Technical Vault: Ansell ActivArmr® 97-002 Cut Resistant Industrial Gloves

The Ansell ActivArmr® 97-002 is a versatile cut-resistant safety glove engineered for workers who need ANSI A3 cut resistance, wet/dry grip, breathable comfort, dexterity, and secure wrist protection. It combines stainless steel and Kevlar® fibers, a foam nitrile palm coating, an 18-gauge ergonomic seamless knit construction, and an adjustable Velcro® cuff for metal handling, fastening, adjustment, repair, and fabrication applications.

This Technical Vault summarizes the verified construction, standards, material profile, cut/grip performance, application guidance, inspection points, storage notes, and use limitations for the ActivArmr® 97-002.

Vault summary: Stainless steel and Kevlar® fiber cut-resistant glove with foam nitrile palm coating, ANSI A3 cut resistance, ANSI level 4 abrasion resistance, ANSI level 2 puncture resistance, EN 388 4X21B performance, 18-gauge seamless knit construction, and adjustable Velcro® cuff.

EN 388 rating note: The EN 388 code 4X21B indicates tested mechanical performance across abrasion, circular blade cut, tear, puncture, and ISO cut resistance categories. The “X” means the circular blade cut test is not reported or is not applicable for that position, so the ISO cut letter should be used for cut classification.

• Handling metal sheets and panels
• Picking and fastening components
• Adjusting parts and systems
• Equipment repair and maintenance
• Adjusting systems and screwing
• Processing sheets, coils, and tubes
• Fabricating metal parts and glass sheets
• Automotive, food processing, metal fabrication, machinery, and equipment environments
• Applications requiring cut resistance, wet/dry grip, and adjustable wrist closure

• Chemical immersion or validated chemical breakthrough protection
• Hot-object handling, open flame, molten metal splash, or thermal protection applications
• Moving blade hazards or powered cutting tools
• Needle, hypodermic, or high-puncture hazards
• Electrical protection
• Heavy impact protection
• Oil-saturated handling where an oil-repellent or oil-resistant glove is required
• Sterile cleanroom processing unless separately validated for the controlled environment

Select the ActivArmr 97-002 when the job requires a glove that prioritizes cut resistance, foam nitrile grip, dexterity, breathable comfort, abrasion performance, and wrist security. It is best matched to metal fabrication, component adjustment, fastening, equipment repair, and sheet/coil/tube processing where workers need a secure cuff and a thin but protective cut-resistant glove.

• Inspect the foam nitrile palm coating for cracks, peeling, worn-through areas, cuts, or loss of grip texture.
• Check fingertips, thumb crotch, palm, and high-contact areas for abrasion damage or punctures.
• Confirm the Velcro® cuff closes securely and is not clogged, torn, or detached.
• Check the liner for exposed fibers, holes, stretching, or contamination.
• Do not use gloves contaminated with unknown chemicals, oils, greases, or incompatible substances.
• Replace gloves when coating integrity, cuff security, cut protection, or grip performance is visibly compromised.

• Store gloves in a clean, dry location away from excessive heat, direct sunlight, ozone, and sharp objects.
• Keep gloves away from incompatible chemicals unless separately evaluated for that exposure.
• Avoid crushing, folding, or contaminating the foam nitrile palm coating during storage.
• Keep Velcro® cuff areas free of heavy debris so the closure remains secure.
• Use clean, dry hands when donning gloves to maintain liner comfort and reduce contamination transfer.
• Follow site PPE procedures for laundering, reuse, inspection, and disposal.

The ActivArmr 97-002 is an industrial safety glove, not a sterile cleanroom glove. For controlled environments, evaluate the glove against the site’s particulate, extractable, contamination, packaging, laundering, cuff material, and gowning requirements before approval. Use cleanroom-qualified gloves when the process requires validated low-particle, sterile, or cleanroom-specific hand protection.

What is the cut level of the ActivArmr 97-002?
The glove is rated ANSI Cut Level A3 and carries an EN 388 4X21B rating for mechanical protection.

What materials provide the cut resistance?
The liner uses stainless steel, Kevlar®, nylon, and spandex. Stainless steel and Kevlar® fibers provide the primary cut-resistant reinforcement.

Is the glove palm coated?
Yes. The ActivArmr 97-002 is foam nitrile palm coated, supporting wet/dry grip while preserving breathability and dexterity.

Does this glove have a knitwrist cuff?
No. The ActivArmr 97-002 uses an adjustable Velcro® cuff for a secure wrist fit and improved debris control.

Is the glove latex free?
Yes. Ansell lists the ActivArmr 97-002 as latex free.

Is the glove silicone free or antistatic?
No. Ansell lists the ActivArmr 97-002 as not silicone free and not antistatic.

The ActivArmr 97-002 is designed for cut-resistant mechanical hand protection. It is not intended for chemical immersion, electrical protection, thermal protection, flame exposure, molten metal splash, moving blade hazards, high cut-force hazards beyond its rating, or needle puncture protection. Final glove selection should be based on a documented hazard assessment, including edge sharpness, contact force, abrasion exposure, puncture exposure, grip requirements, wrist closure requirements, contamination risks, coating condition, and replacement frequency.

Technical insight: Cut-resistant glove performance is not defined by cut level alone; coating grip, liner construction, cuff security, abrasion exposure, puncture risk, and the exact shape and sharpness of handled materials all affect safe glove selection.

Product page updated: Mar. 2026 (SOS Technical Staff)

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