Lawatan Sambil Belajar Secara Atas Talian Bersama Top Glove Berhad

A knowledge transfer program between an experienced Executive from Top Glove Berhad (Noor Syamiza bt Noor Lizan) and JKPK students. Students were exposed to the basic knowledges of Rubber and Nitrile Glove Production in Top Glove. Program was organized on 24 Mac 2021 via online session.

Top Glove was established in 1991 and headquartered in Malaysia, Top Glove Corporation Bhd is the world’s largest manufacturer of gloves. What started as only a local business enterprise with 1 factory and 1 glove production line, has today captured 26% of the world market share for rubber gloves. The company has manufacturing operations in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and China. It also has marketing offices in these countries as well as USA, Germany and Brazil and exports to over 2,000 customers in 195 countries worldwide

Rubber Glove Production Process

Former Cleaning

Before the latex can be process to the coagulant dipping process into hand-shaped, the glove formers need to be cleaned before it can be used to form hand-shaped latex gloves. A quality production of exam gloves includes the environment of latex glove factory is clean. This also means glove formers must be cleaned to ensure there is no dirt or debris anywhere because it will affect the final product to possibly have defects like holes. Firstly, glove former must be dipping into an acid bath and then rinse with clean water. Secondly, an alkaline bath is used by dipping the glove formers in them to neutralize the acid and again rinsed in clean water. Lastly, an important step that is the glove formers are brushed to ensure the surface of the glove formers is consistent and eliminate pinholes on the latex gloves after it form.

Coagulant Dipping

After the glove former is cleaned, it will be coated with coagulant (eg. calcium nitrate) and be dipped into the coagulant bath to help the latex mixture adhere to the formers and to help ensure the latex is distributed evenly. The glove formers are dipped into the coagulant tank to extract the protein from the previous glove dipping and this dipping is done once for every production cycle.

Drying

Drying is one of the stations in production process of latex gloves manufacturing whereby the coagulant converts the liquid latex film into a wet-gel on the glove formers and will eventually travel through a series of ovens to dry the gloves and end the coagulation process. In brief, it is a process of drying the gloves from wet to readymade gloves.

Latex Dipping

Latex dipping is one of the stations in the production process of latex gloves manufacturing and the tank is filled with compounded latex. A latex layer will be formed on the glove former after it goes through this tank. The thickness of the latex glove is determined at the coagulating and dipping stage. The longer the time the glove former travels in the coagulant tank, the thicker the latex gloves will be formed.

Leaching

This leaching stage can called as the pre-vulcanization leaching. It also known as “wet gel leaching”. Residual chemicals and proteins on the surface of the gloves are put into the leaching process to be removed after the drying of latex mixture. A longer leaching line can wash out latex proteins more effectively. Besides that, the water must be hot and fresh enough to make the proteins dissolve better. This step is a critical step to minimize the occurrence of latex sensitivity. The water temperature, process duration, and water exchange rate will affect the effectiveness of the process. Good leaching line can result in a good and quality latex glove.

Beading

Beading is a process whereby up to a dozen chemicals are added to help in next manufacturing process of latex gloves. The chemicals added are antioxidant that prevents deterioration of the rubber molecules in the final product by heat, moisture, and ozone. Chemical accelerators are also added to help control the next vulcanization process.

Vulcanization

One of the discovery key in manufacturing rubber is the vulcanization process. It is a curing process in the production process of latex gloves whereby the latex particles are modified by adding in accelerator chemicals to it. When all the materials are heated, sulfur atoms are chained with the rubber molecules to form a cross-link that gives strengths and elasticity to the physical properties of the rubber. This process ensures the rubber will not be torn and melt easily.

Post Leaching

This process is similar to the wet-film leaching previously, but it is a little different whereby it is carried out on the dry/vulcanized latex film. Therefore, it is also known as “dry-film” leaching. Time and temperature is the most important element to ensure effectiveness in the process of water extractives reduction.