PARIS, December 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Ansell, a global leader in protection solutions, today announces that it has launched two new additions to its VersaTouch family of products; VersaTouch 37-200 and VersaTouch 37-210, thin, re-usable, nitrile gloves that offer excellent grip in wet or greasy conditions.  With VersaTouch, Ansell brings best-in-class solutions for workers across a wide range of food related applications including agriculture, food processing and food services.

Europe's food industry, which is comprised of approximately 310,000 companies and 4.8 million employees,* is regulated by stringent and complex legislation which demands that workers, their work environment and the food that they process is protected to an extremely high level. Ansell, through its VersaTouch range of gloves, provides employers with peace of mind that they are fully complying with all of these regulatory requirements, while protecting themselves and the food they process from contamination.

VersaTouch replaces the existing proFood® products dedicated to the food industry and builds on more than 30 years of experience in this industry segment. When launched, the VersaTouch (92-200 **) was introduced as a glove range with thin, single-use, nitrile gloves that are highly tear resistant and can be donned easily thanks to the ultra-thin inner coating; These gloves are not chlorinated enabling enhanced grip in dry, wet and fatty conditions while being more environment friendly (*) The two products launched today, VersaTouch 37-200 and VersaTouch 37-210, are thin re-usable gloves that offer excellent grip in wet or greasy conditions, thanks to the Ansell UltraGrip Technology™ are made out of nitrile they pose no risk of Type I allergies, offer superb flexibility even in cold environments and can be used on their own or in combination with cut resistant or thermal gloves.

"As with all Ansell products, VersaTouch gloves have been designed, first and foremost, to enable those who will use and wear them to perform their jobs efficiently, effectively and comfortably," said Céline Défourneaux, VersaTouch category manager at Ansell. "In addition, they offer unrivalled protection for food processing workers, shielding their hands and the food products being handled, while ultimately safeguarding public health."

According to the European Commission, in order to maximise workers' safety and the protection of food stuffs being produced, the correct glove needs to be used depending on the food processing tasks being performed***.  Using the correct glove can help to prevent cuts, repetitive strain injuries and exposure to temperature extremes. The Commission also advises that PVC or vinyl gloves be avoided when handling fatty foodstuffs, due to the risk of leaching by potentially dangerous by products such as "phthalate plasticisers"; premium quality nitrile is the most appropriate material for gloves in contact with foods containing fats or oils, even in low concentrations.

The introduction of the VersaTouch range demonstrates the Ansell culture of innovation and technological advancement, delivering solutions specifically tailored for end-user needs. Through leading research facilities, Ansell is continuously working to develop the next generation of protective solutions and to deliver the utmost in performance, support and safety.

* Source: European Commission, Enterprise and Industry: EU Food Market Overview http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/food/eu-market/index_en.htm  

** Other styles : VersaTouch 92-200/92-210/92-220

*** Good Manufacturing Practices as per Commission Regulation 2023/2006.

About Ansell

Ansell is a world leader in providing superior health and safety protection solutions that enhance human wellbeing.

With operations in North America, Latin America/Caribbean, EMEA and Asia, Ansell employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and holds leading positions in the personal protective equipment and medical gloves market, as well as in the sexual health and wellbeing category worldwide. Ansell operates in four main business segments: Medical Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Specialty Markets and Sexual Wellness.

Information on Ansell and its products can be found at http://www.ansell.com

Ansell Protected, HyFlex, GAMMEX, SKYN et ACTIVARMR are trademarks owned by Ansell Limited or one of its affiliates.