Metal
Molten metal protective clothing for foundry and metal industry teams.
Alsico provides protective clothing for metal industry teams exposed to molten metal, extreme heat and flames. Our garments combine reliable protection and freedom of movement in demanding environments.
Garments built for the intensity of metal production
Working with molten metal is not a single-hazard activity. A furnace operator, ladle handler, or casting technician may face molten metal splash from iron or aluminium, radiant heat from furnaces and ladles, contact with hot surfaces, and exposure to sparks and spatter. Often, this is within the same task. Molten metal protection needs to address several risks at once.
Garments must resist metal splash penetration, limit heat transfer to the skin, and shed sparks and spatter rather than trapping them. But they also need to maintain structural integrity after repeated exposure and industrial laundering. Alsico designs molten metal PPE that responds to this combination of hazards, so that foundry and steelworks teams can work confidently without relying on excessive layering.
Alsico is a family business with deep roots in the design, manufacture, and supply of protective workwear for heavy industry. Founded nearly 100 years ago, we work with organisations where the performance of every garment can directly affect the safety of the wearer.
For nearly 100 years, protecting the workers around the world has been part of our DNA.
Gauthier Siau, CEO alsico Group
Legacy of safety in metal production workwear
Our garments protect 10 million people every day, backed by independent quality checks, in-house testing, dedicated designers, and product engineers. We continue to advance workwear production, including first carbon-neutral clothing options and our own end-of-life hub for more responsible garment disposal.
For metal industry teams, that translates into molten metal protective clothing developed for the thermal extremes, physical demands, and laundering cycles that foundry and steelworks environments require.
Trusted by foundries, steelworks, and metal workers
Protection across metal industry hazards
Metal production environments expose workers to a specific set of dangers. Molten metal splash from aluminium or iron can cause severe burns on contact. Radiant heat from furnaces, crucibles, and molten streams raises surface temperatures across wide areas. Molten metal safety depends on clothing that can manage these overlapping risks without becoming a hazard in itself.
Garments must not trap splashes or sparks. Fastenings and closures need to allow rapid removal. And fabrics must maintain their protective qualities across the lifecycle of the garment. This is why selecting foundry PPE is a more involved process than choosing standard workwear.
Helping the world's biggest companies stay protected in the most challenging environments
AcelorMittal trust alsico Europe to deliver their complex protective garment needs.
Standards for molten metal protective clothing
Molten metal PPE is assessed against EN ISO 11612:2015, the European standard for clothing to protect against heat and flame. To comply with this standard, Code A (limited flame spread) is mandatory, alongside at least one additional heat transmission performance code (B, C, D, E or F).
For molten metal splash protective clothing, two code letters are particularly relevant:
- Code D (protection against molten aluminium splash): Rated at levels D1, D2, and D3. The level indicates the mass of molten aluminium the fabric can withstand before the heat transferred through the garment reaches a level that could cause a burn injury. The higher the number, the more mass of molten aluminium was poured on the fabric.
- Code E (protection against molten iron splash): Rated at levels E1, E2, and E3. The same principle as Code D, but tested with molten iron, which behaves differently due to its higher melting point and density.
Other code letters within EN ISO 11612 may also apply depending on the role and environment. These cover convective heat (B), radiant heat (C), and contact heat (F). If a code letter is missing or has value 0 this means it is not applicable. A typical foundry protective clothing specification may need to address several of these performance areas at once.
Standards help HSE, procurement, and operations teams match garments to the findings of the site risk assessment, ensuring that the level of protection is appropriate for the actual hazards present in each working area.
Some of our product range
Our molten metal protective clothing range includes garments developed for foundry workers, steelworks operators, smelter teams, and casting professionals working around molten metal splash, radiant heat, and open flame.
Speak to an expert
Every metal production site has its own risk profile. The hazards present at a steel rolling mill differ from those at an aluminium smelter, and both differ from the demands of a small iron foundry. Garment selection needs to reflect the specific splash risks, heat exposures, and working conditions of each operation.
Our team can help you assess your foundry PPE requirements and match garment options to your site risk assessment, wearer needs, and supply programme.
Bespoke design service
Metal industry sites often need different garment specifications for different roles. A furnace operator working directly with molten metal splash hazards will need a different level and style of protection from a quality inspector, crane operator, or maintenance engineer.
