How to choose hang tabs
Hang Up™ is Index’s trade name for hang tabs, and is one of Index’s core products. With 17 years experience of producing hang tabs and an in house design function, Index is a powerful supply partner that can follow every pack hanging demand that you may have.
What is the maximum weight that a hang tab can hold?
The large range of tabs provides solutions capable of carrying up to 1.5kg in weight. This is dependant on the bulk, size and material of the pack surface. In all situations, Index advises that products are fully evaluated and tested prior to purchase. Index will carry out a full test of your product to identify a suitable hang tab. The test bed facility is ideally suited to understanding the characteristics and stresses of hang tabs and what leads to a successful solution.
How long will a hang tab remain fixed to a product?
This will depend on various factors, but hang tabs have a two year shelf life from the point of manufacture. Assuming a normal store environment, you can expect to have a long usage from our tabs. High temperatures, spot lights and direct exposure to sunlight are some of the factors that may affect the longevity of hang tab performance.
What factors affect the performance of a hang tab?
The key factors that affect the performance of a hang tab are product weight, product bulk, the pack material the tab will adhere to, the transit packing conditions, the packing environment and the retail fittings. Packing, storage and display temperatures will also have an impact.
In cold conditions hang-tab adhesive can lose its tack; this is a common problem, causing the adhesive to start hardening so that it appears to lose it adhesion to the material it is being fixed to. Our advice to customers during the winter months, is to acclimatise your hang tabs in a warm environment for 24 hours before use. This will allow the adhesive to return to its normal status enabling the hang tabs to bond to your pack as normal.
Index can work with you to test the suitability of a tab with a specific pack. If you would like help with choosing your tabs or would like to make use of our Free Test Bed service, just call our sales office on 01256 843844.
I’m currently using tabs but not happy with the performance.
Index has the necessary experience, understanding and knowledge to work with you to solve your pack hanging problems. If you have a hang tab that fails to perform, we can help to identity the problem and offer a better solution. Whether the problem is tab related, pack related, display related or the packaging environment, Index will be able to help you quickly and efficiently to ensure your packs arrive in store fit for display.
I represent a store group. How can Index help us?
Index has the experience and resources to offer a true supply partner function. This includes support and help in offering specialist advice to retailers wishing to develop in-store merchandising and display programmes for product hanging solutions. Such a programme extends to supporting and advising the store group product suppliers in choosing the correct hang tab to satisfy the product and in-store requirements. Index can then work with other suppliers, anywhere in the world, to ensure on time supply to the agreed standard and cost.
We are a contract packer with many different requests. How can Index help us?
Index offers specific advice to packers to ensure they have the correct solution for their customer and their own packing function including their supply chain. Samples are available for free to ensure you can present the finished item as part of your sales process.
What is meant by a Low Energy Surface
These are normally plastic based products such as polypropylene, polythene, polyolefin and PVC (not an exhaustive list). Such materials can have a greasy or waxy surface that prevents adhesive bonding 100%. You should check for the following:
(a) Initial adhesion – can the tab easily be knocked off?
(b) Long term adhesion – does the tab peel or slide off over a period of time?
What if there isn’t a standard hang tab to suit my product?
If you send us some of your products, we will design and sample a new tab. Custom tabs are subject to minimum productions runs and tool setup costs. These will be dependant on the design volume required and how the tab is to be applied. We will be happy to discuss the options with you.
Can we brand a Hang Up™ tab?
Yes. Index can produce up to 5 colour printed hang tabs showing your product sales message. Printing hang tabs is a great solution to reducing other packaging materials and costs. Minimum production runs and print origination and setup costs may apply.
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We have manufactured more than 200 styles of hang tabs in a wide range of formats, presentation options, and materials. Index can also supply a range of dispensers and applicators and advise on suitable production solutions for volume users.
With a large variety of designs, we are frequently asked by our customers how to choose the most appropriate hang tab for their product or for supplying into a particular store.
Here are some of the things to consider when you try to decide which Hang tab to use. If you are still not sure after reading it, please give us a call. Our ‘Hang tab experts’ are ready to help.
Why should I choose Index?
Hang tabs are reliable and secure products to use if the correct evaluation is carried out prior to use. Index experience and technical knowledge is second to none, which sets us apart from companies selling just a price. We won’t sell you a product without first ensuring that the tab choice is correct for your product.
The correct tab is one that will securely hang your product in an environment it will be sold in, withstand the packing and transit environment, and maintain the good visual appearance of your product. Once this is established, then Index will recommend the lowest cost tab that meets these criteria. Buying tabs purely based on price is likely to cost you much more in the long term.
What type of tab should I be considering?
Is the objective to hang the product or reinforce an existing hanging facility? i.e. a punched slot. A repair or reinforcing function will require a reinforcer (link to Delta/Euro Slot Repair and Reinforcers, under category Hang Tab – Delta/Euroslot) for this purpose, whilst the need to hang will require a more generic tab whether it be a hole, a hook or a euroslot.
What is a good choice of tab for use with clip strips?
Most Hang strips™ have a single clip supporting the product so the best hang tab would be a hole. The choice of hole is of course dependant on the pack itself but common choices include the P2002, R138H and S1015 styles. (link to the product)
Do store groups have special requirements?
Some retailers have their own requirements for hang tabs. Sometimes a store will use one tab design across the whole store, and other times they will have specific tabs for individual product groups. Index can advise and work with suppliers to ensure the choice of hang tab conforms to any store group requirements.
Do certain store groups have preferred suppliers for hang tabs?
In certain circumstances, a store will work solely with Index to ensure the consistency of design and performance is met for all its suppliers. Regardless of whether the supplier is in the UK, mainland Europe, the Far East or elsewhere in the world, Index can support you. Index’s range satisfies the requirements of all UK and European store groups.
I want to hang chilled products. Are hang tabs suitable?
Yes, Index produce tabs that are suitable for chilled products. Many factors come into play but with proper testing, Index will be able to recommend a suitable solution.
How do I decide between a hole, a euroslot or a hook?
The answer will be dictated by the store fitting and the functionality for the consumer. The benefit of a euroslot (link to Hang Tab – Delta/Euroslot) is that it fits all display arms types and is strong. A hole (link to Hang Tab – Hole) fits only a single display arm. In both cases, it restricts choice to the first product at the front of the display arm, whereby a hook enables the consumer to choose products further along the display arm enabling the merchandising of different colours and sizes of the same product.
What are the benefits of a folding tab?
Folding tabs come in three design types – flexi, standard hinge and purpose designed fold-up tabs. The main benefit of folding tabs is that the tab is contained below the top face of the pack. This results in smaller transit cartons being required, potentially allowing a greater number of cartons per pallet and reducing damage to the tab and pack during transit. When required, the store staff can simply fold the tabs up for hanging. If the store decides to place the pack on a shelf and not use the hanging feature, the tab can remain securely out of sight so not detracting from the presentation of the pack.
How should I apply a Hang tab?
Hang tabs should be firmly placed on the pack and pressure applied evenly over the adhesive area to ensure it is firmly in place. Applying a hang tab is relatively straightforward providing some basic principles are adhered to. For example, the surface being adhered to should be clean, dry and free from grease and dust. Fibrous materials such as some board and paper products can have the same affect as dust on adhesive material.
Adhesive requires time to key in [sometimes known as wetting out] to the material. This can be as little as 6-8 hours or as much as 24 hours from the time of application. Once this period is over, the adhesive is bonding at its maximum adhesion for that particular surface.
