Applications of Splicing Tape
Your Splicing Tape partner for critical on-press and reel-to-reel manufacturing.
We supply a range of technical splicing tapes for many different industrial applications covering printing, reel-to-reel manufacturing of many different materials, film splicing, and taped core manufacturing.
Applications of Splicing Tape
The versatility and adaptability of splicing tape have seen its usage grow exponentially across various industrial sectors. While initially designed to seamlessly join materials, the tape's unique properties make it invaluable for several applications. At its core, this adhesive marvel is designed to join two ends, ensuring continuity where there would otherwise be an interruption. But its application stretches far beyond just connecting points A and B.
Across diverse sectors, from the rumbling factories of automotive production lines to the quiet precision of film editing rooms, splicing tape plays a pivotal role. Its adaptability and reliability make it a preferred choice for professionals seeking efficiency and quality. Whether it's ensuring a newspaper print run goes unhindered, safeguarding the delicate components in electronic devices, or preserving cinematic masterpieces for future generations, splicing tape is the unsung hero, working silently behind the scenes.
Dive deeper into the world of splicing tape applications and discover how this adhesive solution is shaping industries, enhancing processes, and ensuring that our modern world remains seamlessly connected.
Splicing Tapes for the Print & Paper Industry
The print and paper industry, with its ever-evolving technological advancements and large-scale operations, holds splicing tape in high regard. This adhesive solution not only offers continuity in processes but also guarantees efficiency and quality in production outcomes.
Functionality in Large-scale Printing
For establishments that handle massive print runs, especially newspapers, magazines, and brochures, the use of splicing tape is integral. Joining the end of a depleting paper roll to the start of a new one ensures that printing machines can run continuously. This seamlessness minimises interruptions which, if frequent, could result in considerable time and material wastage. Moreover, the adhesive quality of splicing tape is designed to be robust yet not interfere with the printing process, ensuring that ink distribution remains consistent over the splice.
Repairs and Damage Control
It's not uncommon for large paper rolls to incur minor damages during transportation or handling. Rather than discarding these expensive rolls, splicing tape can be employed to mend tears or rips. This not only reduces wastage but also ensures that the roll can be used without any compromise on the print's quality.
Enhanced Workflow and Efficiency
Beyond the evident joining and repairing, splicing tape has another subtle yet impactful benefit: workflow efficiency. Operators trained to splice correctly can ensure faster changeovers between rolls, reducing machine downtime. This optimisation directly impacts production timelines, allowing for quicker turnarounds and increased output.
Recommended splicing tape products for this industry:
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Single-Coated Splicing Tape: Best suited for standard print runs, its adhesive strength ensures that paper joins remain intact without causing jams or misprints.
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Repulpable Splicing Tape: A favourite for its environmentally friendly attributes, it can be dissolved during the paper recycling process, leaving no residue. It's especially useful for publications keen on sustainable processes.
Machines Compatible with our Splicing Tape
Our splicing tape is compatible with most print and paper industry machinery being resistant to heat and UV curing. Below we look into the specific compatibility across the most popular machines in this industry.
Splicing Tapes for Electronics Manufacturing
The world of electronics manufacturing is characterised by precision, intricacy, and the need for materials that can withstand varying conditions. In this context, splicing tape emerges as a critical player, addressing challenges and ensuring manufacturing processes remain streamlined and efficient.
Component Positioning and Securing
With components getting progressively miniaturised, the accuracy in placing and securing them on circuit boards becomes paramount. Splicing tape assists in temporarily holding these tiny elements in their precise positions, especially during processes like soldering. This temporary hold prevents components from shifting, ensuring that they adhere to the design specifications.
Soldering Process Enhancement
During soldering, components are exposed to high temperatures. The adhesive properties of splicing tape, especially the high-temperature variety, ensure that it remains steadfast under such conditions. This stability ensures that components don't move out of place, leading to potential malfunctions or short circuits.
Wire Harnessing and Management
In electronics, efficient wire management is vital for both functionality and aesthetics. Splicing tape aids in bundling wires together, ensuring they remain organised and don't interfere with other components. This is particularly crucial in products where space is at a premium and every millimetre counts.
Barrier and Insulation
Beyond its adhesive properties, splicing tape also acts as an insulating barrier in some applications. This can be especially vital in protecting sensitive components from electrical interference or providing a layer of insulation to prevent short circuits.
Recommended products for this sector:
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High-Temperature Splicing Tape: Ideal for soldering processes, this tape can withstand the elevated temperatures, ensuring components remain secure.
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Double-Coated Splicing Tape: Offering adhesive on both sides, it's perfect for securing components that might be subjected to forces from various directions, ensuring they remain firmly in place.
