Spotlight on: 3M Scotch Tape

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When was sellotape invented and what year did Richard Drew invent scotch tape? In 1930 the young engineer Richard Drew invented the first ever Scotch Cellulose Tape which offered an attractive, moisture-proof way for grocers and bakers to securely seal their packages. Sellotape though is a British brand, the non-brand version is otherwise known as cellotape.

Over the next 80 years Scotch became a leading brand for tape and adhesives.  From introducing the first heavy-duty countertop tape dispenser in 1932, to the launch of invisible write-on Magic™ Tape in 1961, through to the release of the hand-held Pop-Up Tape Dispenser in 1997, their focus has always been on resourcefulness and ingenuity.  Today Scotch 3M Tape offer more than 400 different types of tape for packaging, crafting and sealing.

After selecting the right box for your items, using the correct packaging tape to seal it is paramount to ensure it arrives safely.  At RAJA we’re dedicated to offering our customers the best choice of high quality packaging supplies which is why we’ve stocked Scotch 3M Tapes for our customers for many years.

In this post we’ll be focusing on the full range of Scotch 3M Tapes that we offer, giving you an overview of each tape and what it’s best used for so you can ensure you are using the right packaging tape for your parcels.

3M™ adhesive tapes - 3M Scotch Tape

Our range of 3M Scotch Tapes

At RAJA we stock 11 different types of 3M Scotch tape that are all suited for use in packaging RAJA and shipping, each with their own unique properties for a wide range of packaging applications.

Some may ask, can you use Scotch tape on packages? Well yes, you can use Scotch tape on your packages –  all Scotch 3M Tapes feature a number at the end, a simple and easy way to ensure you’re getting the exact tape you need. Tape thickness is measured in microns, the higher the number, the thicker the tape.  We stock a range of suitable dispensers for most of the range, making it easier, faster and safer to apply tape to surfaces.

The tapes that we stock are:

  • Polypropylene Tape 371
  • Industrial Polypropylene Tape 3759
  • Vinyl Packaging Tape
  • Heavy Duty Vinyl Tape
  • Cross Weave Filament Tape 8959
  • Low Noise Polypropylene Tape 309
  • Double Sided Vinyl Tape
  • Adhesive Transfer Tape
  • Machine Tape 371
  • Masking tape 101E and 301E (not advised for packaging parcels)

Types of Tape: Polypropylene Tape 371

One of our most popular tape types of tape from Scotch 3M is the Polypropylene cellophane tape, which offers excellent value for money as a general-purpose packing tape which is ideal for light and medium parcels.

At 28-microns in thickness, it features a good level of tensile and tear strength combined with strong shock resistance.  It’s best used for parcels of up to 20Kg in weight and is light and easy to apply, instantly sticking to all paper and board.

It’s available in a range of colours to best suit your packages; clear, buff (brown), or white and is eco-friendly – it doesn’t use any solvents in its adhesive, unlike many other tapes available.

Polypropylene Tape 371

This tape is perfect as a great all-rounder in the warehouse and as with all packaging tape, is easier, faster and safer to apply from a pistol grip dispenser.

Industrial Polypropylene 3759

If you need a general-purpose packaging tape that’s slightly more robust, then Industrial Polypropylene Tape at 35 microns is ideal.   Offering a stronger hold and greater thickness than 371, it’s recommended for parcels up to 40Kg in weight and is available in a choice of clear of buff. It will give your parcels a strong long-term hold with resistance to splitting if they are handled roughly or subject to the shock from impact.

Industrial Polypropylene 3759

Vinyl Packaging Tape

Vinyl tape is particularly suitable if you need a tape with a long shelf life as it resists turning brittle with age.  It’s got great resistance to moisture, chemicals and works well in all temperatures including deep freeze conditions.  It’s perfectly suited if your parcels are going to be subject to a varied environment or stored for long periods of time.

At 35 microns it provides a good level of strength for medium box sealing tasks, can be teared by hand, is low noise and made from a PVC backing combined with a solvent-based natural rubber adhesive.

Vinyl Packaging Tape

Heavy Duty Vinyl Packaging Tape 60

For heavy duty applications that need an extra strength Scotch 3M Heavy Duty Vinyl Tape will give you a strong, long lasting bond.  Designed for the toughest applications, this 60 micron tape is one of the thickest and strongest that we offer.  It’s ideal for at sealing very heavy duty cartons, boxes, pallets and packages, sticking with an ultra-strong solvent-based natural rubber adhesive.

This tape is also ultra-resistant to chemicals, moisture, temperature and humidity changes including deep freeze conditions, making it one of the most resilient and hardworking tapes that you can buy.

Despite its resistance it’s easy to work with and even tearable by hand – though as with all packaging tapes we recommend using it with a pistol grip dispenser for a fast, safe and efficient application.

Heavy Duty Vinyl Packaging Tape 60

Cross Weave Filament Tape 8959

When you need an extremely tough, industrial quality hold, 3M Scotch Cross Weave Filament Tape is the tape for the task.  At an impressive 145 microns, cross weave possesses an extremely high tensile strength due to its reinforcement with glass fibre filaments in two directions.  It’s where it gets its ‘cross weave’ name.

Featuring a powerful adhesive, it will instantly stick to all paper and board surfaces providing a long lasting, secure hold on your parcels and packages.

