Arbeits Group

What Arbeits Group does

Arbeits Group is a Kolkata, India-based manufacturer and exporter of leather personal protective equipment (PPE), founded in 1980 by Sanjib Bothra and currently led in its second generation by Rishav Bothra as Director of Sales. The company produces a portfolio of over 70 distinct glove and welding apparel models organized across six categories — Canadian Riggers, Driver Styles, MIG Welding, TIG Welding, Welding Apparel, and Special Purpose — using proprietary techniques including drum-dyed leather processing, Kevlar-stitched seams, and a chrome-free vegetable-tanned ECO line. Manufacturing is concentrated at EU-standard-compliant facilities in Kolkata with in-house R&D and testing, producing at a stated capacity of over 20,000 pairs per day.

The business operates as a B2B exporter selling directly to PPE distributors and as a private-label/OEM manufacturer for established European glove brands. Distribution is concentrated in Europe, with active markets in Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, France, and Austria, and the company is recognized by the Government of India as a Star Export Trading House. Certifications include CE marking, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, BSCI, and SEDEX-SMETA 4-pillar audit — credentials required by large European industrial buyers and public-sector procurement.

Revenue is generated through inquiry-based negotiated B2B contracts rather than public pricing; the company does not disclose financials. Marketing is conducted through a content-led website with 18+ industry-specific landing pages covering aerospace, automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, mining, oil and gas, and welding, among others. The company is privately held by the Bothra family with no external institutional investors, and is currently transitioning toward formal management under second-generation leadership focused on supply chain modernization and a new product/market matrix.

Name

Arbeits Group

Legal name

Arbeits Group

Website

https://arbeitsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Arbeits Group is a Kolkata-based, second-generation Indian manufacturer and exporter of leather safety gloves and welding apparel, producing 20,000+ pairs per day for B2B PPE distributors and private-label European brands across 18+ industrial verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Safety Gloves (PPE)

NAICS

Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316990)

SIC

Leather & Leather Products (3100)

akta.pro primary industry

Protective, Safety & Tactical Leather Goods Manufacturing (Holsters/Pouches/Gear) (IMAOAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)

Keywords

• Leather safety gloves
• Industrial PPE manufacturing
• Welding gloves supplier
• Work gloves exporter
• Personal protective equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Leather Safety Gloves Export: Manufactures and exports high-quality leather safety gloves and leather work garments for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) industry. Products include Canadian Riggers, Driver Styles, MIG Welding, TIG Welding, Welding Apparel, and Special Purpose gloves. Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales to PPE distributors globally.
2. Custom/Private Label Manufacturing: Several models are custom-made for some of the most experienced glove makers in Europe, indicating private label/OEM manufacturing capabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Arbeits Group is a manufacturer and global exporter of high-quality leather safety gloves and leather work garments for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) industry. The company operates EU-certified factories producing Canadian Riggers, Driver Style, MIG Welding, TIG Welding, Welding Apparel, and Special Purpose gloves, serving industrial and commercial buyers worldwide.

