Adhesive tape or hot melt for sealing cartons?
Hot melt or Adhesive tape: which one is better packaging solution?
In the world of packaging, there are many methods of sealing cartons and boxes. Although we often underestimate the importance of choosing a sealing material, it plays an extremely important role in improving workflows and ensuring safety when storing and transporting goods. The most commonly used technologies for sealing cartons/boxes are: hot melting and adhesive tape, and the choice between them can be key to achieving efficiency and economy of the packaging process. In the next few lines we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
So, which method of sealing is better?
- Hot melt technology is a synthetic resin that liquefies when heated and applied using a small, handheld device or a large automated system with multiple automatic nozzles;
- Adhesive tape consists of 2 parts – carrier and glue. The media can be POPP, paper, PVC, while adhesives can be acrylic, hot melt or solvent.
Both solutions have their positive and negative sides, and which of the two methods is more suitable depends on the specific needs and conditions of application.
Hot Melt Advantages:
- The material is cheaper - usually costs 50-75% less than the packaging tape;
- Depending on the application and the equipment used, material savings can amount to significant amounts over time;
- Wide range of applications - a wide variety of material options and nozzle sizes; Suitable for enterprises with heavy loads - quick sealing of boxes / carton;
- Continuous work process;
- Provides higher structural strength - important for heavy and bulky packaging;
- Customer experience – open a package without a knife or scissors;
- Appearance - professional looking gasket, no cracks or folds;
Disadvantages:
- Higher costs for the purchase of equipment;
- Higher operating costs;
- Training time for operators;
- High energy consumption;
- In certain environments, especially low-temperature production, it is not applicable Potential risk of burns to operators
Adhesive tape
Advantages:
- Lower cost of owner;
- Ability to fully cover the joints between the lids of the carton;
- Suitable for businesses with smaller volume of packaging processes;
- Flexibility of package size at lower volumes;
- Choosing the right duct tape – acrylic, hot melt tape, solvent, different grades of duct tape and in different price range;
- Various media – POPP, paper, PVC
Disadvantages:
- Manual reloading every 660 - 1000 m of tape;
- Rupture of the tape – as a result of slight or sharp edges;
- Possibility of human error;
- Storage space – necessary for dispensers and spare rollers;
Which method is better suited to your needs?
In businesses with a higher volume of sealing goods, the use of hot melt technology will help increase productivity and optimize costs. For packaging lines, with a lower volume of cartons and sealing boxes, adhesive tape is an effective enough method. Each application varies depending on the products being produced and the environment in which they are produced. If you are not sure which solution is more suitable for the specifics of your business or you are interested in optimizing packaging lines, our team of experts is at your disposal for full assistance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
