Shipping Items: Strapping Tape

While most of us have heard of masking tape, duct tape and shipping tape, few have likely ever heard of strapping tape. Ask any courier services, however, what strapping tape is, and they'll be quick to explain.

Strapping tape, also known as filament tape, is used for shipping packages, and is much sturdier than traditional rolls of tape. What makes it so special is that the tape is composed of strands, also called filaments that are made of fiberglass. Strapping tape comes in all sorts of tensile strengths as some types are stronger than others.

There are many benefits to strapping tape. Because it is so strong, it helps to ensure that a package will not accidentally pop open, and serves as reinforcement for unusually heavy boxes, so that the bottom does not give way during transit. It even has been used to replace string and wire to bundle items together! Strapping tape also ages well in that it doesn't fall off or get flaky very quickly, but it also can be removed quite easily, which is good for those who don't like to spend lots of time trying to peel off sticky tape from packages or other items.

Strapping tape was invented in 1946 by a scientist named Cyrus Woodrow Bemmels, who decided to string thin filaments together along with an adhesive to make a strong type of tape that can withstand weight and pressure. While Bemmels saw the potential for utilizing the product, the company that he worked for, Permacel, did not catch on so quickly. However, he soon proved his invention to be much in demand, as by 1977, when Bemmels retired, strapping tape had become second only in sales to Band-Aids in the history of Johnson and Johnson. In fact, Bemmels even ended up winning a medal for his research and worked on the creation of 200 other types of tape in the years that followed his initial invention.

For more information about the courier industry, its products, history, and how to get the most out of your shipping experience, visit myParcelDelivery.com™. myParcelDelivery.com™ is a comparison and booking website where users can get a free instant quote on the cost of shipping their parcels and find the best company to suit their needs as it compares the rates of a number of couriers in the UK. Users can book a pickup right online and have shipping labels emailed to their inbox, which can be printed out and affixed to the package so that it is all set at the time of pickup. The site also features many informative and helpful articles pertaining to the courier industry and allows users to track the whereabouts of their shipment no matter what company that they utilized.