Tapes (also referred to as Adhesive Tapes) are an extremely popular tool in everyday life, whether you need them to seal packages or just to complete your DIY projects, there is no doubt you have at least one type of adhesive tape at home. Rolls of adhesive tape are perfect for sealing and binding and they are available in several sizes and colours to meet all your requirements. Depending on their features, applications and material, tapes can be distinguished in several ways.
We offer tapes for various jobs including everyday household usage to trade applications, from temporary hook and loop to electrical insulation tapes, from Gaffa to flashing, plastic to paper and everything in between. Our suppliers are selected among the top brands globally, such as 3M, Advance Tapes, Tesa and RS PRO.
What kind of tapes are there?
The different features available on the market help to distinguish tapes into various categories, such as;
Single adhesive or double-sided tape - They can have one or two adhesive sides and come in different materials to suit every environment.
Gaffer - Also known as gaffa tapes, they are a variation of duct tape, it is different from it since it is non-reflective and can be easily removed. It is used in theatres in filmmaking to mark stage positions or equipment.
Duct - Also called duck tape, it's normally coated with polyethene. It can be used to fix several objects guaranteeing resistance, but, unlike the name might suggest, it is not the best option for ducts as it is not completely waterproof.
Hook and Loop - They ensure a secure fastening by pressing together two types of tapes. It is best used on clothes or furniture to replace fastening systems such as zip and buttons.
Reflective - In addition to being visible in low lighting conditions and therefore used for safety on the roads, one of the most prominent characteristics of reflective tapes is their resistance to heat and flames, which makes them suitable to be attached to fireproof clothing items such as fire coats.
Self-Amalgamating Tapes - They do not contain adhesives, but bond or fuse to themselves when stretched, which makes them perfect for electrical insulation.
What are tapes made of?
Tapes can be constituted of different materials, which determine in turn the best application they're suitable for;
Aluminium or Foil: Thanks to its strong adhesive power and the peculiar properties of this metal, aluminium tape is commonly used in electrical, construction and HVAC industries where the need for conductivity and resistance is higher.
Cloth: They have a cloth backing and can be coated with a rubber adhesive, they can come in different colours and are perfect as markers for every use.
Copper: Flexible and available either in conductive or non-conductive versions, their main field of use is electronics.
In addition to the above, tapes can also come in plastic, PTFE, Foam and Paper.
What are tapes used for?
Some common applications include;
- Electrical insulation
- Hazard signalling
- Lane marking
- Masking (decorating)
- Packaging
