The five-axis decision
When a distributor or MRO buyer briefs AB Leather on an RFQ, the conversation resolves along five axes. Each axis narrows the next, and each requires a specific piece of documented evidence before a quote is issued.
Axis 1, Hazard profile
Write a single sentence that names the dominant hazard and the working environment. Examples that make an RFQ actionable:
- "Steel stamping cell, cut exposure from sheared edges, no heat, 8-hour shift, re-issued every 3 days."
- "MIG welding, 180–220 A, splash and radiant heat, forearm protection required."
- "Warehouse order-picking, abrasion only, wet concrete floor, cold-chain facility at 4 °C."
A one-line hazard statement collapses six follow-up questions into zero. It also dictates whether EN 407 (heat), EN 511 (cold), or only EN 388 (mechanical) applies.
Axis 2, Leather type
Leather is the single biggest driver of glove performance and cost. The mapping AB Leather uses with buyers:
| Hazard | Recommended leather | Why |
|---|---|---|
| General MRO, abrasion | Cowhide grain | Balanced abrasion, cost, dexterity |
| Cost-sensitive TIG welding | Cowhide split | High heat resistance per dollar |
| Cut + dexterity | Goatskin | Dense fibre, thinner profile |
| Oil, wet, hydrocarbon | Pigskin | Stays supple when wet, doesn't harden |
| Heavy MIG / stick welding | Horsehide or cow split | Highest abrasion + heat durability |
Axis 3, Certification set
The certification set must be specified explicitly on the PO, not left to the factory to infer. The minimum set for a cut-resistant leather work glove supplied to the EU is:
- EN 388 with the four-digit score and the ISO 13997 letter grade (e.g., 4544C).
- EN ISO 21420:2020 for sizing, dexterity, and innocuousness.
- EN 407 where heat or flame is part of the job.
- REACH Annex XVII / Prop 65 for chemical compliance on US and EU shipments.
AB Leather ships every lot with the third-party ISO 17025 lab report that underwrites the pictogram. Insist on the lab name (SATRA, TÜV, BSI, INSPEC), the test date, and the sample description before approving a first article.
Axis 4, Construction
- Thumb: keystone for grip-heavy tasks; wing for general use; straight for lowest cost.
- Cuff: gauntlet (10–15 cm) for welding and splash; safety cuff (6 cm) for general MRO; knit wrist for assembly.
- Stitching: Kevlar thread on any glove claiming cut or heat resistance; cotton/polyester on general use.
- Reinforcement: double palm for abrasion-heavy cycles; palm-crotch patch for pinch points; index-finger overlay for trigger-heavy tools.
Axis 5, Size mix and MOQ
Close the RFQ by locking the size mix against the EN ISO 21420:2020 chart and the MOQ. AB Leather's standard MOQ is 500 pairs per SKU; sub-MOQ is available on catalogue items. See the glove sizing chart guide for the recommended regional size distribution.
The evidence bundle AB Leather ships with every lot
- Third-party ISO 17025 lab report for EN 388 and, where applicable, EN 407.
- Certificate of conformity with lot number, SKU, and QC signature.
- Material declaration (REACH, Prop 65, CMR substances).
- Size-check sheet (2-of-100 random sample against EN ISO 21420:2020 circumference).
- Tannery traceability card: drum number, leather type, tanning date.
When to disqualify a supplier
- They supply a "certificate of conformity" instead of a named third-party lab report.
- The lab report pre-dates the stated manufacture date by more than 36 months.
- The EN 388 score lacks the ISO 13997 letter (older glove, tested against the 2003 standard only).
- Size labelling uses only S/M/L/XL with no EN ISO 21420:2020 size digit.
- They cannot identify the tannery or drum that produced the leather.