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.
67%
of AB Leather RFQs with an incomplete hazard profile require a revised quote after first-article testing. Specifying the hazard up front compresses lead time by roughly 10 working days.
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 420 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 420 chart and the MOQ. AB Leather's standard MOQ is 500 pairs per SKU; sub-MOQ is available on catalog 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 420 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 420 digit.
- They cannot identify the tannery or drum that produced the leather.