It’s perfect for reinforcing cartons and containers that need extra support, giving additional tear and burst resistance to packages.  It can also be used for larger shipments, strapping up heavy goods or securing export consignments

As with most tapes a pistol grip tape dispenser makes application easy. It can simply be pulled over the surface to tape up any seal or join easily, quickly cutting with its sharp cutting blade and built in brake for automatic control.

Cross Weave Filament Tape 8959

Low Noise Polypropylene Tape 309

Where noise is a problem in your packaging operation or if you’re working in a small, confined space Low Noise Tape can be an excellent replacement for general packaging tape to make your working environment more comfortable for staff or customers.

Low noise tape is exactly that – it’s been engineered to make much less noise when being pulled from the roll, making it more comfortable to work with in small or busy spaces.

At 28 microns in thickness it’s suitable for light and medium applications, with good split and tear resistance and the same high quality sticking application you would expect from Scotch 3M Tapes for paper, board, and fibreboard surfaces.

Finally, this tape is well suited to long-term storage in cold and damp environments, in a temperature range of 4-26 degrees centigrade. It won’t spoil or degrade meaning you can always ensure you’re well stocked even if your warehouse suffers from high humidity or a large range of temperatures.

Low Noise Polypropylene Tape 309

Double Sided Tape

If you need to stick materials other than paper or card, such as glass, metal, wood, fabric or plastic, Double Sided Tape is perfect for the job, giving a clean stick with no mess.

This white PVC double sided tape offers a strong a secure bond on both sides, protected by a glossy paper backing that simply peels off to use.  The adhesive is a high tack acrylic which has strong a resistance to high temperatures and UV light.

Suitable for sticking a wide range of materials it excels for use in retail, for things such as point-of-sale displays, indoor and outdoor signs, fixing plastic extrusions, badges or nameplates.  This versatile tape comes in two widths, a thinner 25mm and a wider 50mm for larger applications.

Double Sided Tape

Transfer Tape

When you need to apply glue and stick directly to surfaces but don’t want to use double sided tape then Transfer Tape is what you need.  This is ‘glue on a roll’ and is perfect for sticking a whole range of materials, from paper to plastics, textiles to leather, even wood or glass.

It’s a versatile tape that can be used on everything from framing pictures, boards and posters to small product assembly or graphics and art projects.  It’s designed for almost any art application where you need two surfaces to firmly bond but where double sided tape isn’t suitable.

Fast to dry, as it’s a tape it means you can get your glue perfectly lined up for an accurate stick and is manufactured with a paper backing and a strong and permanent acrylic adhesive.

For simple, quick and clean application Scotch 3M offer a lightweight but strong pistol grip tape dispenser which applies the tape in one simple motion and removes the paper liner at the same time.  It also features a transparent body, so it’s easy to see how much tape you’ve got left.

Transfer Tape

Machine Tape

If you’re using carton sealing machines to close and seal your packages (such as 3M-Matic™ Case Sealers) then you’ll need a tape to go with them that’s strong and quick to grip. Scotch 3M Machine Tape is designed specifically for these machines to seal packages instantly and effectively.  Flexible and split resistant, it’s made from bi-axially orientated polypropylene film that retains its strength even when stretched.

It’s suitable for all carton sealing machines and at 28 microns in thickness it can securely seal packages up to 20Kg in weight, with a tensile strength of over 45N (on steel, this is reduced to 40N).  It comes in a clear finish for white cardboard boxes or coloured cartons, and is supplied on large rolls 990mm in size.   For a standard A4 carton, one roll should be enough to seal in excess of 1,500 boxes.

Machine Tape

Masking Tape

The final tape that we offer is not a packaging tape but is perfect for creative projects or DIY work.  101E and 301E general masking tape is easily tearable by hand and sticks firmly to most metal and plastic surfaces for masking out areas for spray painting or precision decorating.

It’s write on surface also means it’s suitable for bundling, sealing or labelling, and it can easily be removed after use without leaving any residue, markings or damaging to surfaces.  Made from a soft crepe paper with a rubber adhesive it’s also resistant to water or solvents. For more choice, go to our masking tape range.

Masking Tape

If you’re not sure what packaging tape you need, or are looking for advice on selecting and purchasing tape, dispensers or other sealing supplies for your business, then please get in touch with our Packaging Experts.  Call us free on 0800 542 44 28 or email sales@rajapack.co.uk.

Triple Wall Packaging: An Overview

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Single, double and triple wall cardboard boxes are all designed to fit different purposes and for use in different circumstances. Triple wall is the strongest and most heavy duty of the three options, so what is it that makes the triple wall box so strong, and what are triple walled boxes best used for?

The science behind triple wall corrugated cardboard boxes

The strength of any corrugated box lies within its material and its construction. Standard fibreboard corrugations have two components: the liner board and the medium. The liner board encloses the connected mediums of arched material, all cemented with strong adhesive – the sandwich like construction is where the strength of corrugation lies.

There are 5 types of standard box wall construction: these range from A-flute to F-flute – examples of the formation of A, B flute cardboard and C flute corrugated cardboard can be found below:

Corrugated board flute types A, B, C box flute

A-flute is the thickest gauge of corrugated card, followed by C and then B to F in alphabetical order. C flute corrugated cardboard is the most commonly found size due to it being a happy medium between A and B-flutes. As a compromise it offers good strength but without compromising ease of use or storage.

