Product Links:
A. Security Holograms, Labels, Stickers
B. Promotional Holographic Products
C. Security Tape & Security Labels
D. Mechanical Security Seals
E. ID Cards, Printers, Ribbons
F. Parking Permits, Sticker & Hang Tags
G. Thermal Printers, Ribbons, Labels
H. Laminated and Specialty Labels
Overview
Click the links in the table of content to take you to that section of the page.
Table of Contents
1. How quickly will the tamper evident feature be functional?
2. The tape can be removed cleanly and it does not show the tamper evident message (OPENED). What's the problem?
3. When the tape is removed, it tears fibers from the surface and the tamper evident message (OPENED) does not appear. What's the cause?
4. What is the difference between a paperboard box and corrugated cardboard?
5. Does the corrugated carton or paperboard box have a marking to indicate the surface strength?
6. Do we need a speciai tape for the corrugated cartons we use in our freezer?
7. The tape is being applied to stretch wrap film. When removed, the film tears. How do we eliminate tearing the film?
NovaVision Product Pricing
Security
Hologram Stickers
Promotional
Labels and Stickers
Security
Tape and Seals
Anti
Pilfering Seals
Holographic
Paper and Board
3D
Full Color Holograms
Water
Detection Labels
Time
Expiring Visitor Badges
Custom
ID Badges
Holographic ID Cards
Holographic
ID Overlays
ID Cards and Accessories
Parking Permits
Thermal
Transfer Ribbons
Thermal
Labels
Thermal
Printers
Laminated
Bar Code Labels
Security Tape Troubleshooting Guide
1) How quickly will the tamper evident feature be functional?
For the recommended surfaces and an application temperature of 70F (or higher), the tamper evident feature (OPENED) should function within 1 minute of application. Application at temperatures less than 70F may require more cure time on the surface.
2) The tape can be removed cleanly and it does not show the tamper evident message (OPENED). What's the problem?
Let's work through the checklist.....
1. Confirm the surface is on the "RECOMMENDED SURFACES" list for the tape you purchased.
2. When applied, the surface must be a MINIMUM of +40F. To confirm if temperature is an issue, temporarily move to a location where the surface can achieve a minimum temperature of +70F and test again.
3. The surface must be dry. Moisture of any kind can cause the problem. Dry thoroughly and repeat the test.
4. The surface must be clean. Wipe with a clean cloth or paper towel to remove dust or other loose particles, then repeat the test.
5.
If there are possible chemical contaminants (oil, lubricants, release agents, etc), clean the surface with 100% iso-propyl alcohol. Wipe the alcohol dry with clean dry cloth or paper towel, then repeat the test.
6. If the surface has a clear coat or clear varnish, confirm if the varnish is still present after the tape is removed. It is possible for the tape to remove the clear coat if it is not bonded well to the underlying surface.
If the varnish was removed, we recommend testing our non-residue labels/tape, which feature a less aggressive adhesive.
7. The surface may require a longer cure time. Smooth surfaces usually only require a 1 minute cure. Rough and textured surfaces may require more cure time. Plastic and powder coated paint may require more cure time. Apply again and allow the tape to cure up to 4 hours. Longer curing (beyond 4 hours) only marginally improves performance.
If you cannot identify the problem from the above steps, the tape selected will not meet your needs. Some cartons have moisture resistant coatings (wax and other chemicals) which interfere with tape adhesion. Please contact us for next steps.
3) When the tape is removed, it tears fibers from the surface and the tamper evident message (OPENED) does not appear. What's the cause?
Pulled fibers can be an issue for materials with low surface strength -- usually paper, paperboard, and recycled corrugated cardboard.
Some applications will accept torn fibers as an indication of tampering, particularly if the torn surface has printed text or graphics, which makes the tampering more prominent. However, ideally when removed from the original surface, there will be a clear tamper evident message on the surface and in the tape and no torn fibers.
Tearing fibers (delaminating the surface) is an indication of lower strength in the surface compared to the 'breakaway' level of the tamper evident message (OPENED) in the tape.
Often, the culprit for paper-type products is high recycled content, which usually has a lower surface strength. So one option is to change to materials with a higher strength - those formulated with higher virgin content.
Another possibie cause is the surface construction. Short fibers or low binder can reduce surface strength. Again, to eliminate this cause requires a change in the materials.
Absorbed moisture can be a contributing factor, which reduces the surface strength in paperboard and corrupated.
If torn fibers are an issue, our "RC" tapes have the highest probability of success.
4) What is the difference between a paperboard box and corrugated cardboard?
Here are typical examples of each:
> Most shipping cartons are constructed of corrugated cardboard. A cross section of the corrugated cardboard shows a wavy middle (fluted) section sandwiched between two flat sheets (liners). Most shipping cartons are a kraft brown color, but some are clay-coated which provides a glossy finish (like the outer surface of a FedEx box).
> Paperboard is a single flat piece of material -- usually .010 to .030 inches thick. Typical examples of paperboard are a Fedex envelope, rigid mailers, pharmacuetical box, etc.
Regarding compatibility, most of our security tapes work equally well on both paperboard and corrugated cardboard.
5) Does the corrugated carton or paperboard box have a marking which indicates the surface strength?
Currently, there are no markings to indicate surface strength.
Most shipping cartons include a printed information on the box bottom which indicates structural capabilities, such as:
- Edge Crush Test, which pertains to the stacking height of boxes (ie,the compressive strength of the box).
-
Size Limit, which pertains to the maximum dimensional length of the box (ie, the bending strength of the box).
- Gross Weight, which indicates
the maximum weight the box can carry (ie, the burst strength of the box).
But none of these characteristics pertain to the surface strength, which is a key parameter to avoid tearing fibers.
But it's easy to test for surface strength; just order our free samples, affix to your surface, then remove after 1 minute.
Most of our security tapes perform well on paperboard or corrugated. Our RC formula tapes have the most versatile performance for high recycled content.
6) Do we need a special tape for the corrugated boxes used in our freezer?
Maybe.
Corrugated Cardboard used in refrigerators and freezers may have moisture resistant coatings (wax or other chemicals). Without these coatings, condensation can reduce the structural integrity of the carton. However, these coatings can reduce the bond between the tape and surface. Also, the coatings may reduce the effectiveness of the tamper evident (OPENED) feature.
Our 'RC' formula tapes have the highest probabiliy of success on cartons which have a moisture resistant coating.
7) The tape is being applied to stretch wrap film. When removed, the film tears. How do we eliminate tearing the film?
Tearing the film can be an issue for materials with low strength. Using a thicker film will increase the surface strength and eliminate the problem.
Our "RC" tapes have the highest probability of success on shrink and stretch films.