Ansell increases glove prices due to increasing costs

Ansell Healthcare has announced it has had to increase the price of its surgical and exam latex gloves due to the rising wholesale costs of natural rubber latex.

The company said natural rubber latex costs had increased by over 120 per cent in the last 18 months and despite successful cost efficiency strategies over the past years, Ansell has had to pass some of the costs to its customers.

Increased demand for rubber and soaring oil costs related to the production of synthetic latex has affected manufacturers of several rubber products, including gloves, the manufacturer states.

Holger Furstenberg, Ansell Professional Healthcare Europe’s marketing director, commented: “Ansell has implemented cost savings measures in manufacturing facilities and worked with suppliers to reduce the effect of price pressure.”

The company said it will monitor future trends in the cost of raw materials and would do its best to avoid or delay future cost increases. It also said it would be in touch with customers regarding the price increases.

Ansell claims to be a world leader in hand protection for healthcare workers. Its European headquarters are based in Belgium and in 1905, the company pioneered latex glove dipping technology.

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