When making multi walled boxes it is common for a combination of different flutes to be used as each category has different characteristics which can help to strengthen a box. A frequently used combination in corrugated boxes is BC flute corrugated, which consists of one B flute corrugated and one C flute corrugated – it’s usually regarded as a strong box-type and can hold very large items safely.

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Why use bubble wrap rolls when shipping items?

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Bubble wrap: fun to pop, but essential for the packaging and shipping of items from tiny pieces of jewellery in bubble bags right up to wrapping up furniture, pictures and even industrial parts.

Bubble wrap rolls

Bubble wrap is an ideal lightweight way to protect goods in transit, shipping and storage. Being on a roll, can be cut to size and used in any dimensions to wrap pretty much any shape or sized item. It can also be used to fill in the voids in boxes, to protect electronics from static and moisture and can be used to line envelopes.

In short there is pretty much no packaging operation that bubble wrap can’t be used in. Here we find out why bubble wrap is so vital and how to choose the best bubble wrap solution for your business.

Why use bubble wrap rolls when shipping items?

Bubble wrap is one of the easiest ways to protect delicate items when storing or shipping them – sticking it on a roll makes it simple. You can just pull and tear off the exact amount you need.

Bubble wrap is one of the most effective forms of protective packaging – not just because it is fun to pop, but because it offers an unprecedented degree of protection, being both shock absorbing and abrasion resistant. It is also lightweight and extremely flexible.

It not only offers great protection, but also flexibility – both physically and in how adaptable it is. It can be wrapped around items, regardless of their size and to some extent their shape. If you get it on rolls then you can cut and tear it to size to fit around all manner of items as you need it.

It is also lightweight and so can be used to give maximum protection, without adding unduly to shipping costs.

That’s why a Bubble wrap roll is a very popular highly-effective kind of packaging for ecommerce. By simply tearing off the amount you need means that you can use just the right amount, making it economical as well as protective.

Bubble wrap rolls offer bubble wrap in a range of sizes, both in terms of how big the roll is and how big the bubbles on that roll are. This can help make sure that you offer the most effective level of protection for the goods you are packing.

What size rolls of bubble wrap should I use?

When it comes to bubble wrap, size is important – both the size of the bubbles and the size of the rolls. Smaller bubbles are ideal for protecting smaller, more delicate items, while larger bubbles are there for scaling up to protecting larger goods, even industrial parts.

Choose the right bubble type

Choosing the right bubble typerap

Choosing the right sized rolls of bubble wrap is important as it has to match the dimensions of the things you are packing. Large, flat picture frames, for example, will need rolls that are wider than the picture frame to give maximum protection for the minimum amount of wrap.

Large bubble wrap and even bubble wrap blankets, featuring much larger bubbles, are ideal for protecting large items such as furniture or for interleaving between items to offer impact protection.

Large bubble wrap rolls come in widths of up to 1500 mm, allowing for the wrapping and protection of large objects.

Bubble wrap packaging

Smaller bubble wrap can be used to mould around every contour of the items being shipped and, for sensitive electronics, comes with antistatic properties to protect not only from bumps and bangs, but also from damage caused by static.

Small bubble wrap comes on rolls that range from 500mm wide through 750mm and up to 1000mm, allowing for excellent protection and tight packaging of items from the very small right up to things that are quite sizeable, like pictures, computers and more.

Additionally, for the eco-conscious age, small bubble wrap made from at least 15% recycled material is also available, offering the usual degree of protection, as well as helping meet environmental impact demands.

Soft bubble wrap blankets offer an alternative way to wrap. These Jiffy FURNI-soft® bubble wrap blanket that combines bubble wrap with a soft non-abrasive woven polypropylene layer that protects furniture and delicate surfaces from scratches and marks.

Jiffy FURNI-soft® bubble wrap blanket

This furniture wrap bubble blanket is a modern alternative to woollen blankets for antique dealers or furniture retailers looking for durable protection whilst shipping or storing. The bubble blanket has also been designed to absorb excess moisture to protect delicate or high value articles and can be reused.

If you are looking to save space in the warehouse – and need to store a large quantity of bubble wrap – then space saving wrap rolls are also available. These 200m long rolls have interlocking bubbles so that, when rolled up, the bubble warp roll takes up much less space, as shown above.

These offer all the usual benefits of bubble wrap, but also can be stored more easily.

 Other types of protective packaging

Bubble wrap rolls and sheets is just one of the many kinds of protective packaging available for shipping, storage and transport.

Bubble wrap has also found its way into lining bubble envelopes that offer an ideal solution for packaging and posting items, and are ideal for CDs, DVDs, brochures, clothing, jewellery or books and are available in a range of sizes. Easy closure with a self-adhesive peel and seal strip.

Bubble envelopes and bubble bags – even antistatic ones – meanwhile are ideal for the packaging of small goods. These come with self-adhesive strips and are ideal for protecting small electrical items and other fragile items that need to be posted – a boon in the ecommerce era.

Bubble bags are lightweight flap closed pouches made of bubble wrap that offer supreme protection, their small air-filled bubbles provide excellent protection against knocks and bumps to your products while in storage or transit.

Bubble wrap bags have a smooth inside finish which ensures products can slide in and out easily without scratching.

Bubble wrap vs foam packaging

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Foam wrap, made from up to 35% recycled pre-consumer resin, is a light, soft way to package and store goods, especially those that run the risk of being scratched.

