Choosing the Right Shipping Tape for Your Packaging Application & Process

Your organization operates in a world where so many unexpected events can impact results. So it's imperative to have dependable solutions that enable you to meet customer needs every day without ever compromising on performance. This is especially true when it comes to your packaging and shipping operations, where having the right tapes and other accessories is fundamental to getting packages to your customers intact.

The key to securing the right shipping tapes and solutions is understanding which products are best for your specific application, including the individual requirements related to your packing and shipping processes. To inform your efforts, here is a helpful breakdown of the types of tapes and solutions best suited for different applications.

Types of Box-Sealing Tape

For a durable seal every time, it's important to consider a comprehensive selection of sealers and tapes for both automated and manual operations. Following are six of the basic categories of box-sealing tapes that may be needed for your application.

• Acrylic Tape: Acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives applied to a tape backing provide excellent adhesion over a broad range of temperatures and substrates.
• Hot Melt Tape: A hot melt synthetic rubber adhesive is applied to a tape backing so that when it cools, it makes an excellent quick-stick adhesive with good hold for recycled corrugate.
• Water-Activated Tape: When moistened, the cornstarch-based adhesive interacts with porous surfaces to form a powerful bond that shows immediately if tampered with before delivery.
• High-Strength Tapes: These tapes are engineered to meet virtually any box closing, palletizing, strapping, bundling and reinforcing challenge.
• Paper Tapes: These splicing and bundling tapes with high-temp versions for processes that have a bake cycle are suitable for hand tearing or machine dispensing.
• Light-Duty Packaging Tape: This variety is designed for excellent handling and quick stick to a variety of substrates as well as easy opening when used as a closure.

Tape Backing and Adhesive Selection

The right box-sealing tape for your job will solve its particular package sealing problems, including issues like tabbing, tape popping, unconventional box closure and temperature or humidity. Therefore, proper product selection involves a two-step process.

Step 1: Select Tape Backing

• Polyester: This is the strongest backing and features excellent abrasion resistance as well as moisture and chemical resistance. It also has the highest temperature resistance and is transparent.
• Polypropylene: This is a strong backing with good abrasion resistance, conformability and transparency. It is the most economical tape backing option.

Step 2: Select Tape Adhesive

• Synthetic Rubber: This option features excellent holding power and good initial adhesion above 40°F. It meets AS™ D-5486 government specification.
• Acrylic: With excellent initial adhesion over a broad temperature range, this option has an extremely long performance life, plus UV and chemical resistance.

Choosing Superior Shipping Tape

For optimal outcomes, there's no better alternative than using quality tapes that keep production lines moving with less interruption and ensure packages are sealed on arrival. That's why it's critical to opt for superior products that meet high standards.

3M's Scotch® Tape remains the number one brand for packaging, bundling, reinforcing solutions and more. The consistent quality of Scotch® Box Sealing Tapes means fewer interruptions on your packaging line. Here are just a few ways these products are designed to deliver maximum impact:

• Seal cartons reliably without the mess, dwell time and equipment maintenance of hot melt adhesive
• Two choices of pressure sensitive adhesive, each with a different combination of properties
• Backing choices for specific performance properties

For a focus on sustainability, keep in mind that 3M eliminates 99% of organic solvents in the production of Scotch® Box Sealing Tape. Plus, Scotch® Recycled Corrugate Tape 3073 is made with an adhesive that contains over 10% bio-based content. And all recycled corrugate tapes use recycled materials in the core to help with your sustainability goals.

To determine a shipping tape that meets your packaging needs full on, consider some of the following 3M products developed for the shipping industry.

Scotch® and Tartan™ Box Sealing Tapes

Ideal for food and beverages, electronics, e-fulfillment, pharmaceuticals and more. With choices of polyester or polypropylene backings and synthetic rubber or acrylic adhesives, you have dependability for a wide variety of box types, sizes, contents, handling situations and storage conditions.

• Reliability even with the stresses of over-packed or under-packed boxes
• Quick, easy application by hand, manual dispensers or 3M-Matic™ Case Sealers
• Choice of lengths, widths, backings, adhesives and colors to meet specific needs

Scotch® Recycled Corrugate Tapes

With environmental standards changing rapidly and companies constantly seeking new ways to reduce costs and improve their environmental footprint, packaging materials are in a constant state of flux. Scotch® Recycled Corrugate Tapes are designed to help you stay on top of the changes.

• They're tackier than conventional box sealing tapes
• Made with a proprietary adhesive designed specifically for recycled corrugate cartons

Scotch® Cold Temperature Tape

When you need extreme performance even in cold temperatures, there's a Scotch® solution at hand.

• Adheres to a variety of surfaces, including on corrugated boxes with over 70% recycled content
• Can be applied at freezer and refrigeration temperatures of 20°F to 50°F (-6.6°C to 10°C)
• Once applied, performs well on fiberboard boxes subjected to temperatures below 32°F (0°C)
• Quick, easy application by hand, manual dispensers or 3M-Matic™ Case Sealers

Scotch® Security Tapes

Deter package tampering with tapes that are ideal for sealing packages and securing loads with high-value contents. Printed messages communicate the need for careful package inspection prior to acceptance and reduce theft during the shipping process. Available with a variety of pre-printed messages.

Scotch® Specialty Box Sealing Tapes

These provide dependability for security, gapped flap cartons and more. Starting with the same dependability and durability of Scotch® Box Sealing Tapes, specialty tapes add specialized form and/or functional properties for specific applications.

Light-Duty Packaging Tapes

Have versatility with choices of film backings and adhesives for application success. Typical light-duty applications include:

• Garment bundling
• Plastic bag closure
• Party tray closure
• Small box closure
• Document envelope closure
• Inner pack box closure

Dispensing & Sealing Solutions

Leveraging the very best, most reliable tapes every day also means pairing those products with solutions that improve your shipping processes. That's why it's important to select tape dispensers and taping heads that support your effort all the way through.

Manual Tape Dispensers

Hand-held tape dispensers are an essential tool wherever products are processed, repackaged or prepared for distribution, including warehouses, industrial plants, e-commerce shipping operations and retail distribution outlets. 3M box-sealing products can be found in a weight and size for nearly every production requirement.

Taping Heads

Streamline your operations, maximize productivity and improve taping quality with 3M™ AccuGlide™ Taping Heads – no matter what brand of case sealer you own. The patented curvilinear design applies tape securely with low impact to help protect even lightweight cartons and contents.

For more detailed information about how our selection of 3M shipping tapes and solutions can support your organization's packaging needs, visit our product pages or reach out to our team of experts.