What to Look for in a Water-Activated Tape Dispenser

There is plenty of scientific evidence and real-life experience in shipping departments proving that water-activated tape is an excellent choice for fast, efficient, and effective sealing of cartons. 

Also called gummed tape, kraft paper tape, and brown paper tape,  water-activated tape (WAT) produces a strong, secure, one-strip seal. When you’ve decided on water-activated tape, your next consideration is which type of WAT dispenser to use.  

For many shipping departments, nothing less than Better Packages water-activated tape dispensers will do. They are durably engineered, user friendly, and reliable. But which model is right for your business? This blog post will help you decide.

 

Picking Your Water-Activated Tape Dispenser: Manual vs. Electric

The first decision to make in choosing between Better Packages water-activated tape dispensers is whether you want a manual or electric model. A number of factors affect this choice, including:

• ✔ Efficiency. An electric model enables shipping teams to work faster.
• ✔ Options. An electric model has more functionality than a manual.  
• ✔ Maintenance. A manual model is simpler and therefore requires less maintenance.
• ✔ Electricity at the packaging station. Obviously, there must be a power source in your packaging station in order for you to use an electric water-activated tape dispenser.

Once you’ve considered these attributes, you can start to look into the features of manual or electric tape dispensers as appropriate.

Manual Water-Activated Tape Dispensers — The Better Pack 333 Series

If you decide to go with manual tape dispensers, your decision is somewhat easier. We offer two manual models: 333 Plus and 333 Plus w/Top Heater. Some of the characteristics of the 333 Series include:

• ✔ 15 preset tape lengths measured in inches on a dial
• ✔ Top heater warms the water that coats the tape, making the adhesive stickier (Note: While the action for dispensing tape is manual, the top heater model does require electricity to heat the water.)
• ✔ Great for sealing between 1 and 100 cartons per day/per 8-hour shift
• ✔ 333 Plus is ideal for workstations without access to electricity
• ✔ The portability of the 333 Plus works well when there is a need to move the tape dispenser between locations

Electric Water-Activated Tape Dispensers — The Better Pack 555e Series

The Better Pack 555e Series has many features and functions that help shipping departments work efficiently and effectively, including:

• ✔ Available in 7 models with varying keypad increments, measurement types, and voltages to suit country-specific needs and requirements
• ✔ Better Pack 555eS and Better Pack 555eSA are calibrated in inches with 115V (US) versions
• ✔ Better Pack 555eSA has highest level of automation available from the Better Pack dispenser family including automatic tape dispensing mode and microprocessor-based control system that can be interfaced with PCs, printers, shipping systems, and foot pedals 
• ✔ Unique safety features:
• ‣ Thermal cutoff prevents motor from overheating after extensive use
• ‣ Safety interlock switch disables cutting blade when front cover is open
• ‣ Materials like flame-retardant plastic, steel side frames, high grade solenoid link, and zinc-plated stainless-steel parts
• ✔ Ideal for applications like:
• ‣ High-volume, fast-paced shipping environment
• ‣ Packing and sealing more than 100 cartons per day/per 8-hour shift

Electric Water-Activated Tape Dispensers — The Better Pack 755e Series

The 755e Series offers excellent functionality and flexibility, including:

• ✔ Better Pack 755eS Series and Better Pack 755eSA Series both have a low profile for workspaces with limited height and accommodate 4” wide tape (other dispensers use up to 3” wide tape)
• ✔ 755e series does dispense tape at a slower rate than 555e— 32”/second compared to 555e 45”/second 
• ✔ 755eS series has a smooth-touch, easy-to-use, color-coded keypad with 20 preset tape lengths
• ✔ Better Pack 755eSA has tremendous operational flexibility, including several operating modes like 1-2-2 (for the H-Pattern), random length button, and delay control, all of which allow operator to adapt to variable carton sealing needs with simple turn of a dial
• ✔ Both models are ideal for:
• ‣ High-volume, fast paced shipping
• ‣ Random carton packing of heavy and bulky items
• ‣ Limited workspace height (dispenser has a low profile)
• ‣ Cartons being packed and sealed that require 4” wide tape

Options for Every Shipping Environment

No matter what you ship and how often you ship it, there is a Better Packages water-activated tape dispenser for you. We’ve only highlighted some of the top-selling models here. The full list of manual and electric dispensers can be found on our website.