The wrap, which comes in rolls to be cut to length or sheets to save time, offers a great way to protect goods that are to be then put into other packaging solutions, such as boxes, preventing bumps and scrapes and protecting from surface damage.

Want to know more about our wide range of bubble wrap rolls?

For additional advice on the best bubble wrap rolls and packaging solutions, our Packaging Experts are here to help you find the right solutions and arrange next day delivery. Simply call us on 0800 542 44 28 or visit www.rajapack.co.uk

What postal tubes are best for mailing?

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Receiving an unexpected parcel or your online shopping has allowed us to have some access to the outside world, as we stay safe at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Making sure that not only what we use to send in the post to our friends and family, or what is shipped to customers – is fit for purpose – but the item remains intact.

Shipping parcels

Here we find out just what postal tubes are and what to use them for.

Postal tubes are great for packing, storing and shipping everything from posters to oversized documents to even engineering parts and anything that is long and thin. They come in a vast variety of shapes and sizes, including triangular ones that can stack.

They offer a safe and secure way to contain things, keeping dust, dirt and moisture out. They even come in clear plastic to show off your items.

What postal tubes are best for mailing?

Not everything fits in nice oblong postal boxes. Documents, maps, posters and even some more three dimensional objects – long thin ones – all need their own neat way of being stored, transported or shipped: and for these items there are postal tubes.

As anyone who has tried to bend the tube inside a roll of tinfoil will know, anything with a circular cross section offers a really strong structure, both laterally and length ways. No wonder that everyone from the Ancient Egyptians on wards used columns and tubular structures for their building supports.

Egyptian columns show the strength in the roundness of tubes

Egyptian columns show the strength in the roundness of tubes (Image: Needpix)

For this reason, postage tubes offer a nice, simple and above all strong way to store and mail a range of delicate items, being made from thick card and with robust and moisture resistant plastic end-caps that not only keep dirty and other things out, but also aid structural integrity.

What can I ship in poster tubes?

The strength and protection that these tubes offer makes them ideal for the storage and shipping of all sorts of things. Their primary use, however, is as poster tubes, which see posters, large format documents or maps tightly wrapped and slotted inside. With the end caps fitted the items are protected from dirt, dust and moisture, as well as from getting torn, bent, folded and all the other things that can happen to posters and other flat paper items.

However, posting tubes aren’t limited to just handling posters. Anything that is also long and narrow, that can withstand being rolled and that fits into the wide range of sizes of tubes available can be posted, shipped or stored in a tube.

Brown cardboard postal tubes

Poster tubes come in a range of size, accounting for both length and different diameters to accommodate a wide variety of posters, documents and more. They also come in a range of thicknesses, from lightweight ones through to tubes made from 3.5mm thick heavy-duty card, which are super sturdy and tough.

It is important to remember when choosing the right tube length that you also allow space for the end-cap, which can take up several centimetres of the tubes length.

Are cardboard tubes safe?

Cardboard tubes are ideal for storage and transport of delicate items such as oversized documents, posters, maps and more. They are also very safe.

With plastic ends affixed, these tubes are pretty tough when it comes to stacking and shelving, as well as when sent through the post of courier networks – even overseas.

Unlike most plastic end caps, tamper-evident ones are designed to fit flush to the end of the tube and can only be removed by breaking the perforated area around the top of the tube. Once broken, the cap is still intact enough to prevent damage to the contents and to keep them secure, but if someone has tried to open it in transit, it is clear from the damage at the top of the tube.

And to keep all everything super safe, you can even get spare end caps, so that you can keep reusing the tubes even if the ends caps get damaged or lost.

What are the best tubes for posters?

Of course, the main use of packaging tubes is as tubes for posters. Any ecommerce business that sells things like posters or maps or even rare or valuable documents needs to use a postal tube – not just for the post, but also to take things home in from a store.

The best tubes for posters are those that are long enough to accommodate the posters longest length (plus a bit to allow for the end caps) and of a suitable diameter so that means the poster or document being put in isn’t would too tightly, as this can lead to the kind of creasing you are seeking to avoid by using the tube in the process.

Clear plastic postal tubes

To make a real impact with your posters, there are also clear plastic tubes that show off what is inside. Made from lightweight polypropylene, these tubes screw together and are much more water-resistant. They are also great for being reused, so are ideal for storage – especially of special items such as maps.

Brown triangular postal boxes

Packaging tubes don’t have to be round. Triangular section postal tubes are made of thick card and offer an extra level of protection to things like posters and parts. They also have the added advantage that they can be stacked more easily and won’t roll all over the place.

Extra-large sizes of triangular tubes up to 1100mm in length make these long postal boxes ideal for industrial plans or blueprints, or for long or cylindrical parts. Quick to assemble, such postal boxes are constructed by folding along the pre-creased grooves and sealed with a tough self-adhesive strip, with no need for glue or tape.

What can you reuse postal tubes for?

Aside from being really perfect for the shipping and storage of blueprints, posters, documents and even engineering parts, postal tubes also have an excellent ‘second life’. Why not Get crafty and creative with postal tubes!

Want to know more about our wide range of postal and poster tubes?

For additional advice on the best poster and postage tubes, our Packaging Experts are here to help you find the right solutions and arrange next day delivery. Simply call us on 0800 542 44 28 or visit www.rajapack.co.uk.

