American® Tape Celebrates 65 Years!

Founded in 1953 by Chris Kurzweil Sr. in Port Huron, Michigan, American Tape grew moderately in its first ten years while providing a paper masking tape line to the automotive manufacturing firms in the Midwest.

Founded in 1953 by Chris Kurzweil, Sr in Port Huron, Michigan

After moving to Marysville, Michigan in 1963, American Tape expanded and changed ownership several times until joining the IPG family in 1997 (while retaining the American® brand name). Today, IPG Marysville produces a large variety of masking tapes, flatback and reinforced (filament) tapes sold around the world. The high temp masking tapes are still highly recognized and well known in the Automotive Market.

During WW2, IPG Marysville's current location was a magnesium plant owned by a defense corporation

The plant consists of several coating lines and slitters, along with equipment to mix and make adhesives. Approximately 250 employees represent IPG Marysville, ranging from Manufacturing and Shipping, to R&D, Accounting, IT, Purchasing, Engineering, Marketing, Customer Service and more.

Timeline

1953 – American Tape founded by Chris Kurzweil, Sr in Port Huron, Michigan
1963 – Moved to Marysville, Michigan for expansion
1965 – Purchased by Armour & Company
1969 – Purchased by Greyhound – name changed to Armour Greyhound
1971 – Sold to Akzona – name changed to Armak
1983 – Sold to private investors including Chris Kurzweil, Jr – name changed back to American Tape
1990 – Sold to Seoul Trading Company (STC) – still called American Tape
1997 – American Tape joins IPG family – name changed to Intertape Polymer Group but American Tape brand is retained
2018 – American Tape turns 65!

Prevent Shipping Damage by Packing in Corrugated Cartons

The e-commerce supply chain, for all its sophistication, is a violent place if you are a carton that must get from point A to point B. You are handled by many people who may throw you around without much thought to your importance as a customer’s first impression. This carton on your customer’s doorstep is his or her first interaction with your company – so make it a good one. Ship your merchandise in a sturdy and well-packaged container – a corrugated one.

Corrugated cartons protect your products during shipment.

On the surface, both cardboard and corrugated cartons look similar.  But when it comes to protecting your product(s), there’s no comparison. Goods shipped in corrugated cartons are less likely to be damaged in shipment than those shipped in cardboard boxes.

Cardboard vs Corrugated – What’s the difference?

A carton made of cardboard typically is made of thick paper stock or heavy paper-pulp. This type of material used for cereal boxes or greeting cards. Although corrugated cartons are also made with cardboard, they are much stronger because they are made of three layers - one that includes an inside liner, another that’s an outside liner, and fluting with a ruffled shape, which runs in between the two. This construction gives these cartons much more strength.  In addition, corrugated cartons are:

• ✓ Less likely to tear or break in transit
• ✓ Lightweight, but with a higher strength-to-weight ratio
• ✓ Better able to protect the contents
• ✓ Cost-effective
• ✓ Better suited for heavier items
• ✓ Able to provide some cushioning
• ✓ Less likely to be damaged by wet conditions

Both cardboard and corrugated cartons are useful when used appropriately.  Cardboard is more useful for lightweight applications such as to-go containers board games. Corrugated, on the other hand, is the packaging material of choice for shipping boxes. It is strong, durable, and provides cushioning.

Take a Strong Box and Make It Stronger

Want to enhance the strength of a corrugated shipping box? Seal it with water-activated tape. Water-activated tape creates a permanent bond with a corrugated carton.  Once activated with water, the adhesive in this tape literally penetrates the carton material, forming a permanent bond. That means tampering with the box, specifically the seal, is easily detectable because it damages the carton. 

In addition, water-activated tape can be reinforced with polyester or fiberglass strands that make the closure (and the box) even stronger. 

Make sure everything you ship arrives in its best condition. Get tips about packaging and shipping from an eBook we’ve prepared for you. Click here to download Better Packages' “A Guide for Tape Dispensing Performance Solutions.”

Better Packages | Water-Activated Tape Dispensers and Tape

IPG offers a full line of Central® brand water-activated tape, including reinforced and non-reinforced tape. a complete line of Better Packages brand water-activated tape dispensers. In addition to providing products for packing stations, IPG helps their customers analyze and solve their packing station challenges.