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Packaging tape is a key element of the manufacturer's secondary packaging strategy. When it comes to ensuring that goods reach their final destination safely and reliably, tape is as important as choosing a box for transportation and cushioning the product.

Choosing the right packaging tape can prevent malfunctions, markings, and broken tapes. It can also save time and money that may be lost due to rework, returns, and reshipment. When deciding which tape can meet the needs of the supply chain, consider these four factors.

Manufacturers need to pay special attention to the surface of the carton and how the tape adheres to that surface. Different types of corrugated boxes include recycled, thick or double-walled, and printing or waxing options.

• Recycled cartons are common in the industry and may be difficult to seal safely due to the short fibers that make up the base material. The shredded and repulped fibers are packed tightly together, forming a less porous surface than a 100% virgin fiber carton. For recycled cartons, special tapes with reinforced adhesives are required. Hot-melt packaging tape has a specific formula that can provide higher shear, tack and adhesion.

• Thick cardboard boxes or double wallpaper boxes need to use non-slip tape, which can be glued to the sides of the cardboard box and secure the main flap. Once the carton is sealed, the main flap of the carton has more memory and transfers the stress to the tape. The hot melt tape has the high holding force required to keep the main flaps down and prevent the tape from falling off.

• Printed or waxed cartons pose a completely different challenge to packaging tape. These substrates have low surface energy. Due to the low molecular attraction, the adhesive is not easy to form a bond with the surface of the carton. Acrylic tape has a lower viscosity adhesive that can wet-the adhesive flows and covers the surface to maximize the contact area-and penetrates the printed or wax layer of the carton.

It is important to consider the environmental conditions that the cartons will withstand during the entire production, transportation and storage period. The cold packaging environment is not friendly to tape. Due to the viscoelasticity of the adhesive-the combination of liquid and solid properties-low temperature will cause the liquid component in the adhesive to harden and the tape loses its viscosity. The hot melt adhesive tape is formulated with a special synthetic adhesive, which can form an instant and permanent bond and can withstand temperatures below the freezing point.

At the other end of the spectrum, humidity is also a problem with tape. For hot and humid environments, manufacturers should choose acrylic tape, which can work well in dusty or dirty environments. The wetting ability or more liquid-like ability of the tape allows the adhesive to move around dirt and dust. This function allows the acrylic tape to form a firm bond with the shell.

Packaging tapes are available in a variety of film thicknesses and adhesive grades. To ensure proper tensile strength and retention for a specific application, manufacturers should "adjust" the package size. Use the size and weight of the enclosure as a guide for choosing the appropriate grade of tape. As these factors increase, the tape grade should also increase. For example, low-grade tapes that provide thinner backings and lower levels of adhesive are often used for lightweight housing sealing, while high-grade tapes provide thicker backings. For larger and heavier boxes, a higher level of adhesive is usually recommended.

High-quality packaging tape undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that it can remain firmly fixed without fail. A well-made tape can ensure a safe seal and high productivity, so that the production line runs faster and runs longer. This improves the bottom line by reducing tape waste and reducing rework.

• Performance testing is regulated by the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC), a 60-year-old North American tape manufacturer and affiliated supplier trade association, and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM is a non-profit global organization that provides a forum for the formulation and release of consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services in various industries, including architecture and construction, food processing, manufacturing, and many industries. more.

• Physical testing checks for peeling, stickiness and shearing of the tape. It includes the evaluation of tape shear strength and retention, adhesion to fiberboard, tensile strength and elongation (the percentage of stretch that the tape can withstand before it breaks).

• Transport durability is tested by the International Safe Transport Association (ISTA). The tests it stipulates include vibration tests—simulating the movement of packaging during transportation—as well as temperature and humidity tests, drop tests, etc.

Making informed decisions on tape can have a major impact on the bottom line. Important factors that may be overlooked, such as the response of tape adhesives to various surfaces and conditions, and the quality of packaging tape, can affect cost savings and customer satisfaction. By carefully examining different aspects of the supply chain, manufacturers can ensure that they choose the most suitable packaging tape to meet their individual processing needs.

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