Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Wonders of ATG Tape!

This week, I will be guest blogging for Doctor Tape. I am Kristen, the intern. I started at Tape-Rite in June and I will admit I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had always been aware of tape and its uses, but I would never have known how many kinds were in existence or how many things people actually use tape for.

My introduction to the world of tape began with a lesson on the ATG dispenser by the one and only Dr. Tape. I soon learned that the ATG system would become my best friend as I began to work with Tape-Rite's Stationery and Craft & Hobby customers.

Though loading the dispenser seems daunting at first, transfer tape has simplified the work of those involved in the Stationery, Hobby and Arts & Craft industries. The tape can be easily applied using the dispenser to attach papers, plastics and more. Tape-Rite highlights three different grades of this tape, ranging from standard to extra thick grade, making it essential for any application. To jump right to the instructions and avoid reading the rest of the blog, click here:
www.taperite.com/asctapes.html (We really think you should read the rest of the blog though!)

The standard-grade ATG tape is acid-free and preferred for lighter papers. The acid-free formula makes it possible to use in sample books, because the tape won't ruin or discolor the paper. The next level up, which is 150% the adhesion level of the standard, is the hi-performance grade. It is made in order to join together hard to stick papers or plastics, which is a common issue when developing invitations or cards. The most intense ATG tape, the extra thick grade, is successful in putting together even the most heavily textured papers, including those with a linen finish. The transfer tapes can be purchased in widths of 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" for both small projects and larger ones.

All of the ATG tapes are similar to rubber cement on a roll. They are pure adhesive with no internal support. Though very sticky when putting together your projects, this means that it can be wiped away if you make a mistake. Also, if you are using the tape to add narrow trim or something else smaller than the tape's width, you can easily wipe away the excess producing a clean, professional result. Because it eliminates messy glue, the ATG system helps speed your production and development of new products.


Since the loading of the ATG dispenser is the most important step to using your transfer tape, we have put together a step by step photo guide to help you on your way to mastering the ATG system:
www.taperite.com/asctapes.html

If you have not yet used the ATG system and you are looking for a simplifed way to join together paper or other materials, you must try it! If you have already mastered using your ATG dispenser, give TAPE-RITE a try for all your ATG tapes! After all, we are the "Specialists in Specialty Tape!"

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Why tape? Why Tape-Rite?

Many people aren't aware that adhesive tape is a relatively new invention. The very first adhesive tape was created by a division of Johnson & Johnson called PERMACEL. The first tape they created was that white cloth bandaging tape. It was developed at the request of the US Army during World War I to hold bandages in place on the battlefield. After the war PERMACEL was spun off as a seperate company. They recently shut down the company and sold off the brand name but the tape lives on!!

After the war more types of tape were developed including masking tape for painting cars, cellophane tape for office use, duct tape for sealing heating and cooling ducts, filament tape for strapping bundles together, vinyl electrical tape and so on. As more and more modern materials were developed many were turned into tape for specific applications. In fact adhesive tape is on the cutting edge of advanced materials application. Today's tapes are made from polyester, Teflon, Tedlar, Kapton, PEEK and more.

Why so many types of tape? Because as industry adopts modern materials and manufacturing techniques they need tapes that can perform under the conditions presented by the situation. Whether it is high or low temperatures, high shear stress or any number of other requirements modern adhesive tapes can do the job. In fact new tapes are hitting the market at a record pace to keep up with up with industry demands.

This brings us to TAPE-RITE. We bill ourselves as "The Specialists in Specialty Tapes". This is not just our motto, it's the central driving force of our business. We are constantly in contact with the dozens of manufacturer's we represent to stay updated on the latest products and their applications. Our company's President, Andy "Dr. Tape" Machover, is often asked to talk at symposiums about adhesive tape with other leading industry experts. This constant contact with others in our industry means we can provide you with all of the options available for your requirement.

So if you're stuck for the right tape (stuck, it's a tape joke. Get it?) give us a call and let us solve your sticky problem.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

It's a Sticky Business!!




Welcome to Tape Talk brought to you by TAPE-RITE, "The Specialist in Speciality Tapes." I am Dr. Tape, the world's leading authority on adhesive tapes. In this series of blogs, I hope to unravel the mysteries of adhesive tapes.


TAPE-RITE was founded in 1952 by Irwin "the Tape Meister" Machover. This makes us one of the oldest (and largest) tape converters in the USA. Over the years we earned a reputation of having hard to find tapes on the shelf in any size required. Today, TAPE-RITE is run by a second generation of Machovers- Andy and Geoff. When we were young, our father instilled his love of tape in us by having us come in on weekends and holidays to sort and pack tape (at slave wages I might add). But his foresight paid off. Today, we continue our tradition of high quality, wide selection, large inventory and competitive prices so you can get the tape you want when you need it.


Today's adhesive tapes are highly specialized formulations designed for superior performance across a wide range of applications. This does not mean that every tape works in every application! Your choice of tape will depend on a wide variety of factors, including location, environment, life cycle of finished product and other influences. The more information you can provide about your application, the easier it is for us to get you the right tape for your job.

A good example of this is plastics. There are hundreds of different plastics in use today. Many of them have surface characteristics that make it difficult to stick to them. The use of the wrong tape on one of these plastics will result in adhesive failure and will compromise the integrity of your finished product. By identifying the type of plastic you are using, we can avoid this.

The same holds true for certain papers, painted surfaces, and metal finishes. Never assume that any tape will just work unless it's designed for the application!

Down the road, we will be looking at specific tapes and their uses. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we will be glad to help you.

Until next time, remember, IT'S A STICKY BUSINESS!