Doing a job properly is not just about having the right tools at the ready. They should be the right versions of those tools. If you had to drive a nail into a wall for a picture frame, would you use a sledgehammer? The distinctions can be subtler, yet just as impactful.
This principle even applies to the different tapes that shippers use for packing and sealing boxes. You have many options that may seem similar, if not identical, but may make quite the difference when you use them. We prepared this brief yet informative guide to help shippers make the best choices.
Duct Tape … Not
Popular wisdom holds that the only two tools anyone needs are WD-40 and duct tape. The former can make anything move, while the latter can hold anything together. We will not speak on WD-40 here, but we strongly advise against using duct tape for packaging purposes. In fact, the United States Postal Service and many other carriers have policies against accepting shipments with this adhesive.
The problem is that contrary to what many would believe from its lofty reputation, duct tape is simply not strong enough for the task. The rubber adhesive reacts poorly against the cardboard material so often used for packaging. Worse, the tape can react terribly if exposed to heat, always a possibility in the transportation process.
For all these reasons, duct tape tends to loosen or even slip off packages. As disappointing as this may be, shippers can rest assured that other options are available. Instead of using the same tapes, you employ around the house, you can choose from several different tapes purpose-built for securing packages.
Bag-Sealing Tape
One recurring theme in this blog, like when we discussed the different types of mailers , is that different goods require different forms of packaging. Boxes are not the best solution 100% of the time. Nor, for the matter, are mailers. Certain goods may be best off sealed inside poly bags. Print publications, clothing, and other light yet sturdy items are great examples.
Once you insert the items into the bags, you must find a way to keep them comes in. As you can guess from the name, it is designed specifically for this type of packaging. The plastic composition is strong, and the adhesive bonds perfectly with any type of poly material.
Bag-sealing tape requires a special dispenser. Operation is simple: store the roll inside, insert the bag by the end you want to seal, and twist it. The result is a powerful package that is tough to tear, even on purpose.
Kraft Gummed Sealing Tape
Just as poly bags require their special tape, so do cartons. The term refers to the standard boxes one normally thinks of when they picture a package, made from cardboard or a similar sturdy material. Bag-sealing tape, for all its benefits in its specific field, may not cut it for these packaging materials. As we already said, duct tape definitely would not. So what would?
Well, a few kinds would work, and kraft gummed sealing tape is one of them. It does not simply stick to the cardboard. It bonds with the material, thanks to its water-based adhesive. “Reinforced” versions go even further with the inclusion of glass fibers in the adhesive.
Either way, kraft gummed sealing tape is much tougher to remove as a result. This may seem inconvenient for customers, who may need scissors or cutlery just to open the box upon arrival. More importantly, it is great for protecting the contents on the way to their destination.
Specialty Reinforced Gummed Tape
As important as it always is for guaranteeing the integrity of shipments, adhesive strength may be only one of several priorities for a shipping worker. There may be others, depending on the employee’s responsibilities and the priorities of their employer. Having a few tools that can achieve multiple things at once can be a big help.
Specialty reinforced gummed tape has at least two benefits on top of its “reinforced gummed” nature. Both relate to its appearance. One is that they come in a variety of hues: red, green, blue, and yellow. Aside from any aesthetic value, one may get out of this quality, this design choice makes them convenient for color-coding.
The other benefit is its continuous design. The term refers to a pattern that can show the viewer exactly where a piece of tape has been torn. It can be important because tampering is a threat about which any shipping worker should be aware and vigilant. If an unauthorized party opens the package at some point during its shipping journey, specialty reinforced gummed tape can make it immediately apparent.
3M Brand Box Sealing Tape
Proper packaging is only so important because the transportation process is fraught with risks to a package’s integrity. Many things can happen to tape between leaving a shipper’s work station and arriving at the customer’s doorstep. When choosing the best option from several different tapes, one should keep this in mind and prepare accordingly.
3M brand box sealing tape is sturdy even by the high standards of shipping tapes. It is resistant to drying out, even in arid conditions, as well as to peeling, even in humid conditions. It can handle a great deal of pressure without cracking. The tape also performs well in a variety of weather conditions.
There is a reason why many shippers trust 3M above many other brands. Their box sealing tape is available in three types: economical, all-purpose, and extra-strength. The tape can also be tan in appearance or clear.
Different Tapes at Tigerpak
Shippers do not need to feel overwhelmed by the many different tapes available to them. Each kind has its strengths, and they can choose the ones that best suit the task at hand. When you need any of the ones mentioned above — other than duct tape — you can find them at great prices here at Tigerpak.