Once you have decided that water-activated tape is the right carton sealing choice for your business, you need to decide which water-activated tape (WAT) dispenser you should purchase. From the most basic perspective, you want to decide if you need a manual WAT dispenser or an electric WAT dispenser. Here is a guide on how to choose between the two types of WAT dispensers.
Water Activated Manual Tape Dispenser
A manual tape dispenser does not require electricity. There are several variations of manual dispensers. The most basic requires the packer to pull on the tape and then tear the tape using the blade. Other WAT dispensers have an adjustable numbered scale and a lever that you pull to have the tape wet and cut. You simply choose the measurement and pull the lever to get the length of tape you need. These dispensers often also h
ave a feature in which allows the packer to dispense an infinite amount of tape. A manual WAT dispenser is a low cost option. These dispensers are desirable when transportability is necessary or the packaging station is without access to electricity.
Water Activated Electric Tape Dispenser
Electric tape dispensers come in a variety of configurations with varying features and benefits. They are easy to use and have keypads that indicate that length of tape from which you can choose. To dispense the tape, the packer simply presses a button and the tape dispenses immediately for high productivity. The best machines are durable and perform efficiently in demanding or harsh working environments. Differentiating features among machines include the whether it is certified or built to the specifications of a certification company like Underwriters’ Laboratory, the tape’s speed of being dispensed, the length and the width of the tape that the machine can accommodate and how many length buttons are on the keypad.
Some Things to Consider When Choosing Between a Manual and an Electric Water Activated Tape Dispenser
Variables to consider when making a decision between purchasing a manual versus and electric water-activated tape dispenser include:
- The number of cartons you are sealing per day. A rule of thumb is if you packing more than 30 to 50 cartons per day, you may want the ease of an electric WAT dispenser
- Whether you have electricity near the pack station. If not, a manual is the right choice.
- If you are a high volume carton shipping company, an electric dispenser is probably the right choice.
For more information on water-activated packaging tape dispensers and choosing which is right for your business, check out the quality Better Packages dispensers or click the link below for a free ebook.