YAN Xue Feng: "We are developing new technologies for protective gloves, aiming at improving comfort, durability and protection performance"
In February 2021, COVERGUARD joined forces with SAFETY-INXS, a company located in Nantong near Shanghai. This company, specialized in the design and production of seamless gloves, also has a cutting-edge R&D laboratory, which COVERGUARD teams rely on to develop high-performance gloves. Meet YAN Xue Feng, Director of the SAFETY-INXS/COVERGUARD Research & Development Center.
Can you introduce yourself and explain what is your job?
Yan Xue Feng: My name is YAN Xue Feng and I am the director of the Technical Research Center for Protective Gloves at Safety-INXS/Coverguard. I have also been a professor at Nantong University for more than 20 years teaching course related to textile, spinning and textile enterprise management. In addition, I am also an active member of several industry associations, including director of the glass fiber branch of the China Silicate Society, member of the Cotton Weaving Committee, and deputy director of the Nantong Textile Standards and Testing Technology Committee.
What is your role at INXS? What does your job involve?
Yan Xue Feng: In the Technical Research Center of Protective Glove, I manage the R&D unit, the testing center, the intellectual property department and the certification department. In total, nearly 16 people work with me on the development of high-performance gloves.
My job has been to develop an internationally competitive R&D department by surrounding myself with the best engineers. Together, we are developing new technologies for protective gloves, aiming at improving comfort, durability and protection performance of the products offered by Safety-INXS/Coverguard. My work also includes all the activities related to the filing of patents, the training of technical personnel, the R&D projects from internal and external, etc.
Could you give us a concrete example of a COVEGUARD product development in your research center?
Yan Xue Feng: We worked with the COVERGUARD teams on the development of the 1HECE00 thermal protection glove. After reading the specifications, our work took place in several stages:
- characterization of the materials and analysis of their performance;
- structural design and molding method test;
- mechanical/thermal performance tests + safety tests; (in-house lab and out-sourced tests);
- user testing;
- product optimization (comfort, style) based on user feedback.
The glove we are offering on the market today is a glove with increased protection against contact heat: 250°C / 15 sec (HOT2) and maximum cut protection CUT F - ANSI 6. In addition, it features high dexterity 4/5 and protects from the risks of dermatitis (liquidproof coating).
What other subjects are you working on today in conjunction with the product teams?
We are also working on a project that will have a great impact on user comfort: perspiration management.
Indeed, the hand is the area of our body with the highest concentration of sweat glands (about 370 glands per square centimeter of skin, compared to an average of 155 glands for the rest of the body). Wearing gloves can encourage sweating. Our project is to provide the best possible knitwear for good perspiration management.
We are currently at the stage of in-house and out sourced tests, and we will soon launch end-users real tests .
