Abstract The UV induced prevulcanization of natural rubber (NR) latex provides an innovative technology for an efficient cross-linking. In the photochemical process, a selected photoinitiator and a poly-functional thiol are added to the NR latex. Free radicals (bond cleavage of the photoinitiator) are generated due to UV irradiation and cross-linking of the latex particles is then achieved by a thiol-ene addition reaction. The thiol-ene addition reaction in NR films is characterized with Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. To achieve the prevulcanization of latex, both a thin film photoreactor and a falling film photoreactor are applied. Solid latex films are then produced by conventional dipping of the precured NR latex. The NR latex films are distinguished by good skin compatibility due to the absence of sensitizing or irritating processing agents which are used in conventional sulfur vulcanization. Moreover UV cross-linked films display excellent physical properties as well as high aging stabilities. Further advantages of the new technology compared to conventional sulfur vulcanization are low energy consumption together with short vulcanization times.