Gloves are an essential element of protective equipment (PPE). For gloves to fit perfectly and provide maximum safety in the workplace, their length and circumference measurements have to match those of the wearer's hands as closely as possible. Data of this kind is kept in a database that is maintained by the Hohenstein Institute in Boennigheim and is available to manufacturers.

Experts from the Hohenstein Institute will be measuring the hands of visitors to the show at the Seiz Technical Gloves stand at the Interschutz exhibition from 8-18 June 2015 in order to expand this database.

The measuring process, which takes only a few minutes, uses the latest 3D scanner technology. This makes it possible to record and analyse 48 measurements of the length and circumference of a hand, quickly and accurately.

Dimensions of people’s hands

As well as recording the dimensions of people's hands, this innovative digital method also allows various average-sized hands to be defined. In a complex process using special 3D software, the measurements of all the hands that one glove size is supposed to fit can be aggregated.

The results are virtual 3D mouldings, which represent a glove size not only in its measurable dimensions but also in its three-dimensional form.

Further improving fit

In a further step, these average hands can be used not only for virtual fit testing but also for analysing various clothing physiology aspects, the Institute reports.

For Managing Director Rainer Seiz, the measurements and the resulting data represent an important step in further improving fit. “The DIN EN 420 standard only specifies hand circumference and length for protective gloves,” he said.

“The Hohenstein Institute database contains significantly more information, such as the relationship between hand circumference and finger length, finger circumferences and even three-dimensional information about shape. This enables us to make our products meet our customers' requirements exactly – to fit like a glove, in fact.”

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