Experience & History
Global Glove experts with over a century of know-how
sempermed® – a long tradition of quality
In 1824, a young innovative tailor named Johannes Nepomuk Reithoffer started to experiment in glove making. Soon, he realised that waterproof gloves would meet user requirements better. His innovativeness and curiosity led him to the world of rubber. In search of a site extension for his prosperous business, he acquired a property in Wimpassing, Austria, which to this day has remained a site that sempermed® products are still being produced at today.
Glove production - from hand-dipping to automation
The first gloves were hand-dipped and produced on wooden formers. The production process was continuously improved and by 1960, the glove manufacturing process was already partially automated. Today, our gloves are produced on ceramic hand formers and the dipping process is fully automated enabling efficient operations and high-volume output. As we continue research and development efforts, our goal is to provide the best possible products tailored to customer requirements.
Innovation is in Our DNA
Through advanced production capabilities, rigorous quality assurance, and disciplined operational standards, HARPS Global delivers the reliability partners depend on in the most critical environments. Our scale allows us to respond to global demand, while our culture ensures we remain agile, responsible, and focused on continuous
improvement.
The acquisition of globally recognized brands, like sempermed® with its 100-year history of producing gloves, within the HARPS Global family has strengthened both our expertise and our ability to serve diverse market needs. Together, we unite deep product knowledge with modern manufacturing excellence, creating solutions that safeguard communities and support better public health outcomes.
Today, HARPS Global continues to invest in innovation, sustainability, and long-term partnerships. Our ambition is clear: to be globally recognized by healthcare professionals and consumers as leaders in protection — delivering innovative, high-quality products that protect people everywhere, every day
company milestones spanning over a century in production
Our Milestones
1920
The first sempermed® surgical glove production established.
1997
Introduction of sempermed® supreme, the leading surgical glove in Europe.
2000
The semperguard® brand is introduced as a catalyst for personal protective gloves.
2007
Introduction of sempermed® syntegra IR, a synthetic surgical glove, free from natural rubber latex.
2015
Incorporation of HARPS Global by our founders & acquistion of Central Medicare.
2016
Introduction of our EARTO innovation award-winning glove, sempermed® syntegra UV.
2018
Introduction of our first sustainably enhanced green glove, sempermed® green X-free.
2019
Received clearance from the FDA for marketing and distribution in the United States of 3-in-1 gloves, and our ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 13485:2016 accreditations.
2020
Celebrate 100 years of glove production with sempermed®.
2023
2024
HARPS Global introduced a modernized visual identity for the sempermed® and semperguard® brands, featuring a new logo inspired by the Latin “semper” and an infinity symbol to reflect ongoing dedication to quality, sustainability, and innovation. This rebranding effort enhances market presence and align with the company’s broader strategic goals.
2025
Launch of our Sustainability Report and first EcoVadis Award for HARPS Global.
We are happy to advise you on our solutions
We invest and design our modern medical device manufacturing facilities to ensure production of high-quality products. We design our production lines in-house, which enables us to incorporate knowledge and lessons from our operations into the design of future production lines.