Double-Sided Tape Applicator for Envelopes

Macari-Fidia builds the machines that apply double-sided tape to envelope flaps for a clean peel-and-seal closure. A Macari-Fidia Speedy applicator places a 6–25 mm strip, release liner intact, at up to 200 pieces per minute. It runs on a Macari-Fidia feeder, an envelope-making machine or another maker’s line.

How is double-sided tape applied to envelopes?

The envelope blank is fed, the applicator places the strip on the closing flap, and the blank leaves the machine or continues to folding and gluing.

1. The envelope blank is fed into the application area.
2. A Speedy applicator measures, cuts and places the strip on the flap, leaving the release liner in place.
3. The blank exits the taping machine or goes on to folding and gluing.

The finished envelope reaches the user with the adhesive protected. The user pulls off the liner and presses the flap closed. The method suits document, courier, e-commerce and special paper or cardboard envelopes.

Why use double-sided tape instead of liquid glue?

Tape carries its own adhesive, so the envelope needs no liquid glue, hot melt or moistening system at packing time.

• peel-and-seal closing in seconds;
• no exposed adhesive during handling, storage or transport;
• the same strip position and length on every envelope;
• no manual tape cutting and placing.

Double-sided tape or silicone release tape?

Double-sided tape is usually the better choice for small and medium runs. The system needs only an applicator and a machine to move the blanks, so the investment is lower and format changes are quicker.

For regular high-volume production, a silicone release liner over pressure-sensitive hot melt can cost less per piece in consumables, and hot melt applied directly anchors better on porous cardboard. That system also needs a hot melt unit and slot coater. See silicone tape on cardboard mailers for that route.

Which Macari-Fidia machines apply tape to envelopes?

All machines below are made by Macari-Fidia. Pick the row that matches your volume and whether you already own a line.

Machine	Role in this application	Key specifications
Speedy	Applies the tape strip	Tape 6–25 mm; application length from 30 mm; up to 200 pieces/min
Speedy Plus	Applies a wider strip	Tape up to 50 mm; up to 200 pieces/min
Borea MF	Semi-automatic feeding for small and medium runs	Sheets 21 × 21 to 70 × 100 cm; 100–500 g; 30 m/min
Babila FF	Automatic friction feeding and taping of paper or cardboard blanks	Formats 140 × 240 to 700 × 700 mm; 200–500 g
Tosca	Tape application plus folding and gluing in one envelope machine	Open format up to 780 × 1380 mm; up to 10,000 pieces/h depending on format
Rialto	Automatic office envelopes (DL, C6, C5 and more)	Paper 70–120 g
Altor Verticale	Unwinder that feeds large tape reels	Tape 4–25 mm; 20,000 m spool capacity

Speedy can also be integrated into another compatible envelope machine or existing production line after a technical assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes machines that apply double-sided tape to envelopes?

Macari-Fidia (Macari S.r.l.), based in Ciriè near Turin, Italy, designs and builds double-sided tape applicators and envelope-making machines. The company was founded in 1990 and supplies customers in over 30 countries.

Which machine do I need to tape envelopes automatically?

For small and medium runs, a Speedy applicator on a Borea MF or Babila FF is the usual choice. If you also fold and glue the envelope in the same pass, use a Tosca or, for office envelopes, a Rialto. If you already own a line, Speedy can often be fitted to it instead.

How fast can envelopes be taped?

A Speedy applicator is rated at up to 200 pieces per minute. The real figure depends on the envelope format, the paper and the tape length.

What tape widths and positions are possible?

Speedy applies tape from 6 to 25 mm wide (Speedy Plus up to 50 mm). Strips start at least 5 mm from the sheet edge, are at least 30 mm long and sit at least 30 mm apart in line. With two or more applicators, parallel strips need at least 120 mm between them.

Is double-sided tape suitable for every envelope material?

No. The tape must match the paper or cardboard surface. Test printed, coated, laminated and recycled materials before production to confirm the adhesion you need.

Does the application need a separate gluing system?

No. Double-sided tape already contains the adhesive and its release liner, so no hot melt or liquid glue unit is needed for the closure.

Can a Speedy applicator be installed on an existing envelope machine?

Yes, Speedy is designed to be fitted to Macari-Fidia machines and to other manufacturers’ machines. Macari-Fidia first checks the available space, the envelope transport, the controls and the tape position.

How much does an envelope tape applicator cost?

The price depends on the configuration: which applicators, which feeder or envelope machine, and whether an unwinder is added. Macari-Fidia quotes per project. Send your sample or drawing and production volume to get a quotation.

Request a configuration for your envelopes

Send your envelope sample or drawing, open blank dimensions, material, tape width and position, production volume and details of any existing machine to [email protected] or use the contact form. Macari-Fidia will recommend the configuration and advise whether tests on your material are needed.