Have loads to pack for your company and can’t decide which type of packing tape to use? It gets pretty confusing with all the options we have but we’ve got you sorted! With all sorts of shipping situations that you may have encountered, it is necessary to know what kind of tape would suit your needs so here goes…
The very first thing that you need to look into is your own needs. You know your needs best of all so make a little mental note and keep the products you have to seal in those cartons right in the front of your mind.
What To Look For In a Good Packing Tape?
Although this list isn’t all-encompassing these are some pretty common things. Here’s what you need to know when selecting a suitable carton sealing tape:
- Sturdiness and Strength: Will it hold well or will it scrape off?
- Durability and reliability: Is it a weak tape? Will it hold the large product in?
- Weather resistance: What if the heat boils the glue off? What if the cold freezes it off?
- Adhesion: Will it stick like guilt? Or will it run shorter than a butterfly’s life span?
- Ease of use: Will I keep struggling to use it or is it user-friendly?
- Theft Prevention: Can I somehow find out if somebody tried to open and change the contents of my sealed carton?
- Customizability: Can I put my brand on the tape? Can I color code my tapes?
There are ten basic types of tapes that might come in handy when you’re out wrapping up those cartons for a brand new destination. Remember, each serves a different purpose.
The Ten Types of Packing Tapes:
- Gummed/Water Activated/Kraft Paper Tapes
- Box Tape or BOPP Tape
- Scotch or Light Weight Packing Tape
- Heavy Duty Packing Tape
- Tamper-Evident Tape
- Strapping Tape
- Masking Tape
- Duct Tape
- Double-Sided Tape
- Cold Temperature Tape
Now let’s break down the characteristics of each tape that might lead to you taking the right decision when choosing your carton sealer. Read on for a detailed analysis for each type based on its usage with a bonus verdict from our side too.
1. Gummed Tape
Properties: A customizable tape which you can use to print upon any logo or brand name you like. It works on the principle of using an adhesive or is usually water-activated. It can be deemed weatherproof to some extent but it is made out of paper though so it may not be the most heavy-duty one out there.
Usage: Mostly put to use in smaller carton sealing industries. You’ll a lot of Kraft tape in pharmaceuticals, jewelry shop packaging, and food and health products.
Verdict: Gummed tapes are great to use if your primary concern is to see if your package was tampered with, they mostly leave tampering evidence on the package itself. They work great on smaller carton sealing, however, bigger cartons can be sealed with a lot of reinforcement.
2. Box Tape or BOPP Tape
Properties: It’s super customizable, choose your color, width, and length and even get it printed. It works on the principle of pressure-based adhesion which means it sticks right in when you press it real hard on top.
Usage: They are used heavily in the carton sealing industry especially for ridged or corrugated cartons. In the courier service world, this tape is your best friend for the poly mail plastic bags.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a super cheap tape that does not require water to get activated, this might be your tape! But it is to be remembered that these are medium strength tapes and can’t perform the toughest jobs.
3. Scotch or Light Weight Packing Tape
Properties: You’ve seen it, you’ve held it, and it’s your everyday art class plastic tape. It’s made out of plastic and works with a one-sided adhesive. It’s super cheap too.
Usage: It’s used for lightweight cartons and packages that need not be too heavily taped. Usually used for art supplies, stationery cartons, smaller plastic bags, and pouches.
Verdict: If you want to ship some machinery in really cold weather, this might be a deal-breaker! It’s for the lighter, simpler, easier carton sealing.
4. Heavy Duty Packing Tape
Properties: This is that big shot all the other tapes are scared of. It is made out of PVC plastic and this thing can take a beating. It is activated by heat or water. This is sometimes made out of paper and fiberglass adhesion as well.
Usage: This tape is used for heavier cartons that need that strong support all around. Cartons ranging from 20 to 30 kilos or so may be perfect for this tape.
Verdict: If your business required some hefty and tough sealing tape then think no more and go for the heavy-duty packing tape.
5. Tamper-Evident Tape
Properties: It’s a paper forward tape that is deliberately made weak so you’d be tempted to peel it off and viola… it leaves the printed text on the carton to show someone’s been trying to take it off.
Usage: Its name tells you what it does. It is used for sealing cartons you want no tampering with. Security companies and even courier services that do not want any unauthorized persons opening and peaking in use this tape.
Verdict: It will leave a printed text on the box if someone tries to take it off hence it is super secure to use for all those cartons you don’t want any meddling with.
6. Strapping Tape
Properties: It’s a plastic and polyester forward tape that can prove pretty useful in carton sealing.
Usage: This tape is used to make bigger units of already made cartons. It is usually the second tape to be used on already taped cartons. It brings them together, binds them strongly, and keeps them from shaking and moving about too much.
Verdict: Its super strength is the reason you might want to use this tape to bundle together your packages or if you just want that sturdy grip while sealing your cartons together.
7. Masking Tape
Properties: It’s a paper tape with an adhesive on the inside, however, the paper is easily torn off and the tape can be removed.
Usage: Usually used by painters when dividing walls or the canvas. This is the least used tape in carton sealing owing to its weak adhesion to cardboard and also the overall pricing rise that might come up if this tape is used sufficiently.
Verdict: Although it is heat resistant, it poses not many uses in the carton sealing world.
8. Duct Tape
Properties: This is the tape that Hollywood has popularized as the one kidnappers use to cover your face. But no need to be scared. It’s that super sticky, silver-colored plastic forward tape that can be torn off relatively easily.
Usage: This is a mover’s best friend. It will seal those cartons till they find their new home like nothing else. Machine companies are fond of this tape with heavy usage all across air conditioning and ventilator companies as well.
Verdict: It’s strong and rigid but not like the heavy-duty packing tape, it’s just the right kind of strength home movers or big item carton sealers might need.
9. Double-Sided Tape
Properties: It’s two-faced, like most people. Sticks on both sides. It is made out of foam and coated in an easily peel-able plastic cover. Its length and width are customizable but you might not be able to print much on it.
Usage: It can come in handy when you want to stick together two objects usually wooden or plastic. Furniture makers might use it sometimes to replace glue usage.
Verdict: It’s not the ideal tape for carton sealing because of its dual-sidedness and it is relatively weak too.
10. Cold Temperature Tape
Properties: It’s the cold weather tape. Designed with adhesive on the inside much like Scotch tape, however, it is specifically designed for cold weather carton sealing.
Usage: An excellent tape for carton sealing in colder areas and especially with the refrigeration industry for the transport of red and white meat, seafood, and other refrigerated goods.
Verdict: The fear of glue freezing and scrapping off in real in the carton sealing businesses. This tape will make sure you don’t have to go through the horror of losing your precious items to unsafe, tape-rolled-off cartons when it’s freezing cold outside.
Here’s hoping the detailed breakdown helps you navigate through the long and tedious line of tapes that might confuse a new buyer. Keeping in mind your needs is super important here and you might benefit from actually thinking about seemingly unnecessary factors like the weather.
Good luck tape shopping!