Alsico’s design team can work with you to develop a foundry protective clothing range that reflects the risk profile of each role while maintaining consistency in branding, fit, comfort, and supply.
Want to view our molten metal protective clothing range?
Contact our team to discuss molten metal PPE for your workforce, including garments rated for molten aluminium and iron splash, radiant heat protection, flame-resistant workwear, and clothing designed for the physical demands of foundry and steelworks operations.
Understanding molten metal splash risks in the workplace
A molten metal splash occurs when liquid metal is ejected from a furnace, ladle, mould, or casting process and contacts a surface or a person. The severity of the injury depends on the type of metal, its temperature, the volume of the splash, and the distance from the source.
Aluminium and iron are the two metals commonly referred to in protective clothing standards, but workplaces may also involve copper, zinc, lead, or alloy splashes. Each metal behaves differently when molten. Aluminium is lighter and tends to spread across surfaces, while iron is denser and can penetrate or pool on fabric.
Molten metal splash protective clothing is specifically designed to shed or deflect these splashes before heat can transfer through the fabric to the skin. Garment design features such as covered closures, sealed hems, and the elimination of external pockets above the waist help prevent molten material from being trapped against the body.
your future protective clothing supplier
Our role and expertise
Manufacturing process
Alsico uses decades of experience and advanced technology to produce high-quality workwear & uniforms at scale. With more than 8000 employees across 21 factories, we support reliable production for organisations that need consistent protective clothing across large teams and multiple sites.
Dedicated project team
Working closely with customers, our project teams support workwear programmes from design and wearer trials through to delivery. For metal and steel organisations, that means garments can be planned around role requirements, comfort, safety needs, and operational rollout.
Innovative solutions
We supply the metal and steel industry with protective workwear designed for demanding environments. Leading manufacturers, including Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal, rely on our clothing to protect workers against heat, flames and molten metal splashes, while ensuring comfort and freedom of movement.
Commitment to protection
With nearly a century in protective uniform manufacturing, alsico understands the needs of metal workers in demanding roles. We are GRS certified and work to reduce the impact of our products while keeping comfort, durability, and protection at the centre of garment design.
Trust built on nearly
100 years of expertise
Experience matters when selecting a uniform supplier. With close to a century of designing and manufacturing workwear, alsico has become a trusted partner for industries requiring the highest standards of comfort & durability.
From fabrics developed by our alsico academy to finished healthcare garments, and by maintaining stringent testing protocols and owning every step of production, we deliver a reliable supply chain that keeps your teams comfortable. This ensures consistent quality, dependable supply and lasting wear.
Frequently asked questions
Workers in foundries, steelworks, and metal processing facilities typically need molten metal protective clothing rated for aluminium and/or iron splash under EN ISO 11612. Depending on the role, they may also require protection against radiant heat, flame, contact heat, and sparks. The correct garment combination depends on the site risk assessment and the specific tasks each worker performs.
Under EN ISO 11612, Code D ratings (D1–D3) measure protection against molten aluminium splash, while Code E ratings (E1–E3) measure protection against molten iron splash. Iron has a higher melting point and greater density than aluminium, so the two tests reflect different exposure characteristics.
Yes. Molten metal PPE is often part of a multi-risk garment specification. Depending on the fabric and garment design, protection may extend to limited flame spread, convective and radiant heat, contact heat, and in some cases anti-static performance. The applicable protections are determined by the garment’s test results against the relevant sections of EN ISO 11612 and any additional standards.
Molten metal safety depends on more than fabric performance. Garment design features such as covered closures, eliminated external pockets above the waist, sealed cuffs, and anti-trapping construction help prevent molten material from lodging against the body. Quick-release fastenings allow rapid garment removal if the clothing is compromised during a splash event.
Replacement frequency depends on the intensity of use, the laundering schedule, and the level of wear or damage the garment sustains. Molten metal protective clothing should be inspected regularly for signs of degradation, including thinning fabric, damaged seams, compromised closures, and stiffening or loss of flexibility. Garments that no longer meet the required protection standard should be withdrawn from service.
Yes. Metal production sites often have a range of roles with different risk profiles. Alsico can develop foundry protective clothing programmes that match the protection level, garment style, and comfort requirements of each role.
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