Tradex International

What Tradex International does

Tradex International is a US-based wholesale distributor and manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), offering disposable gloves (nitrile, latex, vinyl, polyethylene), reusable gloves, full-body protection garments, and first aid supplies. The company organizes its catalog under two main sub-brands — Ambitex for hand protection and AmbiShield for garments — and lists product-level FDA food-contact compliance (21 CFR parts 170-199) for relevant SKUs. Customer verticals span food service and food processing, janitorial and sanitation, industrial safety, laboratory safety, and secondary segments in extended care and cannabis, served through direct sales, an e-commerce storefront, and a network of buying groups and distribution marketing organizations (DPA Buying Group, CSCNetwork, Afflink, Prolink, Network) alongside industry association ties to ISSA and the National Safety Council.

Operationally, Tradex runs three strategically located US distribution centers that maintain 90 days of domestic safety stock, advertise a 98% fill rate, and ship within 72 hours, with a US-based customer service team offering 9AM-5PM continental US coverage and a sub-1-hour average written inquiry response time. Revenue is generated through transactional B2B wholesale of bulk case quantities, with pricing not publicly disclosed and customers directed to "Contact Sales." The company has operated for over 30 years and in February 2025 acquired STRONG Manufacturers for an undisclosed amount, signaling active inorganic expansion of its PPE manufacturing and distribution footprint.

The firm is privately held with 11-50 employees. The firmographics record lists Elwood, Australia as a location, but operational evidence (800-number with US area code, continental US shipping scope, ISSA/NSC memberships, US distribution centers) indicates primary operations and customer base are in the United States. No management team, funding rounds, or revenue figures are disclosed in the available source material.

Name

Tradex International

Legal name

Tradex

Website

https://tradexgloves.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tradex International is a US-based B2B wholesale distributor and manufacturer of PPE — disposable gloves, reusable gloves, protective garments, and first aid supplies — serving food service, janitorial, industrial, and laboratory customers via direct sales and buying-group channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Distribution

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Protective Disposable Wear (Masks, Gloves, Shoe Covers, Hairnets) (CRADALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

PPE, Safety & Infection Control Supplies Distribution (JanSan-adjacent) (CRAOAGAK), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF), Disposable Protective Apparel (Coveralls, Gowns, Shoe Covers) (CRAAALAM), Disposable Gloves & Protective Household Wear (CRAJAGAI)

Keywords

• Disposable gloves
• Protective garments
• Personal protective equipment
• Industrial safety supplies
• Food service PPE

Headquarters

HQ city

Elwood

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. PPE Product Sales: Tradex generates revenue through the wholesale distribution of personal protective equipment products including disposable gloves (nitrile, latex, vinyl, poly), reusable gloves, garments (aprons, coveralls, lab coats, gowns, etc.), and first aid supplies. Products are sold primarily to businesses, distributors, and organizations in food service, janitorial, industrial, healthcare, and related industries. The revenue model is transactional B2B wholesale with bulk case quantities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Tradex International manufactures and wholesale-distributes personal protective equipment (PPE) including disposable gloves (nitrile, latex, vinyl, polyethylene), reusable gloves, protective garments (aprons, coveralls, gowns, lab coats, sleeves, shoe and head coverings), and workplace first aid supplies (kits, spill clean-up, eyewash, lens cleaning). Products are sold in bulk case quantities to B2B customers across food service, janitorial, industrial, laboratory, healthcare, and cannabis sectors, with distribution from three US-located centers supporting 72-hour fulfillment.

Product overview

Tradex International is a PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of protective gloves and garments under the Ambitex and AmbiShield sub-brands. The product line includes disposable gloves in nitrile, latex, vinyl, and polyethylene materials, reusable gloves, and full body protection garments including aprons, coveralls, gowns, lab coats, sleeves, bouffants, hairnets, beard covers, and shoe covers. Additionally, Tradex offers first aid products such as kits, eyewash stations, and spill clean-up solutions. Products are designed for various industries including food service, janitorial/sanitation, industrial safety, food processing, lab safety, extended care, and cannabis. The company operates with three strategically located distribution centers maintaining 90 days of safety stock for rapid 72-hour shipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ambitex: Brand for hand protection gloves including nitrile, latex, vinyl, and poly gloves
• Ambishield

