Different Types of Tape: A Guide to Help Businesses

The packaging industry is a diverse field where efficiency, security, and presentation are crucial players. Tape manufacturing is the most overlooked factor in this field, although it significantly contributes to effective and flawless packaging of products across various industries. 

Tape serves a role as silent protectors for secure closure of your packed products. The primary function of tape is to ensure secure closure and protection of the inside packed products from external factors during shipping, handling, and storing. 

Whether you want secure closure of your shipping boxes or bundling of items for convenient handling, tape knocks out all other packaging adhesives. Tape manufacturing has diverse types, each serving a unique purpose to cater to various packaging needs. 

Read this blog to explore these types and understand which tape would be appropriate for your business to opt for. Let’s begin!

Delve Into Different Types of Tapes for Packaging

Every kind of tape has unique features, serving its purpose. Different kinds of tapes are available in the market to accommodate specific challenges in packaging of different products. The diversity in these tape types allows the packaging sector to tailor solutions based on the needs of shipped products. Explore these tape types:

• Packing Tape

Packing tape is crucial for any business that ships their products inside corrugated cardboard boxes. Strong acrylic plastic or polypropylene material is used to make this tape. This tape features uniqueness and elegance, making them ideal to use on gift cardboard boxes.

Packing tape has a special coating of a strong and efficient adhesive which is ideal for sticking onto the surface of boxes. This tape works perfectly for both new and recycled cardboard boxes in both cold as well as hot weather.

• Masking Tape

Masking tape is also known as painter’s tape. This is a paper tape that doesn’t leave any marks or residue on the surface of anything where it is applied. This tape has a temporary nature, making it an appropriate choice to use in organizing, labelling, painting and crafting. 

Blue, green, and off-white colors are mostly used for selling these tapes. However, your business can choose from a variety of colors, sizes, and thicknesses to serve different purposes. Masking tape is ideal to use in both homes and businesses.

• Duct Tape

Duct tape is one of the most packing tapes made in the USA. This is commonly used in different industries such as automotive, communications, design and construction, manufacturing, energy, and transportation. 

This tape has three unique layers: a robust adhesive layer, a cloth fabric layer, and the top plastic layer. Moisture and water resistance, flexibility, durability, and high adhesiveness make duct tape a perfect tool for diverse industries.

• Shipping Tape

Shipping tape is also known as box-sealing tape or parcel tape. It has a pressure-sensitive feature which makes them an ideal choice for closing or sealing corrugated fiberboard boxes. With this tape, your business can impress customers due to a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated onto a backing material.

This material is polypropylene or polyester film that has high-tensile strength. Healthcare, automotive, construction, and cosmetics usually use shipping tape to pack these products efficiently and keep them safe from knocks and bumps during shipping.

• Carton Sealing Tape

Many industries prefer carton sealing tape due to its water-based adhesives. This tape can bind to a wide range of substrates. Carton sealing tape can also withstand a high-humidity level, making them ideal for packing retail, warehouse, and industrial products. 

With high-flexibility and economic practicality, carton sealing tape offers exceptional adhesive qualities for packaged products. This tape is popularly used on cartons or cardboard boxes. Different businesses use clear or brown colors for carton sealing tape. 

• Scotch Tape

Scotch tape is an excellent adhesive for heavy-duty packaging and shipping. This tape has exceptional properties such as robust, durable solvent-free hot melt adhesive seals and protects. Hard-to-stick and 100% recycled boxes can be bound tightly without any hassle. 

Shear adhesion holding power makes scotch tape good-to-go for mending torn book pages, sheet music, window curtains, and even small rips in clothing. Retail, electronics, clothes, books, and painting industries use this tape. Bankers also use this tape to repair paper currency. 

• Double-Sided Tape 

Double-sided tape has two adhesive sides, and that is why it is named so. For strong bonding, mounting, and displaying, this tape serves its purpose perfectly. Double-sided tape is clear in color but can be customized in a variety of colors and dimensions tailored to carrying product needs. 

