How to Select Double-Sided Tape for Roll-Change Splicing

Before comparing grades, define the roll-change process and confirm how the proposed double-sided splicing tape will be presented, peeled and run through the line. Confirm the adhesive faces, carrier or splittable structure, liner handling and downstream process, then run the proposed construction on representative equipment against buyer-defined limits. LubandArt has a general double-sided tape product route, but its public page does not identify a validated splicing grade.

Start with the splice the line must make

“Splicing tape” covers several joining arrangements. A butt splice joins two web ends edge to edge, usually with tape across one face. An overlap splice places the web ends over one another, with double-sided tape between the layers. A flying splice joins the incoming roll to the running web without stopping the line; the tape and liner arrangement must suit the equipment’s timing and presentation. W or V patterns are used in some paper operations where the geometry is part of the process. These are different joint designs, not interchangeable names for the same tape.

An overlap splice uses double-sided tape between overlapping web ends, while a butt splice joins the ends edge to edge and may use a single-sided tape across one face. The splice method sets the direction of the load through the joint, the amount of overlap, the exposed tape edges and the thickness added to the web. It also determines how an operator or automatic splicer presents the tape and removes the liner. Define the method from the actual roll-change equipment and product design before comparing adhesive products. 3M’s splicing range distinguishes single-sided and double-sided constructions and lists flying, overlap, butt and general-purpose applications. Those examples describe 3M’s portfolio; they do not establish a LubandArt grade or a universal selection rule.

Describe the web and the conditions around the joint

Identify each web that meets at the splice. Record whether it is paper, film, foil, coated stock, a laminate or another material, and note the surface that actually contacts the adhesive. A printed, release-treated, low-energy or coated face may behave differently from an untreated face. Include web width, thickness, surface finish and any variation between suppliers or production lots. Do not assume that two materials both described as “film” present the same bonding surface.

Then document how the splice moves through the line. Capture the roll diameter, web tension, speed profile, acceleration, splice direction and the first downstream nip, coating, printing, lamination, cutting or winding operation. A splice that stays intact during a stopped or slow change may still be disrupted by acceleration, a tight roller path or a later heat or pressure stage. Conversely, a thick or aggressive construction may hold the joint but create a profile that marks the product, interrupts a downstream process or causes a visible defect. These are process questions to test on the intended line, not outcomes that can be inferred from the label “high tack.”

Match the tape construction to the joint design

Compare the adhesive on each face, backing or carrier, total splice profile, liner split and removal direction, exposed adhesive, visibility or detection needs, and the way the roll is tabbed or closed. A flying-splice design may need one side to secure the tape to a new roll while another surface is ready to meet the running web. A splittable or specially prepared liner may help an automatic sequence, but the right design depends on the splicer and web arrangement. Ask for a drawing or application sketch of the proposed splice rather than selecting only by nominal width or adhesive family.

Paper and film processes can impose different end-of-line requirements. In a wet-end paper process, ask whether repulpability is a defined production or product requirement and which part of the splice must repulp. Do not assume that every paper splice requires a repulpable tape, or that a tape described as repulpable is compatible with every pulper, furnish or mill procedure. For film or foil, check how the joint is detected, how much added thickness the downstream equipment can tolerate and whether the splice needs to stay in the finished web or be removed later.

Manufacturer examples show why construction details matter but cannot be transferred between suppliers. tesa’s selection overview separates splice geometries and notes that substrate and converting process influence the choice. Its product-specific tesa 61958 information describes a PET-backed synthetic-rubber flying-splice tape for flexible packaging, especially PE and PP films. The stated construction, compatibility and typical values belong to tesa 61958 only. They are not a LubandArt specification or proof that a different tape will work on the same web.

Use a production trial to make the decision

A useful trial reproduces the variables that determine whether the splice survives and passes through the line. A production trial should record the web material, roll-change mode, line speed profile, web tension, splice location, downstream process, failures and buyer-defined acceptance limits. Also identify the tape grade and lot, splice pattern, web preparation, liner-removal sequence, operator or equipment, roll diameter and sample count. Photograph or otherwise document the joint before it enters the line so the result can be tied to the actual splice geometry.

Define the acceptance criteria with the process owner before the run. Depending on the application, the buyer may care about splice break frequency, web continuity, thickness or profile, register, print or coating defects, downstream jamming, waste at roll change or repulping behavior. Use the line’s real specification rather than an assumed industry threshold. If a trial fails, record when and where it failed, whether the joint separated, whether the web tore next to the splice, whether the liner or tab interfered, and what the next operation did to the splice. One symptom should not be treated as a confirmed root cause.

Change one controlled variable at a time. If the splice opens during acceleration, compare the speed and tension records with a run that succeeds. If it passes the initial join but fails at a heated or compressed station, check that stage and the exposed adhesive or joint profile. If it travels through the line but produces an unacceptable mark, review splice geometry and added thickness rather than only increasing adhesion. Keep the web grade, line settings and tape lot traceable so the result applies to a known construction and process combination.

What to include in the purchase specification

For a supplier review, provide a sketch or photo of the splice, web materials and surface descriptions, roll-change mode, equipment type, speed and tension profile, roll diameter, downstream operations and the failure or quality limits that matter. State whether repulpability, optical detection, split-liner handling, low splice profile or a particular tabbing arrangement is required. Ask the supplier to identify the exact construction it proposes and what evidence exists for that construction. If the supplier has no matching splice-grade report, say so and treat the product as a candidate pending a representative trial.

LubandArt’s two sided tape product page is a family-level route for discussing a candidate construction. It does not list a validated roll-splicing grade. The general double-sided tape selection guide helps frame construction questions, while the surface preparation and bond strength guide covers interface variables. Send the web material, splice sketch and line conditions with a sample request; the approval decision depends on the exact proposed construction and your trial results.

The practical rule is to choose the splice architecture first, define what the line and downstream product require, and approve a tape only after the proposed construction passes a representative changeover. Ads search volume and another manufacturer’s product example can help identify a topic or a possible design variable. Neither proves that a specific LubandArt grade is available or suitable.

Frequently Asked Questions