 

RAJA’s Lockdown Challenge to Portugal

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The RAJA UK team have set their sights on walking, running and cycling their way to the furthest RAJA Group office in Europe. At a challenging 1,500 miles away from the office in Bedford, the RAJA Portugal is the destination, but not before they stop off at the headquarters in France first to say Bonjour! They have 2 weeks to reach this ambitious target and all the miles means more money – as they fundraise for the Milton Keynes hospital charity and the Bedford Hospital Charity to support the NHS with the fight against COVID-19.

RAJA Lockdown Challenge Miles to Portugal

On Friday 24th April the lockdown challenge begun. The team tied those trainers, jumped on their bikes and filled those water bottles as they set off outside for their daily exercise – making sure they keep to Government guidelines.

Here’s how you can support the RAJA team’s Lockdown Challenge between 24th April and 7th May, and help fundraise for the NHS,  Milton Keynes hospital charity and Bedford Hospital Charity

Milton Keynes Hospital Charity - JustGiving Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends

All the money raised by the employees at RAJA will be matched by RAJA UK.

 Thank you for your support.

RAJA takes on The 2.6 Challenge

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Eloise Edgar 26 cookies The 2.6 Challenge for Road Victims Trust

Eloise Edgar baked 26 cookies for the Road Victims Trust

UK charities are facing closures due to fundraising events being cancelled from COVID-19. RAJA’s employees have virtually come together to participate in the The 2.6 Challenge on Sunday 26th April 2020, when the 40th Virgin London Marathon would have taken place, and when some of our employees would have joined the thousands of runners on the streets and bridges through London. Organisers of the biggest mass-participation sports events across the country united to create the 2.6 Challenge to raise the vital funds needed and to help save the UK’s charities from the estimated shortfall of £4 billion as a result of the pandemic.

Spurred on by the determination of our runners this challenge was set to every team at RAJA to complete their individual challenge in support of their own chosen cause. And what a great response! The team rallied together – and with family members – by completing their goal and to raise money for their chosen charities. By the looks of it – what fun they had!

Highlights from The 2.6 Challenge

Here are some snaps from the weekend. Some baked, biked and blitz cleaned their houses, whilst others ran, rambled and rallied their family together for a quiz.

Vicky Baker galloped 2.6k, raising over £180 for MIND

Vicky Baker galloped 2.6k, raising over £180 for MIND

Afsar Parker ran his first half marathon, also supporting MIND

Afsar Parkar ran his first half marathon, also supporting MIND

The 2.6 Challenge

Sian Creegan appreciated the sights and supported Action for Children, whilst Amy Skingsley took on 26 questions, supporting Hula Animal Rescue

Karen Phillips supported Willen Hospice and St Nicholas Hospice Care

Karen Phillips supported Willen Hospice and St Nicholas Hospice Care – although we would have liked to have seen photos from the haircut!

Amy Tyers and Marianne Aitken biked for their charities

Amy Tyers (left), rode 26 miles for the Alzheimers Society, and Marianne Aitken (right) managed 2.6 meters instead of the 26 laps with Maxi in the basket, for Cats Protection

Andrew Wood and Phil Spratling got active for The 2.6 Challenge

Andrew Wood (left) and his daughter ran 2.6 miles and raised £110 for Cats Protection, Phil Spratling (right) scootered 2.6 miles with his children for Myeloma UK

And what appears to be the toughest challenge of them all…

Sophie Jamieson embraced staying at home and achieved all 26 jobs from her spring cleaning To-Do list – what an impressive accomplishment! She endured this long task for the Spinal Injuries Association.

Sophie Jamieson spring-cleaned for Spinal Injuries Association

All the fun and games, not to mention hard work was to support charities that were close to people’s hearts, here are just some of them…

The 2.6 Challenge at RAJA - charity donations

COVID kindness: How the Coronavirus Has Changed our World

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The coronavirus has affected our everyday lives and changed the world that we all know, however through this great sadness we are all discovering COVID kindness in humanity. Here are some of the inspiring and touching accounts of how the kindness in human nature has prevailed.

NHS Wellness Boxes

The NHS frontline staff are working long, hard and stressful hours being the barrier protecting the nation from this virus. Seena Chand is the wife of a doctor and has created the NHS Wellness Box. RAJA provided the recycled cardboard boxes to Seena’s cause, these boxes are then packed with mini treats, everyday essentials and decorated with words of appreciation. These boxes are delivered to staff at the hospital, who have in some cases worked back-to-back shifts and they have not been able to go home.

You can find out more about her NHS Wellness Boxes

NHS Wellness Boxes - Seena Chand

Gifts from James

Another nice story that will surely leave you smiling is a good Samaritan simply called ‘James’. James has been leaving gift boxes on cars at the John Radcliffe hospital carpark in Oxford, James also has been known to make trips to Didcot ambulance station. The gift boxes are filled with goodies for the NHS staff and are a “just a little thank you” for all their hard work. It may me a small gesture for James, but this big token has truly touched hearts.

You can read about James’s gift boxes.

NHS Gift Boxes from James - www.oxfordmail.co.uk

NHS Food Boxes

The people of Britain have united to thank all the NHS staff. Communities are recognising NHS neighbours and offering encouraging gestures of support in the form of these food boxes and care packages, either left on doorsteps or delivered to hospitals up and down the country. These care packages of ready made meals, treats, food supplies and toiletries have been received by nurses and doctors – these pictures are just some of the touching stories where they have been thanked –  all to help make their lives a little easier, after a long and tiring shift.

