If you keep tearing gloves just getting them on, you are wearing the wrong grade. AMMEX GlovePlus black nitrile industrial gloves are built for the opposite problem - a 5 mil palm and 6 mil fingertip that takes grease, solvent and abrasion without splitting. This is the XXL size, sold as a case of 1,000 (part GPNB49), for the hands most brands stop short of.
These are industrial grade: manufactured to AQL 4.0 under AMMEX's ISO 9001:2015 quality system. They are not exam gloves and carry no FDA 510(k) clearance, so they are not for patient care. They do meet FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 for food-contact rubber, along with REACH and California Prop 65 - which is why they show up in kitchens and food plants as often as in shops.
Exam grade or industrial grade - which one do you actually need?
Both grades are nitrile, both are powder free and latex free, and both come off the same kind of production line. The difference is defect tolerance and regulatory status, and it decides which jobs a glove is legal and sensible to use for.
- Exam grade (the AMMEX ABNPF series) is made to AQL 1.5, tested to ASTM D6319, and holds FDA 510(k) clearance as a Class I medical device. AMMEX also holds ISO 13485:2016 for it. That is the only one of the two you can use for patient care and bodily-fluid exposure. It runs thinner - about 3 mil at the palm - for tactile feel.
- Industrial grade (the AMMEX GlovePlus GPNB series) is made to AQL 4.0 under ISO 9001:2015, with no 510(k) clearance. It allows more pinhole defects per batch, but it is built thicker - about 5 mil at the palm and 6 mil at the fingertip - so it stands up better to automotive, janitorial and chemical handling work.
Short version: if there is any chance of blood or bodily fluid, buy exam grade. If the risk is grease, solvent and abrasion, buy industrial grade and get the extra thickness. Both series meet FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 for food-contact rubber, so either can be used for food handling.
Built for
- Automotive and mechanical work. Oil, grease, brake dust and parts handling, where a 3 mil glove is gone in ten minutes.
- Janitorial and restroom cleaning. Chemical handling and heavy soil across a full route.
- Plant and facility maintenance. General-purpose hand protection with enough thickness to survive a shift.
- Food handling and prep. Meets 21 CFR 177.2600 for food-contact rubber.
- Painting, staining and finishing. Solvent and pigment work where you throw the glove away, not wash it.
Why the thickness matters
Shop crews are consistent about this on the trade forums: the value of a thicker industrial nitrile is that it survives donning and survives the job. A thin glove that tears while you are pulling it on costs you a glove and the time to get another. A 5 mil palm with a 6 mil fingertip means fewer changes per shift, which usually costs less over a case than the cheaper thin glove does. The other thing crews mention: black hides grease, so a glove stays presentable long enough to actually wear out.
Fit and feel
Powder free and latex free. Textured for grip on oily parts and wet surfaces, polymer coated so they go on dry hands without powder, with a beaded cuff and a minimum 240 mm length. Non-sterile, single use, ambidextrous.
About XXL
Most disposable glove lines stop at XL. GlovePlus runs S through XXL, and GPNB49 is the XXL - which is the difference between a crew member wearing the right glove and stretching an XL until it splits at the web of the thumb. If you run a mixed crew, keeping a case of XXL on the shelf alongside your standard sizes usually pays for itself in gloves not wasted.
Specifications
- Grade: Industrial. AQL 4.0
- Quality system: ISO 9001:2015
- Food contact: FDA 21 CFR 177.2600. Also REACH and California Prop 65 compliant
- Material: nitrile. Latex free, powder free
- Thickness: cuff 4 mil, palm 5 mil, finger 6 mil
- Surface: textured, polymer coated, beaded cuff, ambidextrous, non-sterile, single use
- Minimum length: 240 mm (9.5 in)
- Tensile strength: 14 MPa minimum
- Size: XXL. Color: black
- Pack: 100 gloves per box, 10 boxes per case - 1,000 gloves per case
Frequently asked questions
Can I use these for medical or patient care?
No. These are industrial grade, made to AQL 4.0, with no FDA 510(k) clearance. For patient care or bodily-fluid exposure, use an exam-grade glove such as the AMMEX ABNPF series.
How thick are they?
5 mil at the palm and 6 mil at the fingertip, with a 4 mil cuff. That is noticeably heavier than a 3 mil exam glove.
Are they food safe?
Yes. The material meets FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 for food-contact rubber articles.
What is the difference between industrial and exam grade?
Defect tolerance and regulatory status. Industrial is AQL 4.0 with no medical clearance but greater thickness. Exam is AQL 1.5, ASTM D6319 and FDA 510(k) cleared, and runs thinner.
How many are in a case?
1,000 gloves - 100 per box, 10 boxes per case.
Do they contain latex or powder?
Neither. They are nitrile, latex free and powder free, with a polymer coating so they still slide on easily.
Discount Cleaning Products stocks the AMMEX GlovePlus line by the case in every size through XXL, and we carry the exam-grade ABNPF series alongside it if your work needs medical clearance rather than thickness. Our US-based team can help you set up a standing order across the sizes your crew actually wears.
