechanism, which also provides a more eco-friendly alternative to the traditional bulk layering of gloves in a dispenser, causing multiple gloves to fall out when one glove is pulled for use.
The additional gloves must then be discarded especially if they are intended for use in a cleanroom setting.
The Otect N310 prevents glove wastage by being compact, up to 40% smaller than the average glove format
Further, the compact format of Otect N310 enables more gloves to be transported and stored per cubic metre, reducing CO2 emissions per glove during sea, road, and air freight.
In turn, this makes local distribution centres more efficient, allowing for significant cost and carbon savings.
“The glove industry has continued to use the same packaging solutions since gloves were first used, we are providing an innovative way of using these products that is better for the entire supply chain and the environment. We work with partners across the industry to analyse their current gloves products consumption and demonstrated the undeniable savings and benefits our solutions can deliver. We have also been building ESG study case for a few years now, helping our customers to reach their environmental goals,” Sira concluded.
Image credit: Both images courtesy of Otect, part of the PH Group