5 ways tape converters help brands create stick-to-skin fashion tape products

Black adhesive bra cups on a woman's chest.

You don’t have to be a fashionista to know that the perfect outfit doesn’t happen by accident. There’s often a lot going on behind the scenes to create the right look. That’s why adhesive bras (boob tape), fashion tape and cosmetic tape products have become common not only for the fashion industry, but also for weddings, proms and everyday slaying. But just as it takes work to create the perfect ensemble, manufacturers of stick-to-skin fashion tape products know it’s equally difficult to create those products in the first place. Thankfully, that challenge becomes easier with the right tape converting partner. Here are five ways tape converters can use their connections, converting capabilities and engineering expertise to help brands create outstanding stick-to-skin fashion tape products.

1. Materials sourcing and on-time delivery

Spring and summer are right around the corner and manufacturers of fashion tape products know how important the wedding and prom seasons are for sales. Any delays in production — due to either operational inefficiency or supply chain issues — can cause brands to miss an entire season of sales. That’s why it’s so important for manufacturers to have partners they can depend on for reliable materials sourcing and timely delivery.

At The Tape Lab, we source our materials from a network of industry leaders to ensure we always have the raw materials necessary to convert stick-to-skin tapes and adhesives in a timely manner. We also have unique access to multiple 3M Preferred Converters, giving our clients unbeatable access to premium materials and tape products. With our strong connections to some of the biggest names in the industry, we are able to provide dependable on-time delivery so you can get products stocked in time for your busiest seasons.

2. Product development, engineering and design

Tape converters are experts in the science of pressure-sensitive adhesives and tape products. We can use our knowledge and experience to help you design and engineer stick-to-skin fashion tape products that meet strict requirements and ensure wearer comfort. We work in tandem with your design team and can offer guidance on materials selection and spot issues with product design before they impact production or performance. This helps streamline the entire product development process while reducing the burden on your internal teams.

If supply chain issues are causing persistent problems, we can even help you reformulate current products or design products to beat supply chain issues so your brand is less susceptible to disruption.

For more insights on creating successful stick-to-skin products, download our free ebook, Designing and Producing Wearable Stick-to-Skin Products.

3. Converting services streamline production

In addition to providing design expertise, a converter like The Tape Lab can also help streamline production using our full suite of converting services. We specialize in die cutting, laminating, sheeting, slitting, printing and more to make materials easier for your clients to apply, helping to ensure repeat customers. This helps speed production time and can improve cost efficiency throughout the production process.

4. Packaging and product fulfillment

As a full-service tape converter, The Tape Lab offers end-to-end assistance from product design all the way through packaging of finished products. We have the capabilities to take on small and large volume assembly, kitting and packaging to streamline the production process. Combined with our design and converting services, this creates a one-stop shop for brands that want a simple and efficient way to bring finished fashion tape products to market.

5. Fast, knowledgeable customer service

When product requirements or business needs change, you don’t want to be left on hold. A dedicated partner will be there to help troubleshoot problems and keep production on track with helpful and knowledgeable customer service. At The Tape Lab, you’ll be connected with an experienced designer who can help diagnose your issue and arrive at a solution quickly and efficiently. That kind of knowledgeable service can help reduce downtime, increase production efficiency and improve product performance.

The value of tape converters

The fashion industry moves quickly and styles are constantly changing. But one thing that doesn’t change is the value of reliable partnerships. By working with a trusted tape converter like The Tape Lab, you can become more agile, create better products and streamline your manufacturing process with expert engineering insights and tape converting services.

If you are looking to create better fashion tape products more efficiently, contact us today and we’ll show you how our tape converting services can bring exceptional value to your product development and manufacturing processes.

How wearable health monitors are changing medicine

Medical Wearables

Use of wearable health monitors is on the rise as preventative care is becoming more important than ever in the healthcare industry. Remote patient monitoring tools like glucose monitors, cardiovascular monitors and new all-purpose health monitors can capture real-time, medical-grade data to share with physicians and members of a patient’s care team. These highly specialized devices need to be able to collect precise data from just below the skin without interference or data contamination caused by the device’s adhesive. That presents a significant challenge to device manufacturers and product developers. Let’s take a closer look at how the industry is changing and what medical device manufacturers need to consider to develop successful wearable medical health monitors.

Innovations in wearable health monitors

Wearable health monitors have progressed significantly in recent years thanks to technological advancements, particularly in 3G and 4G technology (and soon 5G). Medical devices like constant glucose monitors (or CGM), ECG monitors and stickers that monitor biomarkers are now more lightweight, low profile and are able to provide more in-depth analysis of patient data. These characteristics have made these products popular with both patients and practitioners alike, and even as they’ve gained widespread adoption, there is still significant room for growth in the wearables market.

As they say, the only constant is change, and there have been several recent developments that may move the industry toward even more advanced stick-to-skin wearable health monitors. In February of 2021, researchers at the University of California San Diego announced they had created a new stretchable stick-to-skin patch that acts as an all-in-one health monitor. The device can track not only a user’s vital signs, but also glucose, lactate or caffeine levels. According to the press release, it is “the first wearable device that monitors cardiovascular signals and multiple biochemical levels in the human body at the same time.”

Also in 2021, a team in Japan announced their own new “ultra-thin, lightweight e-skin” that can monitor vital signs and was specifically designed for the needs of older users. The flexible material is made using polyvinyl alcohol and a layer of gold and is applied to the chest using water. The device can be worn up to 10 days without causing damage to the user’s skin.

It remains to be seen how quickly medical device manufacturers may adopt some of these new techniques and applications. But the demand for continuous remote monitoring isn’t going away and experts project sizeable market growth over the coming years. That means there is significant opportunity for manufacturers of all types of wearable medical health monitors.

Considerations for medical device manufacturers

The key to innovation in this space is finding adhesive solutions and medical tapes that facilitate strong device performance while providing optimal user comfort. That means product developers have to account for things like:

Wear time – Some wearable health monitors are intended to be worn continuously for 10 to 30 days, or even longer in some cases. Tapes and adhesives need to be strong enough to maintain hold throughout the intended wear time without damaging the skin.

Biocompatability – Product developers need to consider not only biocompatibility in the traditional sense of toxicity and immunological responses, but also user comfort. Manufacturers need to ensure the tape or adhesive doesn’t irritate or damage the skin, particularly during the removal process.

Application and removal process – Does application require water or another agent to activate the bond? Can the product be removed by the user themselves, or will they need professional medical assistance? The tape or adhesive you choose will have a major impact on patient autonomy and the practical application of your device.

Additional adhesives – Active individuals may want to add their own tapes or adhesives to help ensure their wearable health monitor stays in place. Medical device manufacturers may want to offer guidance to customers on which adhesives and tape solutions are both safe and compatible for use with their products.

The future of healthcare

Wearable health monitors offer convenience and continuous monitoring that helps prevent medical issues and create better health outcomes for patients. And that’s why they’re here to stay. As new technology drives innovation, medical device manufacturers are finding new ways to capture and analyze vital patient data in the home or a clinical setting.

But product performance will ultimately come down to the tapes and adhesives used to adhere the device to the body. By partnering with a medical tapes and adhesives converter that can provide expert guidance on materials selection and converting services to help you streamline the manufacturing process, you can create innovative products and keep your organization at the leading edge of the healthcare and medical device industry.

Looking for a full-service tape converter and adhesives specialist? Contact The Tape Lab today and see how we can put our full suite of converting services to work for you.