Did you know? Tips & Tricks about your packaging

Those of us who work at Rajapack see packaging as much more than just a product to wrap and protect, but we recognise that we are professionally trained. But did you know that packaging can be curious… and even fun? In this post we bring you a lot of curiosities and tricks that are sure to surprise you. Read on!

► Tape trivia and tips on adhesive tape

first of all, we are going to tell you two tricks that will help you if you work with adhesive tape for packaging on a daily basis:

Do you know how to differentiate a PVC adhesive tape from a polypropylene one?

With this simple trick you will learn to tell them apart, and to do it… you will only need a pen!

• If a hole remains when you go through the tape: The tape is made of PVC.
• If when you go through the tape it breaks: The tape is made of polypropylene.

Another way to find out is by stretching the tape, polypropylene is not as flexible as PVC, so if it is stretched it is more likely to give. But, be careful! this does not mean that you should always choose PVC adhesive tapes. For lighter weight boxes or packaging, polypropylene can be an excellent option, as well as being cheaper. And a tip for choosing your packaging tape correctly: Remember that the adhesion capacity of a tape is determined by the type of adhesive (hotmelt, acrylic or solvent), not whether it is PVC or polypropylene.

Did you know that…?

• did you know that the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) named Scotch tape a “Humble Masterpiece”?

In 2004, the MoMA wanted to pay tribute to 122 simple, everyday products that they considered to be, in reality, “humble” masterpieces of art and design. And that’s where Scotch tape comes in, an invention for many uses!

• did you know that there is a festival in Ohio celebrating the love of American tape?

Since 2005 there has been an annual festival in Avon, Ohio dedicated to celebrating “duct tape, its enthusiasts and its fun and crazy uses. The festival features everything from sculptures to fashion shows, obviously all with duct tape. The festival is called the Duck Tape Festival

• did you know that you could win a college scholarship by making a duct tape dress for your prom?

that would be if you were American, there a brand of duct tape offers scholarships to the student who goes to their prom with the best dress made with their duct tape, the prize is 10.000 dollars! There are some really creative looks, here is a wonderful example

curious uses of duct tape

Have you ever thought of using duct tape to unscrew a bottle that is impossible to open? Thanks to its excellent sticking ability it can help us in this task. And that’s not all, did you know that transparent adhesive tape can turn a translucent glass into transparent? Inside video!

► Ribbon Tricks

do you know the difference between polypropylene and polyester strapping?

This is a really easy trick, all you need is a glass of water. What do you have to do?

► Bag tips

• do you know the difference between polyethylene bags and polypropylene bags?

Easily distinguish them by their colour! If the colour is whitish or opaque it means that the bags are made of polyethylene, if on the other hand they are transparent, they are made of polypropylene. Polyethylene bags tend to have a more industrial use, and polypropylene bags are used more in commerce, they have resistance to tearing and let you see the real colour of the product inside. Also, as they are shiny they offer a very good presentation. Do you want to know more about this? In this post we explain the differences between polyethylene and polypropylene

• is the thickness of a bag measured in microns or gauges?

the gauge is an old system for measuring the thickness of a bag that is still used in the industry, so it is common to find this measurement when talking about plastic bags. 1 Micron = Gauge x 4. The microns are usually put first and then the gauges, for example: 50 microns gauge 200

► Curiosities about protection in packaging

• have you ever wondered what really protects your products in boxes?

the secret is in the air, just as you read it. The air is the cushioning, whether you choose kraft paper (the cushioning is done between the sheets of paper), foam or bubble wrap (the cushioning is done between the bubbles of both the foam and the bubble wrap) as protection.

• did you know that there are websites, apps and even an International Day in honour of bubble wrap?

The popularity of bubble wrap for relaxation is well known… But even to the extent of playing on a computer or downloading an app? Yes… You can find hundreds of apps for that pleasure. On the left a screenshot of the Bubble Wrap iPhone App. And if that’s not enough, the last Monday in January is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day! Are you up for it next year? This year we’re celebrating with eco-friendly bubble wrap– let’s go modern!

► Fun facts about boxes

did you know that…?

• did you know that corrugated cardboard was used for top hats?

it was patented in the UK in 1856, although cardboard existed long before that!

• did you know that the first to use packaging as a marketing tactic was the Kellogs brand?

It was 1950, they made a cereal box so unusual that it was an epoch-making event, setting the standard for the typical breakfast cereal box and creating a custom that we still carry on today. Today, personalisation of packaging is still indispensable for companies

• did you know that the cardboard box is also one of the most famous public domain toys in the world?

it is well known that boxes are not just packaging, they can be used for anything you can imagine, which is why the cardboard box was added to the National Toy Hall of Fame in New York in 2005. If you’ve got the itch, here’s a post on how to use boxes as a toy

• did you know that a skydiver survived a fall without a parachute by landing on a pile of boxes?

en el 2012, Gary Connery, un paracaidista profesional, decidió tirarse de un avión sin paracaídas para aterrizar en una pista de cajas de cartón. Increíble, ¿verdad? Pues según este vídeo parece que fue todo un éxito. Por supuesto, no te animamos a probarlo, ni podemos certificar que esto sea cierto. Pero es cuanto menos, curioso, y ¡muy arriesgado!

¿Te ha parecido este post curioso? ¿Conoces alguna anécdota sobre el mundo del embalaje? ¡Déjanos un comentario! Estaremos encantados de ampliar este post.

Fuente de las imágenes:
- Thinkstock
- MoMA
- DuckTapeFestival.com
- Womenyoushouldknow.net
- MultiVu.com