NHS Food Boxes - COVID Kindness

Source: Twitter

Princess Eugenie (although, this is not the only well-known name to have also given aid during the coronavirus outbreak), has also offered her support by delivering essential supplies to NHS heroes. Boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables have been delivered to the Hammersmith Hospital to thank them for ‘everything they do’, she has also applauded all the delivery drivers and the keyworkers that also helped to make this happen.

NHS Food boxes from Princess Eugenie

Source: Instagram

Caring Communities

It is not just the general public that are pulling together, new charities are also emerging, businesses and organisations are contributing, and public health services are offering even more relief for the welfare of the vulnerable. Solihull Council contacted RAJA for donations, they needed boxes and tape for the Adult Social Care & Support service. There are so many touching stories like this, where sports halls are stacked with boxes and bags, and a production line of volunteers filling them with basic food supplies, to then be given to the vulnerable.

Community food boxes from Solihull Council

Communities are also looking after local residents, particularly helping elderly neighbours who are in isolation, shopping for basic necessities. Residents have been leaving food shopping supplies and essentials on their neighbours’ doorstep. Here is a sweet story of a 5-year-old befriending a 93-year-old gentleman who lives by himself. Kiran posted her hand written note with a colourful drawing through his door, and that was the start of this duo becoming wonderful pen pals.

You can read more about Kiran’s letter to her neighbour.

5-year-old's hand written letter to a neighbour - COVID Kindness

Source: Twitter

The nation is working together to recognise and support each other, with every cardboard box or food bag filled with gifts left on a doorstop, or a poster with a message or drawing of thanks. Although it is not just the NHS heroes Brits are praising. COVID Kindness extends to all keyworkers that are keeping the nation and economy turning, from delivery drivers to the postman, to cleaners, to supermarket staff, and the list goes on! And there are countless more selfless stories just like these that are happening throughout the country, and globally – around the world – as a result of the coronavirus.

Here are more acts of hope and happiness from this great nation:

COVID-19 Social Distancing Safety Products

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At RAJA we are creating COVID-19 social distancing safety products, a dedicated new range of Coronavirus safety and security products to help you follow social distancing regulations. We are continually developing our COVID-19 protection products shop with protective and preventative equipment to help you stay safe – so keep checking the website! Here are some of the new products added to the RAJA packaging range.

Social Distance Floor Markers, also available Social Distance Floor Marker Kits

For more information on the Social Distance Floor Markers >> Read the PDF

Social Distance Floor MarkersSocial Distance Floor Marker Kits

2 Metres Distance Warning Tape

2 Metres Distance Warning Tape2 Metres Distance Warning Tape, red and white

Our packaging specialists are working from home and are ready to help offer advice. You can contact the team using the Live Chat feature available on the website, by email sales@rajapack.co.uk or by calling 0800 542 44 28.

COVID-19 protection products

To keep in touch with the latest COVID-19 protection products, you can sign up to our newsletter to receive product updates and RAJA news – Subscribe to the RAJA newsletter.

Subscribe to the RAJA packaging newsletters

Types of edge and corner protectors

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When it comes to transporting products we all want our goods to arrive in perfect condition. If palletised or stacked, packages can be particularly vulnerable as their square edges and corners are particularly exposed to bruising or crushing. But help is at hand: as part of the wide range of packaging materials available to retailers and shippers are a plethora of edge and corner protectors.

From foam corner protectors to sturdy cardboard edge protectors, there are a vast array of solutions to this problem, both in standard and non-standard size. Here we take a look at what is on offer and how best to use them.

Types of edge and corner protectors

There are a wide range of edge and corner protectors designed to suit the needs of the wide variety of packages stacked and wrapped, palletised and shrink wrapped. Let’s start at the corners, as these are particularly prone to bangs and bashes as boxes are stacked and moved around and loaded against each other for transit purposes.

Foam U profile edge protectorsCorner protectors can be made of either cardboard or foam. Corner foam can be either a simple ‘U’ shape corners protectors or, more elaborately, full corner protectors design to protect in three dimensions, each designed for very specific uses

U shaped foam corner protectors are designed to grip tables, shelving, wooden boards or furniture for added protection during transit or storage. They are strong and absorb small impacts, as well as being temperature resistant between -40 and +100ºC.

3D foam corners, meanwhile, are designed to provide protection and extra support to the corners of boxes and palletised goods. They are simple to pop on the corners and are non-abrasive.

Both these and the ‘U’ shaped foam corner protectors are made from closed cell polyethylene foam, CFC and HFC free. They are also 100% recyclable.

How do edge protectors work?

Edge protectors, meanwhile, have a very different role to play. They are similarly used to protect the edges of boxes and palletised boxes from bumps and bashes, but they can also beused to protect the boxes from the fixings used to hold boxes together and on the pallets themselves.

General purpose edge protectors protect and strengthen stacks of boxes

They are also used to add structure and strength to palletised boxes, especially under shrink and film wrap. Together with the fixings and the wrap, these cardboard or foam edge protectors add structure and stabilise loads, so that not only are the goods protected from knocks and bangs, but won’t collapse under their own weight or puncture the cardboard when being moved.