Electronics manufacturing, with its emphasis on precision and reliability, demands materials that can match its exacting standards. Splicing tape, with its unique properties, not only meets these requirements but also enhances the overall manufacturing process, making it an indispensable tool in the modern electronics production landscape.
Film Splicing
Historically, the realm of film and entertainment has leaned heavily on the tangible, tactile medium of film reels. Even as digital technology continues its rapid ascent, traditional film retains a nostalgic and often preferred touch for many enthusiasts and professionals alike. Within this domain, splicing tape has played a pivotal role, weaving stories together, both literally and figuratively.
The Art of Film Splicing
Before the dominance of digital editing suites, editing a film was a manual process involving physically cutting and joining film reels. Splicing tape was the bridge that connected scenes, ensuring a smooth transition between shots. It allowed filmmakers to craft their narratives with precision, ensuring that each scene flowed seamlessly into the next. The adhesive had to be clear, ensuring that the join was almost invisible to audiences during projection.
Restoration and Archival Projects
As time takes its toll on film reels, degradation is inevitable. Dust, scratches, and even vinegar syndrome can plague old films. Splicing tape has been instrumental in restoration projects, where damaged sections of a film are carefully repaired or replaced. This process ensures that classic films can be preserved for future generations, maintaining the integrity of the original piece.
Experimental and Artistic Endeavours
Beyond the mainstream, many experimental filmmakers use splicing tape as an artistic tool. By manually manipulating film reels and using the tape in unconventional ways, they create unique visual effects, scratches, or deliberate 'errors' that add a distinctive touch to their work.
Adaptation to Modern Uses
While traditional film editing might be a dwindling art, splicing tape has found modern applications in the entertainment sector. It's used in stage setups, equipment repairs, or even as a quick-fix solution during live performances, showcasing its versatility beyond its original purpose.
Best splicing tape for this field:
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Transparent Splicing Tape: With its clear adhesive, it's perfect for general film splicing, ensuring the join is almost invisible during projection.
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Removable/Peelable Splicing Tape: For filmmakers who often re-edit or adjust their work, this tape provides an easy editing experience, allowing for changes without leaving any sticky residue.
In the vast canvas of film and entertainment, splicing tape might appear as a mere accessory. However, its role, from crafting narratives to preserving cinematic history, underscores its significance in an industry that thrives on storytelling and emotion.
Splicing in the Automotive Industry
The automotive industry, a dynamic blend of engineering prowess and design aesthetics, is constantly in pursuit of materials and tools that enhance efficiency, safety, and performance. Within this intricate web of components and processes, splicing tape carves out a niche for itself, proving its versatility and importance in various automotive applications.
Wire Harnessing: The Nervous System of Vehicles
Every modern vehicle is a symphony of interconnected systems, all communicating through an extensive network of wires. Splicing tape aids in bundling these wires into neat harnesses, ensuring they are not just organised, but also protected from potential wear and tear. Properly harnessed wires reduce the risk of electrical shorts and improve the overall reliability of the vehicle's electrical system.
Heat Resistance in Engine Bays
The engine bay is an environment of extreme temperatures, where components are constantly exposed to heat and vibration. Splicing tape, especially the high-temperature variety, is employed to secure components and wires, ensuring they remain stable and unaffected by the surrounding conditions.
Seam Sealing and Leak Prevention
Splicing tape finds its use in seam sealing, where it acts as a barrier, preventing the ingress of moisture, dirt, or other contaminants. This is particularly crucial in areas like the vehicle's undercarriage, which is regularly exposed to the elements. Properly sealed seams can significantly extend the lifespan of automotive components and prevent rust or corrosion.
Interior Applications
Within the vehicle's cabin, splicing tape assists in attaching trim pieces, holding cables in place, or even temporarily fixing upholstery. Its adhesive strength ensures components stay adhered, while its flexibility allows it to contour to various shapes, making it ideal for the diverse range of materials found inside a vehicle.
Recommended tapes for automotive needs:
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Double-Coated Splicing Tape: Its dual adhesive sides make it perfect for wire harnessing and securing components in areas where they might experience forces from multiple directions.
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High-Temperature Splicing Tape: Specifically designed to endure the rigours of high heat environments, it's ideal for use in engine components and areas constantly exposed to elevated temperatures.
The automotive industry, with its relentless push for innovation and quality, demands materials that can keep pace with its evolving needs. Splicing tape, with its array of applications, rises to the challenge, reinforcing its role in ensuring vehicles are not just efficient machines but also masterpieces of engineering and design.
