The small guide to choosing adhesive for your packaging | RAJA

Adhesive tape is a crucial part of your packaging: it not only seals your packages, but also ensures that they are tamper-proof and contributes to the unboxing experience your customers have when they receive your goods.

So it’s essential that you choose the right adhesive from the wide range available on the market. Do you need a superior seal or a very strong adhesive with an optimal adhesive mass?

Find out what you really need, as well as some good adhesive application practices, in this comprehensive article.

What criteria should you use to choose your packaging tape?

There are many different types of packaging tapes, so how do you choose the right one for your logistics processes?

Think about the adhesive film you need according to..

• The weight of your packages: the heavier they are, the thicker the adhesive you need.
• Thequality of the outer cover of the parcel: your adhesive tape must adhere perfectly to the outer surface of your packaging
• Storage or transport conditions: export, temperature variations, UV resistance, weathering, etc. Make sure that your tape is resistant to the conditions in which you wish to store or transport your goods.
• Comfort of use: there are quick-release or silent-release adhesives to improve your operators’ packaging practices.
• Aesthetics: to enhance the appearance of your packages, you can opt for transparent, paper or gummed tape, or you can choose to personalise your tape with your brand colours, logo or slogan, to customise your visual communication on your packaging.
• The desired level of security of the closure: there are adhesive tapes that are more or less secure for your packages (armed tape, security tape, with a message, gummed tape, etc.).

With these criteria in mind, you are ready to discover which type of tape will suit you.

What types of tape should you choose for your needs?

Take a moment now to learn about the different types of tape, and how to make the right choice to best secure your shipments.

Polypropylene tape

Polypropylene tape is ideal for intensive use: its fast unwinding and instant adhesion allow your operators to close packages quickly and securely. It also adheres to all types of packaging and has a low sensitivity to humidity.

It is also the most economical option.

Polypropylene tape is also available in a “long length” version to save time and space in the warehouse. Each 200m roll of tape is equivalent to 3 standard 66m rolls, so your operators will change rolls less often to finish their packs. Smart!

Silent polypropylene tape

The second option is the silent polypropylene tape, which, as the name suggests, unwinds quietly and firmly, making it very comfortable to use.

It has good durability, thanks to its low sensitivity to temperature variations, as well as good resistance to UV.

If you have an eco-friendly packaging strategy, good news! There is also a more environmentally friendly version of this adhesive: the polypropylene “Airtape”. This is made with 30% less plastic than standard adhesive and uses less material than other adhesive tapes.

PVC adhesive tape

PVC tape has the best adhesion of all adhesive tapes, with optimum adhesion to all substrates and a firm, quiet unwind.

Its natural rubber adhesive makes it resistant to moisture.

It is also available in a 58 micron version, which is highly tear-resistant.

Kraft paper tape

Have you heard of kraft paper tape? It is the ecological alternative to traditional adhesive tape, as it is bio-based (made from renewable resources, kraft paper and natural rubber adhesive).

It can be combined with cardboard boxes for a totally recyclable package without the need to separate the adhesive from the package.

It ensures a perfect closure, while enhancing the value of your parcels by making them more attractive.

What’s more, it can be cut by hand, which makes it very easy to apply.

Gummed tape

The gummed strip is made of 100% recycled pure vellum kraft and a fast-setting vegetable glue based on potato starch, making it 100% recyclable.

It ensures an almost immediate and definitive closure: the glue penetrates deep into the fibres of the cardboard, even if it is recycled. It makes your parcels inviolable: any attempt to tear off the tape will destroy the cardboard.
It is also the type of adhesive that best resists variations in temperature and humidity: it is therefore ideal for export
.

There are also :

• With a paper tear strip, to make it easier to open the package
• Reinforced version, with integrated polyester or fibreglass threads, for even more resistance

If you choose to use gummed adhesive tape for your parcels, remember to combine it with a manual or electronic gummed tape wiper, to save time and comfort when applying it to your parcels.

Reinforced adhesive

Reinforced adhesive contains a cross-linked glass fibre reinforcement for extra strength and is therefore recommended for heavy or bulky packages up to 75 kg.

Combined with a synthetic hot melt adhesive, it has a very high and instantaneous adhesive power.

What type of glue should you choose for your tape?

Another key element in choosing the ideal adhesive for your packages is the glue it contains.

So choose between..

• Acrylic glue: it allows a growing and long-lasting adhesion, and is crystal clear
• Natural rubber: it provides strong and stable adhesion, and clings to the substrate without leaving any trace, for an adhesive that can be repositioned if necessary
• Hot melt synthetic rubber: strong and instant adhesion
• Potatostarch-based vegetable glue: strong, instant and permanent adhesion

What thickness of adhesive tape should you choose for your packages?

The thickness of adhesive tapes for parcels is expressed in microns: the greater the thickness of your adhesive tape in microns, the more secure it will be for heavy or bulky parcels.

• 28 microns is the standard thickness of adhesive: it is recommended for light parcels up to 20 kg
• 32 to 37 microns is the strongest adhesive thickness and is recommended for packages up to 30 kg
• The 58 micron adhesive is extra strong and is recommended for heavy or bulky packages

If you are packing even heavier or larger goods, choose reinforced adhesive, which will ensure a good hold and optimal protection for your parcels.

What are the best practices for applying adhesive to your packaging?

You have all the criteria you need to choose the right adhesive for your packaging, but do you have all the keys to using it properly on your packages? Find out here about good practices for using adhesive tape!

Good practices for applying your adhesive

First of all, make sure you are in the right conditions to apply your adhesive: ideally, you should be in a room with a temperature above 10°C, and use it on a clean, dry surface.

However, it is important to remember that..

• For a cold environment, you can use a polypropylene tape with a rubber adhesive or a gummed tape
• For installation in a warm environment, use a polypropylene tape with acrylic adhesive or a rubber band

Also make sure that your operators are equipped with adhesive dispensers, which allow them to unroll the adhesive more easily, and to cut it without having to use a cutter or scissors.

Finally, when applying your adhesive, apply gentle pressure to your tape with the dispenser. One last tip: avoid stretching polypropylene tape, as it may come unstuck when you return to its original position.

The different techniques for sealing packages

How do you position the adhesive tapes on your boxes to ensure high resistance during transport or storage of your packages? Several techniques are available to you:

Now it’s up to you to design the ideal packaging that protects your goods and enhances your customer experience by downloading the A to Z guide to successful packaging.