Tape Options

Better Packages and IPG, together, work to provide you the Gold Standard in Secure, Efficient and Reliable carton closure. For more information about the range of Water Activated Tapes available to you from our parent company IPG, please visit us at www.itape.com or contact your local representative for demonstrations and trials of our complete packaging solutions.

Have questions about our products and how they can help you improve your shipping operations? 

Please contact us at your convenience.

[This post republished from the Better Packages Blog]

How to Make Your Shipping Process Highly Efficient

The holidays are here, and with consumer confidence high, experts believe e-commerce companies can expect to be busy. In fact, it is estimated that 60 percent of shoppers will spend more than 50 percent of their holiday dollars online. That’s great news for businesses, but if you oversee the department packaging and shipping those orders, it's sure to be a challenging season.

One of the keys to success when shipping volumes soar is efficiency. Even small improvements in your shipping processes can make a big difference around the holidays. Plus, what is often overlooked is the fact that the shoppers you impress with your quick turnaround time now, are more likely to be customers again in the future. Use the tips below to ensure you and your team are working at peak efficiency.

 

Tip #1: Choose durable cartons and good cushioning.

It is never a good idea for e-commerce companies to use flimsy shipping cartons, and that is especially true around the holidays when shippers are under tremendous stress and potentially not handling packages especially carefully. Corrugated cartons hold up well, provide excellent protection for your products, and help prevent the need to send replacements for damaged goods.  

It is also important to choose the right carton size: too small and you increase the risk of items being crushed; too big and items may shift around and break. (Not to mention the added shipping costs associated with using an oversized carton.) After choosing the right box, you want to be sure to use the appropriate amount of a good cushioning material. Newspaper and similar materials will flatten during shipping and provide less protection. Bottom line: a “Fragile” sticker on the carton is not going to protect your product. You have to be sure the package is well-prepared for a bumpy ride!

Tip #2: Get the right shipping tape to ensure cartons are properly sealed.

Water-activated tape (WAT) produces a strong, tamper-evident, single-strip seal. It is easy to apply and creates a permanent bond with the carton surface. When buying tape and other supplies, it is a good idea to buy in bulk. Doing so can help ensure you don’t run out of critical items and may also save you some money.

Using the right shipping materials also sends a positive message about your organization and companies that purchase your products for their clients. Those companies want their holiday business gifts to arrive safely and in professional packaging.

Tip #3: Review your shipping processes from a safety perspective.

Accidents or injuries in your shipping department may be more likely during the holiday rush. Reviewing your processes with that fact in mind can help you protect your shipping team and ensure that product is not damaged during packaging and handling. Water-activated tape helps here as well, since your shipping crew won’t be using tape guns with their sharp blades and high potential for repetitive stress injuries.

One way to keep your team from having to hurry to keep up with rising volumes is to pre-pack common items. If you do, be sure to write a description of the contents and the package weight on the carton surface so you don’t have to pause to make that determination. 

Tip #4: Take steps to deter “press and grab” thefts and the time spent dealing with them. 

Thieves know that packages shipped during the holiday season often have valuable contents. A common practice is to press down on the top of a package until the low-quality shipping tape releases, pull out an item, and allow the carton flaps to spring back into place so that the theft goes undetected initially. 

The deep bond with the carton material created by gummed tape prevents the packaging from opening in this way, making it difficult for thieves to get what they are after. As a result, you spend less time dealing with missing items and preparing replacement shipments.  

Keep Up With the Holiday Rush!

By streamlining your e-commerce shipping processes and using the right packaging materials, you and your team can be highly efficient this holiday season. 

Check out our free guide to determine what type of packaging tape is best for your needs. 

Plus, we’re always happy to answer your questions. Contact us at your convenience.

[This post republished from the Better Packages Blog]