Products and services

• Ambitex Poly Gloves Disposable polyethylene gloves under the Ambitex sub-brand, designed for short-term tasks requiring frequent glove changes and compliant with FDA food contact regulations. Sold in bulk case quantities to food service and food processing buyers.
• Ambitex Vinyl Gloves Clear and blue vinyl exam grade gloves offered in multiple series under the Ambitex sub-brand, suitable for food service and healthcare applications.
• Ambitex Latex Gloves Cream-colored latex gloves under the Ambitex sub-brand, available in exam grade and standard variants with textured surfaces for improved grip.
• Ambitex Nitrile Gloves Blue, black, green, white, and orange nitrile gloves under the Ambitex sub-brand, available in various thicknesses and cuff lengths including exam grade options.
• AmbiShield Garments Full body protection garment line under the AmbiShield sub-brand including aprons, coveralls, gowns, lab coats, sleeves, shoe covers, bouffants, hairnets, and beard covers for industrial, lab, food processing, and sanitation buyers.
• First Aid Products Workplace first aid products including first aid kits, spill clean-up kits, eyewash bottles and stations, and lens cleaning wipes for workplace safety compliance.
• V5201B Series Blue Vinyl Gloves Distinguishable blue vinyl gloves for cross-contamination prevention, powder-free with smooth surface, compliant with FDA food contact regulations 21 CFR parts 170-199.
• L800 Series Cream Latex Exam Grade Gloves Powder-free latex exam grade gloves with textured surface providing comfort, grip, and long-lasting protection against biological contaminants.
• N9201T Series Orange Nitrile Gloves Heavy-duty orange nitrile gloves over three times thicker than standard, featuring 9.5-inch extended cuff and diamond-textured surface for chemical resistance and improved grip.
• P6505 Series Clear Poly Gloves Clear embossed polyethylene gloves for short-term tasks with frequent changes, compliant with FDA food contact regulations.
• VS8 Series 8 Mil Vinyl Sleeve Cover Virgin vinyl sleeve covers providing durable barrier against non-hazardous dry particulates, liquids, and oil for contamination control settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shipment within 72 hours from strategically located distribution centers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISSAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerISSA is the global trade association for the cleaning industry. Tradex maintains membership and partnership with ISSA, leveraging the association for marketing visibility and industry networking.
• NSC (National Safety Council)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNSC is a health and safety organization. Tradex partnership provides credibility in the safety equipment space and access to safety-focused customer networks.
• DPA Buying GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution Purchasing Association buying group that aggregates purchasing power for distributors. Tradex participates as a supplier member.
• CSCNetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConsortium of Janitorial and Sanitation distributors. Tradex supplies products through this buying group network.
• AfflinkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA distribution marketing organization connecting suppliers with distributor networks. Tradex leverages Afflink for market access.
• MarketVisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner providing market intelligence and visibility services.
• NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution network partner for PPE products.
• ProlinkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner network for connecting Tradex products with end customers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Uline: Major distributor of shipping, industrial, and safety supplies including disposable gloves and protective garments. Directly comparable B2B distribution model with strong logistics and broad product breadth.
• Henry Schein: Distributor of dental, medical, and healthcare supplies including disposable gloves and PPE. Directly comparable given Tradex's stated dental industry exposure and overlapping healthcare customer segments.

Emerging players

• Showa Group: Specialized disposable and reusable glove manufacturer serving industrial, food, and healthcare markets. Comparable to Tradex as a focused hand protection specialist with multi-vertical distribution.
• Globus Group: UK-based PPE manufacturer and distributor with hand protection and body protection lines. Comparable mid-scale competitor to Tradex in branded disposable and reusable PPE categories.

Broad incumbents

• Grainger: Large industrial MRO distributor offering gloves, safety products, and janitorial supplies. Overlaps with Tradex in industrial safety and janitorial/sanitation segments through a similar multi-channel distribution model.
• Kimberly-Clark Professional: Major branded manufacturer of disposable gloves, wipers, and protective apparel sold through distribution. Competes with Tradex's Ambitex and AmbiShield brands in food service, janitorial, and industrial channels.
• Bunzl: Global distribution and outsourcing company serving foodservice, janitorial/sanitation, and industrial customers with consumable supplies including PPE. Highly comparable to Tradex's vertical-focused B2B distribution model.
• Medline Industries: Major private manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, including exam gloves, gowns, and other PPE. Operates a vast distribution network serving healthcare and industrial end-markets that overlap Tradex's customer base.
• Ansell: Global leader in protective gloves and PPE manufacturing. Ansell competes directly with Tradex's Ambitex disposable glove line and has a much broader industrial and healthcare PPE portfolio.
• 3M Safety: Global PPE and safety products manufacturer with deep industrial safety and occupational health portfolios. Competes with Tradex across glove and garment categories, particularly in industrial safety.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tradexgloves
• Xx.com/ambitex

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tradex International