When is it time to graduate to an electric water-activated tape (WAT) dispenser?
When your packers are having a hard time keeping up with carton volume? When your packers are fatiguing because volume is high and they’re using handheld tape guns?
Usually the time is right when the shipping volume is just too much to handle and you need increased productivity. Electric tape dispensers, such as the Better Pack 555eS Series dispenser, can help improve productivity at your packaging workstations. Introduce them into a busy packing area, and your employees will be thrilled. As one cutting tool manufacturer remarked, “We’d been using manual tape machines and switched to the Better Pack 555eS. The reaction from the people in shipping was so great, that you’d have thought they won the lottery.”
It’s So Easy to Operate an Electric WAT Dispenser
Using an electric water-activated tape dispenser is simple. Load the tape and power up the dispenser. Then, push a numbered button corresponding to the desired length of tape. The machine wets and automatically cuts the tape to the length on the selected button. Your water-activated tape is ready to seal your carton, providing security and strength.
Water-activated tape is made from paper, with a starch adhesive. Fiberglass reinforced strands are often incorporated for added strength. The tape must be “activated” with water to stick to the carton. Electric tape machines usually have a water heater that helps with tape adhesion.
How an Electric Tape Dispenser Improves Productivity and Reduces Employee Risk
Tabletop electric tape dispensers are used in facilities to help boost productivity by reducing the number of movements a packer must make to seal a carton. An independent research study demonstrated that carton sealing productivity is 21% higher using a WAT dispenser and WAT versus a hand-held tape gun and pressure sensitive tape.* Reducing packer movement enhances packer speed and reduces fatigue. It also minimizes the medical risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a real risk when employees are using hand-held tape guns in high volume packing environments. In fact, some of the largest e-commerce companies have switched from hand-held tape guns to WAT to eliminate the high costs of medical, hiring and training expenses associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Better Packages | Packaging Tape Dispensers
Wondering what type of WAT dispenser is right for your company’s application? Click here to take a quick quiz and we’ll provide you with dispenser recommendations based upon your situation.
* See SGS Independent Research Study