Safety and security are high priorities in carton sealing operations – in fact, some manufacturers are taking their safety initiatives a step further with new policies and requirements for their suppliers that cut down on the risk of injury caused by using a knife to open cartons.
Knife cuts account for approximately 30% of workplace injuries, and of those, 70% are lacerations to hands or fingers. Even seemingly minor injuries can cost employers upwards of $40,000! * That’s why some manufacturers are challenging their suppliers to eliminate the knife by delivering cartons that can be opened without the use of a knife or sharp object. Eliminating the need to use a knife to open cartons minimizes the risk of worker injury caused by lacerations that occur when opening these cartons. This saves time, money, and frustration, as even small cuts can have a major impact on operational efficiency.
Suppliers are faced with the challenge of shifting away from the traditional method of carton sealing using standard packaging tape applied manually or automatically and adopting either a new method of carton closure or changing their packaging altogether to allow for a knifeless opening. Examples of alternative options given by these manufacturers include pull tape, strippable tape, or tape with some kind of tear or tab feature in the design that allows access without the use of a knife. The tape must also have sufficient tensile strength to prevent shredding or tearing as it is stripped off the container.
Shurtape Technologies, a leading producer of pressure-sensitive tapes, developed its ShurSEAL® Packaging Solutions to address common case sealing issues, including worker injury and product damage caused by knife cuts. The ShurSEAL® solution features Folded-Edge® Technology, which folds both edges of the packaging tape along the length of the carton as it’s applied. This edge-folding technique results in a secure, ready-to-open carton seal that doesn’t require a knife or other sharp instrument to open. Essentially, it creates a dry edge that allows the consumer to easily grip the tape and remove it by hand, reducing the risk of product damage and worker injury attributed to knife cuts. The reinforced tape edge also provides an extra strong seal by increasing the strength of the tape.
Folded-Edge Technology allows suppliers to continue using the same method of carton sealing that they are accustomed to, without the need to purchase a special kind of strippable or pull tape. The difference is in the application method – in which the edges of the packaging tape are automatically folded while the tape is applied, making it effortless to achieve seals that can be removed by hand.
“We are hearing more and more in the market that manufacturers are challenging their suppliers on knifeless-open cartons, putting some suppliers in a bind as they figure out how to comply with these requirements,” said Bradley Dunlap, Product Marketing Manager for packaging tapes at Shurtape. “Shurtape is stepping up to the challenge with Folded-Edge technology, which allows packaging tape to be removed by hand – eliminating the knife from the supply chain. This allows suppliers to continue to deliver their products, without compromising seal security”
Visit ShurSEALSecure.com to learn more about Folded-Edge Technology and ShurSEAL® automated and manual packaging solutions.