Double Sided Tape Sample Policy FAQ: Tiers, Lots, Documents and Retention

FAQ libraryPublished 07 November 2026Updated 07 November 2026

Twelve questions decide whether a set of tape samples produces a usable qualification record: which tier is supplied, which lot it came from, which documents travel with it, and who keeps the reference afterwards. Each answer states the conclusion first, and the sample request page is where they get recorded against your enquiry.

What does a sample policy for a double sided tape supplier actually cover?

It answers four things and nothing else: which tier of sample you receive, which production lot it came from, which documents travel with it, and what happens if the result fails. Commercial terms for the order that follows sit on the quotation, not inside a sample policy.

Does a tape supplier charge for samples, and who pays the courier?

Neither is published as a fixed rule here, because whether a sample carries a charge and how the courier is billed depend on the grade, the tier, the destination and the stage of your project, so both are confirmed at enquiry. Ask for the arrangement in writing with the delivery address.

How much material do you send for an evaluation?

For a stocked grade a single roll is enough to run your own peel and shear checks, packaging-class goods can go from 1 carton, and a die-cut format is cut in the prototype quantity agreed per part once the drawing and cutting route are reviewed.

How long does it take to receive tape samples?

No fixed turnaround is committed before the request is reviewed: a stock roll leaves when the courier does, a custom width waits on slitting, and a die-cut prototype waits on material, tooling and cutting route. Timing is confirmed at enquiry against the tier you need.

Is a sample taken from the lot you will ship in production?

Ask this before the test rather than after it, because a sample can come from a shelf lot, and only the batch reference on the parcel tells you whether a production order can reach the same incoming material batch, adhesive batch and slitting date. Our lot records reach all four, including the inspection record.

Can I get a custom width instead of a stock roll?

Yes where the width passes review, and it changes what the sample proves, because a slit width speaks to edge quality, tension history and winding behaviour while a standard roll says nothing about those. Widths below 10 mm are feasible on most materials, subject to coat and thickness.

Can a die-cut sample be sent before tooling is approved?

A laser-cut prototype answers format, liner and release questions without a die, while a first article from tooling answers production questions, so the choice depends on what is still open in the design. Prototype quantities are agreed per part, and the drawing revision has to be fixed before either is cut.

Do samples arrive with TDS, MSDS, RoHS and REACH documents?

Documents follow the grade rather than the catalogue, so TDS, MSDS, RoHS and REACH statements and a first-article report are issued against the material actually ordered and the drawing it was cut from. An unconfirmed grade carries only general data.

What is the difference between a sample roll and a first article?

A roll is converted tape in bulk form and proves material behaviour on a panel you prepare yourself, while a first article is the finished part on its liner and proves release level, waste matrix state and placement at the station. They are not interchangeable evidence.

How do I compare samples from two suppliers fairly?

Same substrate, same finish, same dwell, same test method, same instrument and the same operator pulling, with nothing else changed, and each sample's lot reference recorded at goods-in. A comparison varying two things at once yields an opinion, not a qualification.

How long should a retained sample be kept?

Retention is an arrangement and not a standard period, because shelf behaviour differs by chemistry and storage differs by plant, so who holds the reference sample and for how long is agreed at enquiry. What is committed is that converted lots keep their work-order and inspection record.

What if the sample passes but the first production lot behaves differently?

The usual causes are a different incoming lot, a changed surface treatment, a coating of different cure age, or a test run before dwell, so send both parts with their lot references and the review compares records before adhesives. For wider questions on grades and shipping, see our general FAQ and the double sided tape family page.

Commercial and process terms on this page are the questions a converter has to answer, not a standing offer. Order quantities, lead times, tooling charges, sample terms, freight and payment structures are confirmed at quotation against your drawing, your material and your destination, and only figures already published elsewhere on this site are stated as commitments.