Aerospace environments push PPE to its limits. Blistering heat, oil-soaked components, heavy equipment, and high mechanical stress quickly expose the weaknesses in traditional gloves. At Greene Tweed, crews handling 500–700°F die heads on mold-injection lines were going through their gloves at a rapid pace. Oils degraded materials, heat-compromised grip, and abrasive machinery broke them down. Workers wanted more consistent, durable protection. 

Then, the team trialed HexArmor’s Chrome SLT® 5072 with the next generation of oil-resistant technology, OilGuard®+ – and everything changed.  

The challenge: A reliable glove for extreme heat  

Green Tweed’s safety manager needed a glove solution that could solve four critical problems across their extrusion and mold-injecting applications:   

1. Withstand extreme temperatures from 500–700°F parts 

Crews routinely installed, handled, and broke out die heads straight off the mold-injection line. These were large, weight-intensive parts that remained dangerously hot, radiating extreme heat long after removal, and had to be gripped securely – conditions that accelerated wear on their previous gloves.  

2. Withstand wire-brush heavy machinery  

Once the die heads came off, operators used wire brushes to clean buildup and prep the equipment, exposing gloves to constant abrasion and puncture hazards from sharp metal bristles and rough surfaces. Many gloves wore down here before they ever made it to the next step. 

3. Resist oil saturation from petroleum-based oils and lubricants 

The next step involved a cooling process where the die heads and machine components were heavily coated with petroleum-based oils, making everything slick and difficult to control. Gloves routinely became saturated, soft, and slippery, losing grip strength and structural integrity. Many workers resorted to double-gloving to make grip more manageable even at the risk of higher hand fatigue. 

4. Withstand repeated impact-tool use when removing massive bolts  

Maintenance teams used high-vibration impact tools and heavy hand tools to break loose the massive bolts securing each die head. The constant vibration, torque, and mechanical stress put intense strain on gloves, making durability and palm stability non-negotiable in their next glove.                                    

Faced with these demands, Greene Tweed needed a glove built for high heat, heavy machinery, and oil-heavy applications – and that’s exactly what they found in the Chrome SLT® 5072. 

The solution: Chrome SLT® 5072 delivered a new level of protection and performance  

When Greene Tweed introduced the Chrome SLT® 5072 into their extrusion and mold-injection areas, the results were immediate. Operators who were familiar with how quickly gloves typically wear down began putting the 5072 through some of the harshest conditions in the facility –  handling large, heat-loaded parts, working on oil-coated machinery, wire-brushing equipment, and breaking out die heads with vibrating impact tools.  

The 5072 didn’t just hold up; it outperformed every single glove that came before it. 

Across more than ten straight weeks of continuous daily use, crews reported consistent protection, reliable grip, and far greater durability than they’d ever experienced. Even with 500–700 °F temperatures and constant exposure to petroleum-based oils, the gloves stayed structurally sound and comfortable to work in – and basically still looked brand new. 

A key factor in that performance was OilGuard+®, HexArmor’s next-generation oil-resistant technology. This proprietary hydrophobic formula uses skin-safe, environmentally conscious ingredients to prevent liquid saturation, keeping the glove light, stable, and protected without introducing harmful substances. Learn more about this advanced formula here. 

The 5072 also provided additional advantages that crews immediately felt:  

• The vibration-dampening palm reduced fatigue when using heavy impact tools. 
• The outer materials resisted abrasion from wire-brushing and rough metal surfaces. 
• Heat protection remained dependable across repeated die-head cycles. 
• The glove stayed intact: no rips and no oil saturation. 

The crew finally had a glove that matched the rigors of the worksite. But the success didn’t stop there.  

The results: Expanded adoption and renewed trust 

The EHS Manager at Greene Tweed reported that the Chrome SLT® 5072 had already completely changed the workforce’s trust in hand protection. What began as a trial in a single high-heat area quickly expanded, with multiple departments adopting the glove and additional teams requesting it next. The long-term goal: standardize the 5072 across the entire 600-employee production floor. 

This renewed confidence extended to the Chrome SLT® Oasis 4074 as well. During a high-heat task, an operator used the 4074 to remove a die head so hot it scorched the glove’s exterior. Despite the extreme temperature, he was able to hold the part long enough to set it down safely, and when he removed the glove, his hand was completely unharmed. 

These results reinforced the EHS team’s belief that switching to HexArmor’s high-heat solutions wasn’t just about durability – it was about workers finally feeling protected in an environment where other gloves had failed them for years. 

See the Chrome SLT® 5072