Also available are edge protectors that are used to help support strapping and fixings. These come in both cardboard and moulded plastic, with the plastic offering able to both protect the package from the force of the strap as well as holding the strap securely in place, preventing potentially dangerous movement of the packages.

White card protectors such as moisture resistant edge protectors, also have their specialist uses. While affording protection to stackable pallet loads and held with fixings, these moisture resistant, poly-coated white paper protectors are ideal for use where the pallets are to be stored in cold and/or damp locations for a period of time, such as in a cold store.

These moisture resistant edge protectors stabilise, protect and reinforce unsteady or variable pallet loads during transport and storage. Keeping their strength in humid conditions they can also be used to add reinforcements to cartons.

How do corner protectors work?

Where edge protectors protect from knocks, fixings and add structure, corner protectors are very specifically designed to protect the corners of items such as tables, worktops, shelves and other ‘flat’ goods that have pronounced and often sharp corners.

Table corner protectors can be either plastic or foam and simply slip over the edges of the corners and prevent bumps. Foam corners grip the surface of the table and protect both the table and those handling it from sharp edges.

One solution for tables, worktops and other furniture corner protection are expanding corner protectors, that can stretch from 20 to 40mm and so can handle non-standard sized items.

Similarly worktop corner protectors are vital to preventing these expensive and often bespoke pieces of wood, stone or metal from getting damaged during routine handling. With worktops costing many hundreds – sometimes thousands – of pounds, preventing them getting bashed or chipped; damage that could write off the whole piece.

Heavy duty pallet racking protectors - corner protectors can also be used for safety

As we have seen, there is also a need for safety corner protectors, where the corner protectors not only protect the goods, but also protect those handling the goods.

While heavy duty pallet racking protectors protect vulnerable pallet racking uprights and end-frames from damage from fork lift trucks, protect corners of buildings and doorways and can be put around machines, more simple foam and plastic protectors popped on the ends of shelves and other goods stop personnel hurting themselves when handling the goods.

Foam corner protectors vs cardboard corner protectors

So where do you use foam corner protectors and where do you use cardboard corner protectors? Foam corner protectors are ideal for use where edges aren’t straight, as they are flexible as well as strong. Their ‘spongey’ consistency also makes them ideal for adsorbing small impacts and are good a gripping the surfaces of things that are made from glass, such as pictures, mirrors and glass table tops.

Foam protectors can also be coloured, offering warnings or indications of the nature of the goods being protected – as well as making sure it is clear they have to be removed for use.

Cardboard edge protection, meanwhile, is used for protection but is often more useful for handling pressure points under fixings and strapping, as well as providing additional structure, strength and stability to packages. It too can be coloured or have warnings printed on it, but typically is used in its natural state.

Some other corner protectors

There are a number of other cardboard and foam protectors available for pallets, packages and non-standard shaped goods.

Cardboard pallet corners are ideal for added protection for the corners of square palletised goods in warehouses and during transit. Solid and shockproof these carton protectors are ready to use, just apply to the corners of your product.

L profile cardboard corner protectors ideal for individual boxes

L-shaped cardboard edges are ideal for protecting individual boxes, both from damage and from fixings. They are also ideal for non-standard sized and non-palletised items.

Standard extruded mesh sleeves ideal for really delicate items for the added protection

Often used in conjunction with other protective materials, extruded mesh sleeves are ideal for protecting very delicate objects before they are boxed up. They are strong, flexible, colourful and ideal for glassware.

Self-adhesive blocks prevent movement in boxes

Self-adhesive foam blocks are protective pads that stick to the inside of cartons and protect the contents from movement or damage. Supplied in sheets one surface has a permanent adhesive protected with a peel off backing. The foam pads are pre-scored; just snap them off the sheet.

Bubble vs foam packaging: Do you know the difference?

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Want to know more about our wide range of cardboard and foam edge and corner protectors?

For additional advice on cardboard and foam edge and corner protectors, mesh, blocks and all kinds of fixings, our Packaging Experts are here to help you find the right solutions and arrange next day delivery. Simply call us on 0800 542 44 28 or visit www.rajapack.co.uk.

Large cardboard boxes vs small cardboard boxes: what are the benefits?

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The benefits of getting the right sized box are clear: your goods will fit snuggly in, will be well protected and ready to be stored, transported, posted or archived. Here we take a look at what kinds of cardboard boxes are available in what sizes, how to choose the right ones for storage, postage or archiving and take a look at the benefits of large boxes and small boxes.

Small and big cardboard boxes

Large cardboard boxes vs small cardboard boxes: what are the benefits

The chief benefit large cardboard boxes have over small ones is that you can put many small cardboard boxes inside large boxes, shipping smaller items in bulk and giving the goods therein the protection of, essentially, two boxes.

However, large boxes and small boxes come in a wide variety of not only sizes but also formats and sizes, each designed to offer the perfect storage and/or transport solution based around the goods being shipped.

Naturally, for large and bulky items, you will need a large cardboard box – triple walled cardboard boxes. It’s great if, say, you have engine parts to dispatch.  Similarly, 700mm double-walled boxes are designed to stack on pallets – they are standard Euro sized – and are ideal for the storage or transportation of all those items in smaller boxes.

Small boxes on the other hand have a varied array of uses. These come in a variety of sizes and can have reasonably secure lids – making them ideal for sending items through the post, as well as for packaging, storage and, as we shall see, archiving.

