Are You Using the Right Packaging Tape for Your Products?
Choosing the correct type of packaging tape is one of the most crucial decisions you have to make when it comes to storing and shipping your products. The wrong tape can lead to damaged items, theft, unhappy customers, waste, and increased costs resulting from replacing and resending the package. To help you avoid this situation, we put together information on the most common types of tape and tips for which option to use in different situations.
What to consider when deciding on packaging tape
Before we talk about the various types of tape, first let’s cover what factors to think about when determining which option is best for your particular needs.
Grade—Packaging tapes are available in various grades, or film and adhesive thicknesses. Different grades provide higher or lower levels of holding power and tensile strength. When choosing your tape, it’s important to take into account the size of your box or carton, how heavy its contents are, and the conditions of the production and shipping facilities. In general, higher grade packaging tapes should be used for larger boxes, heavier products, and/or harsher environments.
Stability—Consider whether or not the items within the box are likely to shift around during transport. If they are, then we suggest opting for a stronger type of packaging tape to prevent accidental opening.
Environment—Different tapes are designed to handle adverse conditions, including hot or cold temperatures and high humidity. Choose the type of tape and grade that is engineered to maintain a tight seal in the specific production, shipping, and storage situation that you have.
Substrate—It’s important to think about what material you are sealing. Make sure the packaging tape you decide on is compatible with your type of box, whether it is corrugated, waxed, recycled content, double wall, or something else.
Printing—Unique, custom packaging is key part of your company’s branding. We recommend using tape that can have colors and designs easily printed directly on it.
The primary types of packaging tapes and when to choose them
There are four common types of packaging tape; acrylic tape, hot melt tape, water activated tape, and natural rubber tape. Each option has several advantages and disadvantages, depending on your specific situation.
Acrylic tape
Think of acrylic tape as your general purpose option. It can handle most types of materials, both hot and cold temperatures, and humidity. Plus, its adhesion increases over time, it’s UV resistant, the tape won’t fade in the sun, and it stays clear over time, so it doesn’t obscure your container’s design. The primary drawback of acrylic tape is that it is not the best option for your heavier boxes and cartons compared to hot melt, water activated, or natural rubber.
Water activated tape
Water activated tape is pressure sensitive paper tape that delivers high shear strength, a tamper evident closure, and a very durable seal in almost any environment. It is ideal for custom printing, harsh shipping and handling conditions, and your heaviest boxes. The drawbacks of water activated tape are that it cannot be used on dusty or dirty containers and it requires a machine to dispense the tape and apply water to it.
Hot melt tape
Hot melt tape is made from synthetic rubber and provides very strong adhesion, high tear resistance, and adheres quickly to your material. These characteristics make it a common choice for heavy boxes and shipping environments with rough handling. It also provides a great seal on recycled corrugate containers and is compatible with both automated and manual application processes. The main disadvantage of hot melt tape is that it does not perform well in extreme temperatures or humidity, and it typically yellows over time.
Natural rubber tape
Natural rubber tape has the highest level of tack (stickiness) and uses the most aggressive adhesive of any of these options, making it perfect for extremely cold or dusty applications. It’s also water and humidity resistant and works well on containers that aren’t a standard shape or size. Natural rubber tape is a great choice when other options aren’t sticking, but it is generally one of the most expensive types and turns yellow in the shortest amount of time.
Acrylic and water activated tape are the most frequently used types and are compatible with the majority of containers and packaging conditions. At Packaging Tools, we offer both options to handle almost all of your box closure needs. If you have any questions about how to choose the best packaging tape for your requirements, contact our team today!
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