Gester Instruments | Professional Textile Testing Equipment Manufacturers Since 1997
What is the Safety Glove & Shoe Upper Cutting Tester GT-KC29
What is the Safety Glove & Shoe Upper Cutting Tester GT-KC29
In sectors such as industrial manufacturing, construction engineering, metal processing, and outdoor operations, hand and foot protection is paramount. The cut resistance of gloves and shoe uppers directly impacts the safety margin for users in demanding work environments. To ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) meets international standards, manufacturers must employ high-precision specialist testing instruments to rigorously assess material cut resistance.
The Safety Glove & Shoe Upper Cutting Tester GT-KC29 complies with multiple international and regional standards. It simulates the cutting behaviour of blades on materials during actual use, providing a reliable basis for assessing the protective ratings of glove and footwear materials.
I. Increasing Demand for Cut Protection in Personal Protective Equipment
With increasing automation and mechanisation in industrial sectors, the frequency of using sharp tools, metal edges, and glass materials in work environments has markedly risen. Consequently, incidents of lacerations are also on the rise.
As the primary layer of human protection, the cut resistance of gloves and shoe uppers directly determines workers' safety levels. To reduce accident rates, industries are imposing increasingly stringent requirements on safety gloves and footwear. Authoritative testing equipment ensures:
Reliable material quality and stable performance
Compliance with international certification standards
Comparability between materials from different brands
Mitigation of quality risks prior to product launch
The EN 388 Safety Glove Cutting Tester employs high-precision cutting simulation technology to comprehensively evaluate a material's cut resistance in real-world working conditions, providing foundational assurance for manufacturers seeking to enhance product competitiveness.
II. Scope of Application: Professional Cut Performance Testing for Glove and Upper Materials
The EN 388 Safety Glove Cutting Tester primarily assesses the cut resistance of two major categories of protective materials:
1. Safety Glove Materials
The equipment is suitable for most flexible protective glove materials, including:
Cut-resistant gloves
Industrial safety gloves
Protective fibre materials (e.g., high-strength polyethylene (HPPE), Kevlar, glass fibre composites)
Lightweight and medium-duty gloves for industrial operations
However, it must be specifically noted:
This equipment is unsuitable for gloves made from rigid materials, such as metal mesh gloves or hardened leather-reinforced gloves. Therefore, material type must be confirmed prior to testing to ensure accurate results and prevent equipment damage.
2. Shoe Upper Materials
Used to assess the cut resistance of uppers in safety footwear, work boots, outdoor footwear, etc. Applicable materials include:
Leather uppers
Synthetic material uppers
Composite protective materials
Coated fibre fabrics
By simulating blade movement, the test verifies whether the upper effectively prevents sharp objects from penetrating, thereby safeguarding the wearer's feet.
III. Compliance with Multiple International and Regional Mandatory Standards
The safety glove shoe upper cutting tester adheres to authoritative testing standards of multiple nations, ensuring test results are authoritative and applicable for product certification, factory inspection, and R&D validation.
Primary standards met by the equipment include:
EN 388 section 6.2: European standard for cut resistance testing of industrial safety gloves
ISO 20344:2021 section 5.23: General test methods for footwear, covering cut resistance testing for safety and occupational footwear
GB/T 20991 section 6.14: Chinese test methods for footwear
AS/NZS 2210.2 section 6.14: Australian/New Zealand safety footwear testing standard
AQ 6102 section 4.3.2: Specific Industry Protective Glove Standard
These standards cover major global markets, enabling manufacturers to successfully obtain international certification and enhance product export competitiveness.
IV. Test Principle
The safety glove shoe upper cutting tester employs a standardised cutting test principle:
1. Utilisation of a Spinning Round Cutter
The instrument is equipped with a high-speed rotating circular blade that applies continuous cutting action to the sample under specified pressure.
2. Reciprocating motion under specified load
The blade performs reciprocating cuts under applied weight, simulating the repeated friction and cutting stresses materials endure during practical operation.
3. Auto-count device
The equipment automatically records the number of cycles required for the blade to reciprocate until sample failure. Testing ceases automatically upon completion, ensuring safety and accuracy.
4. Determination of Cutting Index
By comparing blade wear levels and cutting cycles before and after testing, the material's Cutting Performance Index is derived.
The testing principle offers the following advantages:
- Realistic simulation of operational conditions
- High repeatability of test standards
- High automation reduces human error
- Objective, traceable data
V. Key Advantages of Safety Glove Cutting Tester
1. High-Precision Cutting Simulation
High-speed rotating blades combined with a standard loading system accurately replicate material cutting conditions during prolonged use.
2. Automated Control
Automatic counting and shutdown ensure stable testing, eliminating deviations from manual judgement.
3. Multi-Standard Compatibility
Meets certification requirements for diverse regions and products across the glove and footwear industries.
4. User-Friendly Operation and Enhanced Safety
Intuitive equipment layout and intuitive interface. Automatic shutdown upon test completion prevents operator injury.
5. Consistent Repeatability and Measurement Reliability
Crucial for R&D, quality control, and laboratory analysis.
VI. Typical Application Scenarios
The safety glove cutting tester delivers critical functionality across multiple sectors:
1. Safety Glove Manufacturers
Used for developing novel cut-resistant materials, upgrading existing product grades, and verifying batch consistency.
2. Safety Footwear and Work Boot Producers
Employed to assess upper material resistance against sharp object penetration, enhancing product durability and safety performance.
3. Inspection Bodies and Third-Party Laboratories
Conducts certification or commissioned testing against EN, ISO, GB, and other standards.
4. In-house laboratories of industrial enterprises
To evaluate whether workers' hand protection equipment meets safety requirements.
5. Educational institutions and research institutes
For materials science and occupational safety research, assisting in developing novel high-strength fibres.
VII. Equipment Value Proposition: Enhancing Protective Material Competitiveness and Safety Ratings
Utilising the safety glove cutting tester not only fulfils regulatory requirements but, crucially, enables enterprises to gain a competitive edge in the market:
1. Enhancing Product Quality
Ensures consistent cut-resistance performance in gloves and footwear, reducing quality complaint risks.
2. Optimising Material R&D
Feedback from cutting data enables adjustments to fibre composition, layering techniques, and coating technologies.
3. Accelerating Certification and Export Procedures
Compliance with EN, ISO, and other standards facilitates international market certification approvals.
4. Strengthening Brand Credibility
High-standard testing equipment demonstrates corporate commitment to product quality, thereby bolstering customer confidence.
Conclusion
The Safety Glove & Shoe Upper Cutting Tester GT-KC29 transcends mere testing apparatus; it is a pivotal technological tool for elevating personal protective equipment quality. Through standardised, professional, and high-precision cutting assessments, it furnishes scientific data support for the production and development of safety gloves and footwear, thereby providing vital safeguards for global users' safety and operational efficiency.
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