Two carton-sealing tapes at the same price per roll can differ by a third in cost per sealed carton. The difference is in three numbers: film thickness, roll length and adhesive type.
Film thickness
Thickness is quoted in microns and sets how much tension the tape takes before it tears or stretches. Light 40-micron film suits handheld dispensers on standard cartons; heavier grades suit machine application and heavy or irregular loads.
Roll length
Price is normally quoted per roll, so length changes the real cost more than anything else. The automotive masking listing in our range runs 140 m per roll; the water-activated kraft paper tape runs 50 m × 48 mm on a pressure-sensitive hot-melt system. Compare tapes per metre, then per carton.
Adhesive type
- Acrylic adhesive — quiet unwind, good UV and ageing behaviour, the standard for storage and long transit
- Hot-melt adhesive — higher initial tack on recycled board, better in cold conditions
- Water-activated (gummed) paper — paper tape sealed with water; the board and the tape recycle together
Printing
Offset printing along the tape face is available on BOPP and polyester substrates, and the printed band is priced with the print set-up folded into a larger first order. Printed tape replaces the label, the applicator tape and the stock-keeping line, which is usually where the saving appears.
Tell us the carton size, the weight inside it and whether sealing is by hand or machine, and we will propose the thickness and length that hold the cost per carton down.