There are different types of double-sided tape: non-removable and removable. Non-removable tap is ideal for permanent purposes such as crafting and scrapbooking. However, removable tape is great for hanging posters, pictures and other displayed items that may need to be removed later on.

• Filament Tape

Filament tape is also known as strapping tape, which is remarkably tough and superbly strong. Straps in these tapes provide extra strength, making them a suitable option for binding lightweight and heavier items in packaging.

Many industries like food and beverages, logistics, construction, and sports use filament tape. Clear or white color is common for filament tape. But different brands can go for other mesmerizing colors such as black and blue, etc., tailored to boxed products to boost customer experience. 

• Electrical Tape

Electrical tape or insulating tape is a type of tape that is used to insulate electrical wires. It is most commonly found in black color, however, there are other colors such as red and green. This tape is a pressure-sensitive tape. 

This tape can be made of different types of plastic, but the most popular one is polyvinyl chloride PVC. The primary use of this tape is to protect, insulate, and shield the electrical wires that conduct electricity. There are other alternatives to electrical tape available, such as wire connectors.

• Kraft Tape

This tape is water-activated with natural brown or white kraft color. Kraft tape is used for secure closure and corrugated cardboard boxes. But many businesses also use this tape for many other types of surfaces. With robust adhesion to boxes, kraft tape stands out to retain adhesiveness even in dust.

Kraft tape is temperature-resistant and can effectively withstand wear and tear. With this quality, kraft paper becomes an ideal choice for shipping in intense conditions. E-commerce, manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and electronics use kraft tape owing to ideal shipping conditions. 

• Aluminum Vent Tape

Aluminum vent tape is known for sealing up vents, refrigerators, and electrical products in corrugated cardboard packaging. This tape has two layers: a flexible aluminum strip and a sticky substance. With a metallic appearance, this tape exudes an elegant touch. 

The unique features of this tape are air, water, and high-temperature resistance. Aluminum vent tape doesn’t burn out even in high temperatures. Also, it stays adhesive even in high humidity. This tape is commonly used for metal and freezer repairing, HVAC systems and aerospace items packaging. 

Comparative Overview of Tapes

One of the key aspects of tape manufacturing lies in its usage based on product packaging and shipping needs. To choose the right one tape, interested businesses need to know the differences between different types of tapes. Have a comparative overview of these tapes:

• Packing Tape vs Masking Tape

Packing tape is used for closing and packaging products for shipping purposes. However, masking tape is used for routine repairs, labelling, crafting, and painting. If you want to explore in depth masking tape vs packaging tape, consider your product needs and then decide which tape type will serve better.

• Shipping vs Packing Tape

Both tapes are good-to-go adhesives for shipping boxes. The difference lies in their longevity. Compared to shipping tapes, packing tapes are designed from a heavy acrylic adhesive which helps it survive for a long time in cold and hot temperatures. 

• Duct Tape vs Packing Tape

Duct tape has a weaker adhesive compared to packing tape. Duct tape is appropriate to use for quick fixes, labelling, and crafting. It doesn’t effectively stick to cardboard boxes due to their porous surfaces and leaves behind a residue. However, packing tape efficiently sticks without leaving behind a residue. 

• Carton Sealing Tape vs Packing Tape

Packing tape is comparatively more robust and thicker than carton sealing tape. That is why packing tape offers a high level of protection to packed goods. But if you want to ship fragile or everyday items with an added layer of protection, packing tape wins. Carton sealing tape is effective for everyday items. 

• Masking Tape vs Scotch Tape

Scotch tape is ideal to use for permanent sealing and adhesion purposes, such as window curtains, repairing torn items such as paper. However, masking tape serves best when items need temporary holding power and adhesion, like hanging displays on a wall. 

Which Packaging Tape Should You Choose?

Whether you run a small or large business, you certainly need tapes for packaging your products. We have discussed in detail multiple types of tapes to cater to meet the diverse needs of different businesses.

But the question arises, which one specific tape will be a better option to use on your packaged boxes. There is no one-size fit solution to this query. Because choosing the right tape depends on your business, shipping, and carrying product’s needs. 

But if you still want to know about precise tape selection for your business, contact us to resolve your query and meet the best market practices.