According to Fast Company, more than 165 billion packages are shipped within the U.S. each year. Each of those packages are sealed by packing tape, and while many packages don’t require security shipping, many shipments necessitate increased security.

Protection from tampering and counterfeiting is increasingly vital. Kasie Brill, former Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, estimates counterfeit products cost the global economy more than $500 billion yearly. 

The Different Types of Security Tapes

Retailers, wholesalers, packagers, and distributors need to protect their shipments. To keep their shipments secure, these companies use a variety of security tapes. Security tapes indicate tampering to prevent unwanted entry and counterfeiting attacks. Three types of security tapes are typically used to combat tampering and counterfeiting: security packing tapes, frangible tapes, and tamper evident tapes.

Security Packing Tapes

Security packing tapes are low security tapes used to mitigate shipment tampering. These tapes are commonly imprinted with diagonal lines along the tape. If the tape was cut or punctured to access the contents inside the shipment, it would be virtually impossible to realign the diagonal lines and reseal the shipment without indicating tampering.

Frangible Tapes

Frangible tapes, also known as acetate tapes, are highly sensitive due to their frangibility and are likely to tear when lifted. This tearing characteristic is the tape’s primary security feature, indicating to the recipient whether or not someone has attempted to peel the tape off.

Tamper Evident Tapes

Tamper evident tapes (TE tapes) are highly secure. Tamper evident tapes are composed of various materials and features making them a formidable defense against tampering. Tamper evident tapes self-destruct when applied and removed, giving evidence of tampering by leaving behind a residue.

Shipping cartons, pallets, stretch wrap, wooden crates, envelopes, bags, and other containers can be sealed with tamper evident security tape.

Tamper evident tapes are composed of a film, a tamper evident release, and an adhesive.

Film

The film is the top most layer of the tape. Films are comprised of a variety of materials. While a standard application may not necessitate a specialized film, different applications can require that the tamper evident tape film be wider, thinner, thicker, more flexible, or more rigid.

Tamper Evident Release

The next layer of the tape is the tamper evident release. The tamper evident release layer of the tape is a chemical composition layered between the film and the adhesive. After the film is applied to a surface and removed, ink and adhesive leaves a residue on whatever surface it was applied to. Most tapes leave a residue that says “OPENED” or “VOID” once removed. However, this residue pattern can be customized by the manufacturer for a unique message or even a company’s brand.

Additionally, the amount of residue left on the surface can be customized as well. For reusable containers, the user may want a tape that leaves less residue, making clean up easier. A tamper evident release can also be customized to indicate tampering without damaging or destroying the container (that is, without tearing the cardboard box or plastic stretch wrap).

Adhesive

The adhesive is the final layer of the tape. The adhesive is the material that fastens the tape to the surface it is applied to (also referred as the substrate). Manufacturers will use different polymers such as acrylic or silicone adhesive depending on the application. The substrate the tape is fastened to is the most critical factor of adhesion. However, tape adhesion is also affected by temperature, sunlight exposure, and humidity.

Tamper evident tapes can maintain several protective features for increased security and to better indicate tampering.

Customization

Each one of the features below can be customized. The more customized a tape is, the more difficult it is to reproduce and the more secure it is. Each one of these layers of security can add together to create a highly secure tape.

Hidden Release

The hidden release is integral to creating an effective tamper evident tape. As previously described, the release is the layer between the film and the adhesive that once removed from a substrate, leaves an indicative residue pattern.

Serrations & Perforations

Serrations are commonly used as another method of tamper indication. Serrations are commonly used as another method of tamper indication. Serrations make a tape more sensitive to tearing or frangible. Tape frangibility can be an effective measure against tampering as it increases the difficulty of removing a tape without indicating its removal. Additionally, perforations can be manufactured on tamper evident tape as well. Perforated tape is easier to tear in certain areas, making it easier to apply to shipments.

Serialization

Security tape can also be manufactured with serial numbers. These serial numbers can be noted upon the tape’s application and verified after a successful shipment.

Security Printing

Similar to security packing tape, tamper evident tape can be imprinted with diagonal lines to increase its security formidability. These diagonal lines make the tape difficult to cut and then realign. Tapes can also be printed with hidden markings, words, or indicators that would be difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce. If a shipment is highly valuable, thieves may attempt to print identical tape, remove the valuable cargo, and reseal the shipments using what they believe to be an identical tape. With security printing, companies can verify a tape’s authenticity, ensuring that a package has not been compromised.

Tapes come in standard lengths and widths. Most security tapes come in two inch wide rolls that measure 165 feet or 180 feet in length. Some distributors have large tape application machines that can hold rolls of tape that measure 2500 feet or more in length. Additionally, tamper evident tapes can also be manufactured between one and three inches in width upon request.

While security tapes are used in various markets and applications, markets where tampering poses a high-risk often use tamper tapes to protect consumers. Pharmaceutical companies will use tamper evident tape to ensure the safety of transported drugs and medications. Food and beverage companies will use a multitude of security labels and tapes to protect consumers from tampered food or drinks. Additionally, due to the high value of certain electronics or electrical components, many electronics manufacturers and distributors will use tamper evident tape to protect their shipments from tampering, counterfeiting, or theft.

Protect Your Assets – Prevent Tampering

While these are just a few markets and use case scenarios, a wide range of industries use security tape to protect shipments, including military, aviation, medical, government, energy, and more.

Tampered shipments can be costly, but tamper evident tape is just one of the tools companies can implement to mitigate unwanted entry. For more information on tamper evident tape, visit novavisioninc.com or call 800 336-6636 to learn more and to talk to one of our security experts.