There are many types of marking tape made for specific applications including taffeta, matte, Texas brand, arctic, and printed.
A taffeta finish on the marking tape leaves deep grooves in the tape that make the tape feel thick while using less PVC. Less expensive taffeta will have a rough finish on both sides due to the grooves causing an impression on both sides. Taffeta that has one smooth and one rough side is considered higher quality due to the grooves not penetrating thru the PVC. Since the grooves are not as deep, more PVC is used in the manufacture of the taffeta, making it more expensive to produce and more durable.
Marking tape that is smooth on both sides is a matte finish. The quality of the tape is harder to discern as quality is due to mil thickness and ingredients, which are hard to determine without proper equipment.
Texas brand roll flagging was created to easily differentiate the cheaper imported marking tape from a higher quality domestic product. If you see the Texas brand on the marking tape, it is quality domestic surveyor’s tape.
Winter hits hard in parts of North America. Those locations need marking tape that can withstand the harsh temperatures and not get ripped apart in the wind, aye?!? Arctic roll flagging is made to withstand the extreme cold without becoming brittle. One interesting fact: -40°C is the same temperature as -40°F.
Printed marking tape is usually done on a matte finish. This provides a smooth surface to lay down the ink. In the U.S., the standard width for printed roll flagging is 1.5”, but our neighbors to the north prefer their printed flagging to be 1” wide.
Marking tape has many functions, some not as intuitive as others. People use it to mark locations or landmarks, as well as, to mark plants in a nursery or hold up saplings so they grow straight. As I was flipping thru channels one evening, I stopped on a survival show. A man had been in an accident while checking on his traps in the winter. He was pinned under his 4-wheeler and needed to make sure he had water to drink. He could not get to his water bottle, but he did have his roll flagging. He laid long strips of roll flagging around himself and collected condensation on it to keep himself hydrated. Since the PCV marking tape was non-toxic, he was able to lick the water off without any adverse effects.
If you have any questions or updates for this article, I would love to hear your thoughts. Drop me a note at mktg@presco.com.
Brief Marking Tape History Part 2
Brief Marking Tape History
At Presco, we call it roll flagging. But people call it marking tape, flagging tape, surveyor’s tape or combinations of these, e.g., surveyor’s flagging tape. Roll Flagging has been used for outdoor marking since before WWII. Cheese cloth was the material of choice for marking tape in the early days. When the USA was pulled into WWII, cheese cloth was considered a necessity for the war effort, so roll flagging was made from crepe paper. After WWII, German PVC became the low cost material for surveyor’s tape. The USA joined in the production of PVC shortly afterwards.
Government contracts stipulated the size of roll flagging at 1 3/16 inches width and 300 feet in length. So for the USA market, the width of marking tape standardized to 1 3/16 inches.
During the 1960’s and 1970’s, vibrant glo colors started being used in more materials for consumers. In order to maintain color fastness, the PVC had to be thicker, making it more expensive per foot due to both the thickness difference and glo pigments. For glo colors, the rolls could be half the length of normal colors and still be relatively the same physical size. So glo color length standardized to 150’ and non-glo colors remained 300’ in length.
Currently, PVC marking tape comes in many sizes, depending on the application. It comes in solid colors, glo colors, stripes, polka dots and checkerboards. Marking tape can be formulated with characteristics to make it more resistant to tearing in extremely cold environments, as well as, it can be printed on similar to barricade tape.
Government contracts stipulated the size of roll flagging at 1 3/16 inches width and 300 feet in length. So for the USA market, the width of marking tape standardized to 1 3/16 inches.
During the 1960’s and 1970’s, vibrant glo colors started being used in more materials for consumers. In order to maintain color fastness, the PVC had to be thicker, making it more expensive per foot due to both the thickness difference and glo pigments. For glo colors, the rolls could be half the length of normal colors and still be relatively the same physical size. So glo color length standardized to 150’ and non-glo colors remained 300’ in length.
Currently, PVC marking tape comes in many sizes, depending on the application. It comes in solid colors, glo colors, stripes, polka dots and checkerboards. Marking tape can be formulated with characteristics to make it more resistant to tearing in extremely cold environments, as well as, it can be printed on similar to barricade tape.
Introducing Pres-Flex Engineered Film
Presco is proud to announce the new branding of our Engineered Film division, Pres-Flex Engineered Film. Please take some time to check out our new website www.pres-flex.com. The site is full of information regarding our extrusion capabilities as well as the different markets in which our film can be found.
Our different manufacturing capabilities include custom formulated PVC film, printing, slitting, perforation and heat sealing. The website also details our state of the art recycling program which allows us to consume 100% of the waste we generate producing PVC film. You can also learn more about Pres-Flex Extrusion Coated Film and the different composites we are able to manufacture.
Presco Halloween Promotion 2010
Presco invited select customers to decorate their offices with our promotional flags and barricade tape! Enter at your own risk!
No Impact Barricade Tape
Presco is pleased to launch the one of a kind biodegradable barricade tape that has the look and feel of traditional barricade tape. No Impact Barricade Tape is manufactured from an oxo-biodegradable, polyethylene film, Regresa. Its key ingredient, engineered by EPI-Global, hastens the degradation period to a few short years, rather than the typical 300 year half-life of the standard material from which most tapes are made.
No Impact Barricade Tape degrades after exposure to head and sunlight during usage. Within 2-3 years, it further biodegrades into material which is part of the eco-cycle.
No Impact Barricade Tape shares the same optical and physical qualities and characteristics as traditional barricade tape.
Unlike previous biodegradable alternatives, No Impact Barricade Tape meets all field performace needs and is cost effective. You can significantly reduce your environmental impact, without increasing your budget.
Call 1-800-527-3295 and ask your Presco Representative for more details
No Impact Barricade Tape degrades after exposure to head and sunlight during usage. Within 2-3 years, it further biodegrades into material which is part of the eco-cycle.
No Impact Barricade Tape shares the same optical and physical qualities and characteristics as traditional barricade tape.
Unlike previous biodegradable alternatives, No Impact Barricade Tape meets all field performace needs and is cost effective. You can significantly reduce your environmental impact, without increasing your budget.
Call 1-800-527-3295 and ask your Presco Representative for more details
