Printed Tapes Buying Guide

Printed tape is typically produced via the flexography printing process. These products often feature a natural or synthetic adhesive and a pressure sensitive backing. Available pre-printed or custom designed in a variety of ink colors and materials, printed tape serves as label indicators, safety tapes and branding and marketing tools, as it may have company logos printed on it. Instructional sealant tape may be used as an alternative to labeled boxes, and may also help prevent package pilferage. 

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Types and Associated Materials

Printed tape is available in different tensile strengths and adheres to a variety of surfaces. Fonts and prints may be custom designed from a selection of Pantone inks. Common tape backing variations include polypropylene, PVC, polyesters, reinforced and non-reinforced gummy tape and cloth materials. The adhesive materials include acrylics, hot melts and natural rubber. Printed tape is fabricated for both indoor and outdoor use, with specific applications that include:

Branding and Marketing- A printed tape featuring a company logo or design may be fabricated by manufacturers. Tape types may be printed with messages, and some suppliers accept logo and other artwork in camera ready format. Additionally, tape companies offer both an assortment of stock tape colors and custom-match options.

Identifiers- Manufacturers will often offer pre-printed messages on tape for shipment purposes and as standalone indicators, such as “caution” signs. Various manufacturers supply OSHA- compliant warning tape that can typically be applied both indoors and outdoors and are commonly fabricated with reflective materials.

Loss Prevention- Printed tape is often required to draw attention to security and shipping instructions. Pre-printed tape can be designed for loss prevention use, and can be fabricated so that it cannot be removed without detection. For example, some tape is constructed with an adhesive that remains when the tape is removed, leaving indicator messages such as “VOID.”

Additional Uses and Considerations:

Letter and Print Transfer- Tape is often sought for its transfer capability, and is used for letter placement on logos or signs. For this type of application, suppliers fabricate the tape with a natural “low-tack” adhesive backing. 

To prolong the use of printed tape, it is essential to store them in a suitable (sterilized and dry) environment. As with all tape products, consult with the tape manufacturer to verify requirements.