Tape that won't stick: eight causes at the packing table
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Tape that comes loose, tears, or jumps off the roll almost always has one identifiable cause. We'll go through eight causes at the packing table, with concrete changes you can make for each cause.
You seal a box, stack it, and an hour later, one of the flaps is half-open again. Or worse: the package arrives at the customer with a strip of tape that's come loose on one side and picked up a streak of dirt on the other. Tape that doesn't do its job is rarely bad luck. Usually, there's a clear cause, and it's more often in the cardboard or your handling than in the roll itself.
Below, we'll go through the most common causes reported by webshops and market vendors, with concrete changes you can make for each cause. At the end, there's a table to help you go from symptom to cause.
First, identify exactly what's going wrong
There are three types of malfunctions, and they have different causes. Separating them will save you a lot of trial and error.
The tape detaches from the cardboard. The strip is still intact, but it doesn't adhere. This is almost always a problem with the surface or the temperature.
The tape tears or frays during unrolling or cutting. This is due to the roll, the cutting blade, or the speed at which you pull.
The tape jumps off the roll or you can't find the end anymore: you're constantly searching for the beginning. This is a dispenser or storage problem.
Causes 1 to 3: the cardboard is working against you
Dust and cardboard powder. Boxes that have been stored in a shed, garage, or at the bottom of a stack often have a thin layer of dust on the outside. Adhesive sticks to that dust, not to the cardboard. You'll notice it when the tape initially sticks well but later detaches with a grey film on the adhesive side. Briefly wipe the taping area with a dry cloth before applying tape, and store your stock flat and covered instead of loosely on the floor.
Recycled and rough cardboard. The rougher and more fibrous the surface, the less contact area the adhesive has. This isn't a defect in the cardboard—it's why you need a bit more pressure and a bit more overlap on such boxes. Aim for a strip that extends at least five centimetres over the side on both ends, instead of precisely to the edge.
Moisture and grease. A box that has just come out of a cold delivery van will be damp on the outside. Hand cream, food residue, or a greasy workbench do the same. Allow boxes that come from the cold to reach room temperature for half an hour before taping them, and keep your packing table clean.
Causes 4 to 6: the roll itself
Too little tape for the weight. One strip across the seam is enough for a light, well-filled box. For something heavier, you'll want two extra strips perpendicular to the seam. This is cheaper than it seems: in a bundle, a roll costs a fraction of what you pay for individual rolls. The Tape Rolls 6 Pieces 48x66mm are €21.00 in the store, the Tape Rolls Box 36 pieces are €108.00.
A roll that has been exposed for too long. Adhesive doesn't really dry out, but a roll that has been lying for months in dust and sun at the edge of your table will stick noticeably less on the outside. If in doubt, unroll a meter or two first and discard it.
Cold. This is a classic from October onwards. Adhesive becomes stiffer when it gets colder and adheres more slowly. If you work in a shed or garage, store your tape indoors and only take it out when you're ready to tape. Also, check the tape packaging itself: manufacturers often specify a temperature range within which the roll is designed to work.
Causes 7 and 8: your own actions
Unrolling too fast. If you pull hard and fast, the film stretches and then wants to retract. It will then be the first to detach at the ends of the strip—that characteristic curling corner. Unroll more calmly and press down the strip with your thumb or the edge of the dispenser.
Too little pressure. Adhesive adheres through contact, not through time. Firmly stroking along the entire strip once does more than waiting ten minutes. A dispenser really helps with this, as you unroll, cut, and press in one motion. The Kinzo Tape Dispenser with 2 Rolls costs €9.95 and is the cheapest improvement you can make to a packing table.
From symptom to solution
What you see
Probable cause
What you change
Corners curl up
Unrolled too fast, not pressed enough
Unroll more slowly, press down strip
Entire strip comes loose, adhesive looks grey
Dust on the cardboard
Wipe the sealing strip, cover stock
Sticks poorly since it got colder
Temperature
Store tape and boxes indoors
Tape tears lengthwise
Dull blade or pulling too hard
Replace blade, use dispenser
You're constantly looking for the end
Loose roll without dispenser
Put roll in a dispenser
Seam opens on heavy boxes
Too few strips
Extra strips perpendicular to the seam
What tape you should have at home
For most small webshops, one working roll and one spare roll are enough, plus a narrower roll for cards and gift wrapping. This combination covers almost everything:
If you work with boxes that you assemble yourself, it helps if the box fits snugly around the contents: a Cardboard Shipping Box 15x15x15 cm for €1.99 closes neatly flat, whereas an overfilled box bulges and keeps pushing the tape from the inside. For letterbox mailings, the problem barely arises, as you tape on a flat sealing strip there—see for example the Recycled Letterbox Box 180 x 115 x 28 mm (A6), bundle 100 pieces for €17.95.
One more thing
If you change one thing, make it this: don't just lay your tape on the table anymore, but put it in a dispenser, and press down every strip. In practice, this resolves most complaints. If problems still persist, it's in the cardboard—and then wiping it down or using a different box quality is the next step.
Everything for your packing table can be found at Tape, Packaging & Shipping, and Boxes. If you're unsure which tape suits your boxes, or if you'd like to discuss your packing process, feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl—we're happy to help.
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