Innovation by Sempermed - Patented production process with UV light combines skin-friendliness and wearing comfort of the highest level

Vienna, Austria/Düsseldorf, Germany, 14 November 2012 – Today Sempermed, the largest segment of the Semperit Group presents the new Sempermed® Syntegra UV Surgical Glove at the worlds biggest medical fair “Medica” in Dusseldorf, Germany. As the first manufacturer worldwide, Sempermed has succeeded in developing a surgical glove using the material polyisoprene, which is similar to natural latex, and that is interlinked by UV light instead of chemical accelerators that trigger allergies.

In the healthcare sector, where the use of disposable gloves for protection and hygiene is becoming ever more indispensable, both medical staff and patients experience allergies. In addition to the known type I allergy (latex intolerance), many people also suffer from an allergy to the accelerators used in the production process (type IV allergy).

After years of research, the Sempermed R&D team has succeeded in using photochemical processes – induced by UV light – to interlink the glove film. This new production process at the Austrian facility allows the new Sempermed® Syntegra UV to be manufactured without accelerators. Thanks to polyisoprene, a material similar to natural latex, it also offers the popular comfort of latex.

The production process using UV technology is unique and has already been awarded with an Austrian innovation prize, the “Fast Forward Award”. The market launch of the new Sempermed® Syntegra UV is planned for 2013 and will be presented during MEDICA 2012 for the first time.

About the Semperit

Group The publicly listed company Semperit AG Holding is an internationally oriented corporate group, which develops, produces and markets highly specialised products made of rubber and plastics (examination and surgical gloves, hydraulic and industrial hoses, conveyor belts, escalator handrails, building construction profiles, cable car rings and railway superstructure products) in the Medical and Industrial Business Sectors. The headquarters of this traditional Austrian company whose roots date back to 1824 are located in Vienna, whereas the global R&D centre is at the Wimpassing, Lower Austria site. Semperit employs a work force of about 8,100 people worldwide, of whom more than 700 work in Austria. The Group encompasses 21 production facilities as well as numerous sales offices in Europe, Asia and America. In the 2011 fiscal year the Group generated revenue of EUR 820.0 million and an EBIT of EUR 83.1 million.

Sempermed is the largest segment of the Semperit Group and is ranked among the international leading manufacturers of medical and industrial gloves. At Sempermed’s research centre in Wimpassing, lower Austria, new products are continually developed and tested in close cooperation with users and experts. Wimpassing is also our production facility for surgical gloves- the only production site for latex and polyisoprene gloves in Europe. For more than 90 years Sempermed has been producing gloves of the highest quality and as the worldwide leader in technology we are setting standards in terms of quality and innovation. Sempermed guarantees optimum safety and reliability due to the most modern production technologies, highest production hygiene and strictest quality checks. 42 million gloves dispatched worldwide every day are an impressive sign of trust in the quality of and satisfaction with the product properties of gloves made by Sempermed.