Splicing Tape in the Label Printing Industry
In the fast-paced environment of the label printing industry, challenges aren't merely confined to ensuring precision or design clarity. The very materials used must endure varied conditions, from the heat of the printing process to the ultraviolet (UV) exposure in certain environments. Splicing tape, with its unique set of attributes, rises to these challenges, ensuring labels are not only printed without interruption but also stand the test of time and external elements.
UV and Heat Resistance: Defying the Elements
Modern label printing processes sometimes expose materials to UV lights for drying or other purposes. Splicing tape, fortified with UV resistance, ensures that the adhesive bond remains unbroken under such exposures, preventing potential label misprints or disruptions. Furthermore, the heat generated by high-speed printing machines can challenge the integrity of ordinary adhesives. Heat-resistant splicing tape remains unfazed, preserving the bond even under elevated temperatures.
Adherence to Silicone Backing Paper
A unique challenge in label printing is the silicone backing paper, which can be tricky for general adhesives to grip. Premium splicing tapes are formulated to have an exceptional adherence to such surfaces, ensuring that splices are reliable and the flow of the label roll remains consistent throughout the print run.
Core Joining: The Backbone of Continuous Printing
When one roll depletes, it's crucial to join it seamlessly to the core of a new roll. Splicing tape facilitates this core joining, ensuring that there's no misalignment or lapse, which could result in printing errors or machine jams. This seamless transition is especially vital in high-volume label printing operations where even minor disruptions can have significant ripple effects in terms of time and cost.
In the multifaceted world of label printing, splicing tape emerges as a cornerstone. With its UV resistance, heat endurance, impeccable adherence to challenging surfaces, and core joining capabilities, it's not just an adhesive—it's an essential component ensuring the smooth operation and longevity of printed labels.
Splicing Tape Compatible with Label Printing Machines
Our splicing tape is regularly used for splicing label material in the label printing industry, here's some of the most popular label printing machines that our splicing tapes are compatible with. As always it is crucial that you test a sample of our splicing tapes on your machines prior to general use.
Lithographic Label Printing Machines that are Compatible with our Splicing Tape:
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Splicing Tape for Heidelberg Printers - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, commonly known as Heidelberg, is one of the most well-known brands in the printing industry. Their machines are renowned for precision and reliability. The Speedmaster range is especially popular for label printing.
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Splicing Tape for Komori Printers - Komori Corporation is a Japanese company known for producing advanced offset printing presses. Their Lithrone series is particularly respected in the industry.
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Splicing Tape for Koenig & Bauer (KBA) Printers - This German company offers a range of litho presses suitable for various applications, including label printing. Their Rapida series is quite prominent.
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Splicing Tape for MAN Roland Printers - Often referred to simply as "Roland," this company produces a range of offset presses. Their ROLAND 700 series has been a staple in many printing houses.
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Splicing Tape for Ryobi MHI Graphic Technology (RMGT) Printers - This brand emerged from a joint venture between Ryobi Limited and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. They offer various litho presses that cater to different printing needs.
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Splicing Tape for Akiyama Printers - A Japanese brand known for its unique offset press designs, suitable for a range of printing applications.
Digital Label Printing Machines that are Compatible with our Splicing Tape:
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Splicing Tape for HP Indigo Printers - HP's Indigo range stands out in the digital printing realm. Their label and packaging presses, such as the HP Indigo 6000 series, offer high-quality digital printing with great versatility.
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Splicing Tape for Epson SurePress Printers - Epson's SurePress digital label presses are designed to offer precision and reliability. They're known for their quality and the ability to handle various substrates.
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Splicing Tape for Xeikon Printers - A pioneer in digital printing technology, Xeikon offers digital label presses that are especially popular in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.
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Splicing Tape for Domino Printers - Domino's N-Series digital inkjet label presses are well-regarded in the industry for their consistency and speed.
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Splicing Tape for Durst Tau Printers - Durst's Tau series of digital UV inkjet printing systems is designed for industrial label applications, offering high speed and quality.
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Splicing Tape for Mark Andy Printers - Though originally known for their flexographic presses, Mark Andy has delved into digital with products like their Digital Pro and Digital Series HD, which cater to label and packaging production.
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Splicing Tape for Konica Minolta Printers - With their AccurioLabel series, Konica Minolta has made a significant mark in the mid-range digital label production segment.
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Splicing Tape for Mouvent Printers - A Bobst Group company, Mouvent offers the LB701-UV and LB702-UV digital label presses, known for their compact design and high print quality.
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Splicing Tape for Ricoh Printers - With their Pro™ C7200x series and other digital presses, Ricoh has established itself in the digital printing market, including label printing.
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Splicing Tape for Primera Printers - More suited for smaller scale and entry-level needs, Primera's digital label printers, like the LX-Series, are popular among small businesses and startups.