Product overview

Arbeits Group offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality leather safety gloves and work garments organized into six main product categories: Canadian Riggers (heavy-duty work gloves with various linings and reinforcements), Driver Styles (precision grip gloves for driving and assembly work), MIG Welding (gloves designed for MIG welding operations with heat and abrasion protection), TIG Welding (premium precision welding gloves for TIG welding), Welding Apparel (protective jackets, aprons, arm sleeves, leg guards, and head gear for welders), and Special Purpose (specialized gloves for bee protection, skiing, and extreme cold conditions). The company manufactures over 70 distinct glove models and welding apparel products, all sourced from their manufacturing facilities in Kolkata, India. Their products serve diverse industries including Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics, Glass Handling, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture, Construction, Food Processing, Oil and Gas, Steel and Metal, Mining, Gardening, Road Work, Bar-B-Q, Baking, Winter, and Eco-Friendly applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canadian Riggers Gloves Heavy-duty leather work gloves with various cuff styles, knuckle guards, and lining options including winter flannel, Thinsulate, and fleece. Designed for construction, agriculture, mining, road work, and general heavy labor.
• Driver Styles Gloves Premium leather driver gloves offering superior grip, dexterity, and comfort for automotive, electronics, aerospace, and general assembly applications, available in various leather types including cow grain, calf, goat, and buffalo.
• MIG Welding Gloves Heavy-duty leather gloves specifically engineered for MIG welding operations, featuring palm reinforcement, fully welted seams, and extended cuffs to provide heat, spark, and abrasion protection.
• TIG Welding Gloves Premium quality leather welding gloves for TIG welding that combine dexterity with heat and spark protection, featuring cow grain and split leather combinations, Kevlar stitched seams, and various cuff designs.
• Welding Apparel Protective leather garments for welders, including welding jackets, aprons, arm sleeves, leg guards, bib pants, and head gear, designed to provide full-body protection from sparks, heat, and spatter during welding operations.
• Special Purpose Gloves Specialized leather gloves for niche applications including bee protection with elongated canvas cuffs, premium ski gloves with winter lining, and extreme cold weather gloves with Thinsulate insulation for harsh environments.
• Custom/Private Label Manufacturing OEM and private label glove manufacturing services where Arbeits Group produces custom-designed leather safety gloves for established European glove brands and distributors under their own branding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production capacity of over 20,000 pairs per day from humble beginning of 200 pairs per day

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ATG (Ansell Textiles Lanka / Smart Glove): Sri Lankan and Malaysian glove manufacturer producing leather and coated industrial work gloves for global export markets. Comparable as an Asia-based OEM/private-label manufacturer serving European and North American PPE distributors with similar cost structure and export-oriented model.
• Wells Lamont Industrial: US-based legacy manufacturer of leather work gloves, welding gloves, and cut-resistant hand protection with broad industrial distribution. Comparable in product categories (Canadian Riggers, driver gloves, welding gloves) and B2B industrial customer base.
• Superior Glove Works: Canadian manufacturer specializing in leather work gloves, welding gloves, and cut-resistant gloves for industrial safety markets. Highly comparable to Arbeits in product mix (Canadian Riggers, welding gloves, driver styles) and B2B distributor-led distribution model.
• Towa Corporation: Japanese manufacturer specializing in industrial work gloves including leather and cut-resistant styles, exporting globally to industrial safety distributors. Comparable as an Asia-based glove OEM with focus on leather and specialty industrial hand protection products.
• Midas Safety Inc. Pakistan-based leather and coated glove manufacturer with significant European distribution and OEM/private-label business. Directly comparable as a South Asian OEM glove manufacturer exporting to European PPE distributors with similar cost economics and customer overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Showa Group: Japanese-headquartered glove manufacturer with a leading global share in industrial and disposable hand protection. Comparable as a vertically integrated glove manufacturer serving industrial PPE distributors across Europe, Americas, and APAC.
• Ansell Limited: Australian-listed global leader in hand and arm protection, with an extensive portfolio of leather and coated work gloves serving industrial safety, welding, and PPE markets. Directly comparable as a manufacturer/exporter of safety gloves to industrial B2B buyers globally.
• Honeywell Industrial Safety: US-listed industrial conglomerate with a broad PPE portfolio including leather and cut-resistant work gloves under brands like North and Howard Leight. Comparable as a global B2B PPE supplier to industrial and welding customers, though operating at much larger scale across multiple PPE categories.
• 3M Personal Safety Division: US-listed conglomerate with a major PPE business including protective gloves for industrial, welding, and construction applications. Comparable in serving the same European industrial and welding end-markets, though as a much broader PPE incumbent with brand recognition Arbeits lacks.

Regional players

• Radians Inc. US-based PPE manufacturer and distributor with strong presence in North American industrial and welding glove markets. Comparable in product categories (leather welding gloves, rigger gloves) and B2B distribution model, though primarily serving US rather than EU customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArbeitsGroup

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Arbeits Group