New Horseshoe Tab system increases tear tape usability and visibility

Issue Date: April 2007

The latest ”horseshoe tab” tear tape system from Payne provides consumers and brand owners with enhanced easy opening access to their products. When the new tab is combined with a printed tear tape, it provides an ideal solution for communication at the point of consumption.

Payne’s sophisticated printing enables full colour message tapes to be added to the inside of the pack, enabling valuable branding or promotional opportunities to be added to the packaging, helping to communicate to the customer “from the inside out.”

Payne launched a development program after it found that in a number of applications, such as roll wrap packaging used for biscuits, users were having difficulty locating the end of the tape as the existing tab design became stuck down when the pack was sealed.  

The answer was an innovative new device that cuts a larger, U-shaped or horseshoe tab into the tape during its application. When the tape is sealed to the pack, the tab protrudes beyond the seal area to deliver a prominent opening feature that is easily visible to the consumer. 

The new cutter comprises two main components, the cutter mechanism and the tab save device. The cutter mechanism clamps and cuts a horse shoe-shaped tab 12mm wide x 20mm long into the film during application of the tear tape.  The compact, pneumatically operated unit is designed to fit most wrapping machines.  It is supplied in three sizes (100, 150 and 200mm) to accommodate varying film widths. The tab save feature is a small, clever device that prevents the tab being separated during the main film cut operation.  It can be either mechanically or pneumatically operated.

“This new system not only enhances the usability of tear tape for the consumer but the highly visible tab also attracts their attention to the branding and communication messages printed on the tear tape. Brand messages, new product information, promotions and competitions or even healthy eating tips can all be added in full colour to the inside of the pack, providing a novel way for brands to communicate with consumers at the point of consumption,” comments Simon Wildash, Head of Marketing at Payne.