Finishing equipment
The journey of a double-sided tape: How MIARCO develops advanced and sustainable adhesive solutions
he industrial development of a double-sided tape is a complex and highly specialised process in which every stage, from the conceptual definition of the product to its final application, directly influences the technical performance, operational efficiency and overall sustainability of the solution. At MIARCO, this process has evolved into a benchmark of applied innovation, grounded in advanced coating technologies, and a comprehensive environmental responsibility strategy.
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The initial phase, which is one of the most critical of the project, involves gaining an accurate understanding of the customer’s requirements. During this preliminary assessment, the tape’s intended function, the characteristics of the application substrates, the required properties (adhesion, initial tack, mechanical resistance and durability) and the environmental or regulatory conditions associated with the final use are all evaluated. This characterisation determines the optimal combination of backing and adhesive, the most suitable coating technology and the final product format.
Once the product architecture is defined, the appropriate adhesive coating technology is selected. MIARCO operates with two main systems, hot-melt and UV-cured acrylic, both distinguished by their reduced environmental footprint. Hot-melt coating is applied at high temperatures and offers a major advantage: it cools and solidifies almost instantly, providing high initial tack and strong adhesion on a wide range of substrates. Additionally, MIARCO has developed formulations capable of withstanding high operating temperatures, overcoming one of the limitations of this technology. Being solvent-free, this system enables continuous, stable and efficient production while significantly reducing VOC emissions and contributing to safer industrial environments.
UV-curable coating, by contrast, is characterised by instantaneous curing through ultraviolet radiation and requires lower energy consumption. UV-cured acrylic adhesives represent a highly innovative technology,
offering high adhesion performance, transparency and high cohesion levels previously achievable only with solvent- based acrylics, and they also have a much lighter environmental footprint. The selection between systems depends on the required performance, the sensitivity of the backing, the type of double-sided tape and the energy and operational costs involved.
With the technology selected, the coating process begins. MIARCO continuously monitors critical parameters such as coat weight, coating uniformity and curing conditions. At this stage, the backing and liner are also defined, elements essential to the product’s functional behavior, as they determine its rigidity or flexibility, surface adaptability and final thickness. The result is the jumbo roll, a large-format reel that embodies the technical decisions taken throughout previous phases. The jumbo roll is then transferred to
MIARCO’s high-conversion area, where a standard tape becomes a technical product tailored to the customer’s needs. Here, features of high added value such as finger-lift, extended liners, or spool winding are incorporated, solutions increasingly demanded in e-commerce and other sectors to enhance productivity and enable fast and precise application. In addition to these solutions, MIARCO is also capable of developing systems to automate processes, such as splice tapes that self-delaminate or die-cut tapes for bag-in-box splicing, all designed to further increase customers’ productivity.
Finger-lift tapes can be produced through two techniques. The first involves applying a wider liner in an automated process that also enables spool winding, ensuring rapid conversion and high product uniformity. The second method consists of just removing tape from the sides, not liner, to create the lift-tab area. This alternative delivers high productivity and allows for specialised configurations. Both techniques ensure compatibility with high-speed automated production lines.
Throughout the entire process, MIARCO incorporates sustainability criteria, including emission reduction, responsible waste management, collaboration with suppliers to optimise raw materials and continuous investment in low-impact technologies aligned with circular-economy principles. The result is an integrated process that enhances the product and optimises the entire value chain, delivering advanced, responsible and highly efficient adhesive solutions designed to bond, repair and protect, operating in all European markets.
18
Dec 2025/Jan 2026
www.convertermag.com
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