How do you store any item safely in archive boxes?

Storing items safely in archive boxes is a vital part of any business. Even in the digital era, it is essential to keep hold of paperwork pertaining to everything from tax to HR to publications and more – and this specific form of storage requires a specific form of box: the archive box.

Archive boxes are designed to be sized to accommodate the standard kinds of paper used in modern offices and, with their sturdy construction and closable lids are ideal for keeping out moisture, damp, dirt and dust – as well as stopping sunlight damage fading what is written on the paper.

To safely store items in archive boxes, you need to choose a box that fits your needs – so for easy access archive box folders have a closable lid and a finger hole for easy access. They can take A4 pages up to around a ream and are ideal for storage on shelves.

For archiving these box folders – for when they are no longer containing current paperwork that you need ready access to, but which you still need to keep – there are a range of cardboard archive boxes that can hold up to five archive files at a weight of 20kg. These have a closable lid offering great protection and handles for easy storage and retrieval.

Also in the pantheon of archiving boxes are Bankers Box transfer files, which are ideal for accessing information and publications that are needed often. They can be easily labelled and shelved and have easy access for users. Bankers Box transfer files can also be archived, in special Bankers Box two-piece cardboard archive file boxes, which are also ideal for storing lever-arch files, ring binders and foolscap magazines. Remember always label your boxes so that you – and others – knows what is where.

For all other archiving demands – from lose papers, to files to magazine and more – there are Snapcase two-piece cardboard archive boxes, which are designed to allow for maximum storage and easy access. They come with handles and a strong base so are ideal for moving things around and the sturdy lid adds protection. And lids are really important, as we shall see shortly.

What are the best boxes for postage?

Thanks to the growing hunger for buying things online, the cardboard box is most popular, and is the most practical – you can buy specialist boxes for postage. The best boxes for postage have to offer a range of things: they have to offer strength and protection for the goods inside, they have to be durable enough to withstand handling and transit, they have to be tough enough not to come apart when being bumped and they have to provide ample space for labelling for addresses and postage franking.

What are the best boxes for storage

With this in mind, there is quite a choice to be made when looking for a box for postage for your items.

The basic postal box is made from ridged flute corrugated postal board, which offers strength and protection for the goods inside when in transit. They also have an easily closed, locking flap that is secure, as well as neat and smart looking. These boxes offer all that you could hope for in a postal box: strength, durability and a sealed lid.

With the growth of ecommerce, ever more complicated and unusual things are being mailed, so postage boxes also come not just in a range of sizes, but also in a range of formats. For starters there are flat ones, made of the same tough corrugated card, designed for anything flat – and can be a great alternative to mailing bags.

Find the right sized box

Book boxes, meanwhile, are specifically designed for the postage of books, complete with sealable flap and sides to protect the books in transit.

If you are looking to post delicate items such as mugs or electronic devices, glass ware or ceramics then you need to choose postal boxes that will offer added protection. This is where foam-lined postal boxes and deluxe crash-proof postal mug boxes come in to play.

Foam lined boxes have a strong cardboard outer layer, but inside is lined with non-abrasive polyurethane foam that will completely surround what is in the box. Giving it excellent protection from the rigours of postage.

Mug boxes, meanwhile, not only have a crash-lock base, but also an inner cardboard fitting that holds the mug in place throughout the postal process with no need for void fill.

If you need a large box for posting then you need to choose a triple walled, corrugated box which provides delicate items with the shockproof, robust protection they need in the post.

One of the downsides of ecommerce is that things sometimes need to be sent back – and quick pack returnable boxes with adhesive strips are ideal for this. They offer easy and fast assembly, simply push the opposite corners towards each other and the base flaps lock together automatically. These strong and secure crash-lock base boxes close with an adhesive strip so there is no need for tape or glue.

The boxes are easy for customers to open and re-seal; simply pull the tear strip to open then secure the box using the second adhesive strip and it is ready to be returned.

Sometimes a postage box needs to be, well, not a box. For flat items such as maps or charts, textiles or prints, or long or cylindrical objects, postage tubes offer a great postage solution – they are strong both laterally and longitudinally and come with a tough plastic end cap that protects the ends and adds strength to the whole tube.

The benefits of cardboard boxes with lids

While end caps are essential to the integral strength of a postal tube, cardboard boxes with lids also offer many benefits for those looking to post, transport and store items. Cardboard boxes with lid features are ideal for storage, postage and transit as the lid protects the items inside from impact, moisture, dust and dirt. It also stops things falling out.

Having a lid on your box also means that you can stack them on top of the other. The lid also provides an ideal canvas in which to write what the contents is or to put an address label or postage franking if it is for posting.

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Storing items in extra-large cardboard boxes

Extra large carboard boxes have to be innately strong to support themselves and to handle the kind of heavy loads that you want to store or transport in them. For this reason, extra large cardboard boxes are constructed from triple walled, corrugated card and can handle loads of up to 500 kg – the weight of a small cow.

It is best to pick large cardboard boxes that come in Euro or Chep/UK pallet sizes, as this makes them much easier to store and transport en masse. They are also strong enough to with stand the strapping needed to palletise such boxes, especially if you put strapping protectors on them.

These boxes are the expert’s choice when shipping large goods such as machine parts, domestic appliances, builder’s tools and construction products.