Pressure sensitive tape market led by carton sealing tapes

The pressure sensitive tape market has been forecast to hit a value of US$32.8 billion by 2018, primarily driven by performance enhancing product/technology innovations and the robust application demand coming from developing markets.

As one of the greatest inventions of the twentieth century, pressure sensitive tapes are deceptively simple looking products that literally hold together modern life.

From bonding and fastening applications in industrial assembly processes and equipment manufacturing to sealing of corrugated cartoons in packaging applications, pressure sensitive tapes find ubiquitous applications in everyday life.

Pressure-sensitive tape, known also in various countries as PSA tape, adhesive tape, self-stick tape, sticky tape, or just tape, is an adhesive tape that will stick with application pressure, without the need for solvent, heat, or water for activation. It can be used in the home, office, industry, and institutions for a wide variety of purposes.

The tape consists of a pressure sensitive adhesive coated onto a backing material such as paper, plastic film, cloth, or metal foil. Some have a removable release liner which protects the adhesive until the liner is removed. Some have layers of adhesives, primers, easy release materials, filaments, printing, etc. made for specific functions.

Over the decades, environment regulations have been eliciting changes in pressure sensitive tape manufacturing practices and methods. The conventional solvent-based adhesives are increasingly being replaced by solvent-free adhesives which are eco-friendly and possess greater resistance compared to solvent-based adhesives.

In 2011, carton sealing tapes accounted for 67% of the global pressure sensitive tape market (in volume terms). Demand will be bolstered by an upswing in the processed food and beverage manufacturing sector, which is the largest single user of corrugated box packaging. Carton sealing tape sales will continue to outpace box demand as tapes capture additional market share from alternative box sealing solutions such as glue.

Asia-Pacific represents the most prominent region within the pressure sensitive tape market, with annual dollar sales increasing at a CAGR of approximately 6.8% through to 2018.

The continued migration of production and assembly activity particularly in automotive, electronics and appliance industries, from western markets to low-cost destinations such as China and India and subsequent need for efficient bonding and fastening solutions in these industries, is especially driving demand for pressure sensitive tapes in Asia-Pacific.

For more information on the pressure sensitive tape market, see the latest research: Pressure Sensitive Tape Market

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