One of the most fundamental requirements of the packaging industry is the packing tape. However, with so many different options out there, it can be hard to decide which one to pick for your packaging needs. Here is a short guide that will bring you up to speed on the various packing tapes used in the industry. Packing tapes have two broad categories, plastic, and paper. Each type comes with its own pros and cons.
Plastic Packing Tapes
Plastic packing tapes can stick easily to packages. They are water resistant, easy to use and the tape dispensers having a very low-price tag. They are also quite portable. Most stores have transparent plastic tapes in stock. Therefore, you do not need to order them specially. Finally, they work with pretty much all types of packages, be it cardboard boxes or plastic mailers.
Plastic tapes are also available in different variants. Some of them are-
Polyester Plastic Tapes
These are great for low weight packages. So, for packages with weight below 10 kilograms, polyester packing tape is good enough.
PVC Packing Tapes
They have more heavy duty uses. Packages above 10 kilograms need PVC packing tape.
Quiet Tapes
The Quiet tape is similar to polyester tapes, but the adhesive they use allows them to unroll smoothly. This reduces the unrolling noise of the tape, making it ‘quiet’. It is great for low weight packages, such as small mailers or envelopes.
Paper Packing Tape
Often referred to as the Kraft tape, this is a more expensive variant of packing tape. Being more expensive, it’s also less used by frequent shippers. Paper packing tapes come in different grades based on box weight. They also have a much larger width than their plastic counterparts – most paper tapes being 2” or more in width. Paper tape rolls are also much longer.
These tapes also need a water activated tape dispenser. If you do not moisten the gum used in the paper tapes, they will not work. The tape dispensers are also quite expensive. However, using paper tapes make packing quite fast. Their width also helps in sealing both flaps of boxes with a single strip.
Paper tapes have a regular variant and a reinforced variant.
If you are packing less than 20 kgs, then you can use the regular variant.
For boxes weighing 20 to 30 kilograms, you will have to use reinforced paper tapes. Reinforced paper tapes have fiber-glass strands in them, which makes them stronger than the regular variant.
Customizing the Tapes
You can print on both plastic and paper tapes. However, you will have to order them separately. Also, customization charges go up when you order a 2-color print, or you request a PMS Ink match.
Which Packing Tape is Right for Your Business?
The correct choice depends on the type of shipping services you are in. For example, if you want to ship poly mailers, then plastic shipping tapes are the better choice. On the other hand, if you are shipping corrugated boxes, then paper tape can be a time-saving option. Hence, according to your business requirements and budget, you can choose between different types of packaging tapes.
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