Saf-T-Gard® International, Inc. celebrates 80th anniversary milestone
Personal protective equipment supplier commemorates a rich history of bringing workers home safely since 1936
2016 marks the 80th anniversary for Saf-T-Gard International, Inc., a family‑owned and operated global supplier of industrial safety products now in its 4th generation of ownership. Since its establishment in 1936, Saf-T-Gard has enabled on-the-job safety, compliance and peace of mind for hundreds of thousands of workers and their families by delivering superior safety products and solutions that protect against work-related hazards and prevent serious injuries.
Saf-T-Gard has grown significantly since its humble, two-person factory loft beginnings. Founded as Latex Glove Manufacturing Company by Leo and Lillian Rivkin, the company began its operations in Chicago when the Rivkins acquired equipment from a balloon company and used it to produce waterproof, rubber-coated cotton gloves. They purchased cotton gloves, dipped them in the latex rubber tanks, let them dry overnight, and sold them the next day. In the 1940s, as Chicago manufacturers geared up to support the American war efforts, Latex Glove Company expanded its product offering as a full-line industrial glove distributor.