Our Partnership with 3M Strengthens Our Commitment to Customer Success

At Sur-Seal, we believe that strong relationships are the foundation of long-term success. Whether it's with our customers, suppliers, or partners, we value trust, communication, and a shared commitment to excellence.

One of the most valuable relationships in our business is with 3M’s Electrical Materials Division (EMD). This partnership has been instrumental in helping us deliver high-quality solutions across industries—especially in automotive and electric vehicle (EV) applications. Curtis Frye from 3M and Jay Wolfenbarger from Sur-Seal share insights into how this collaboration continues to drive innovation and value for our clients.

3M Electrical Materials Division: Innovation in Electrical Tape Solutions

“The 3M Electrical Materials Division provides a wide range of insulation and protective solutions for transformers, motors, appliances, EVs, and more. We specialize in flexible insulation materials and heat-shrink tubing, as well as liquid or powder resins for covering components,” explains Curtis Frye.

Electrical tapes form the backbone of 3M EMD’s product line, playing a vital role in protecting electrical systems and ensuring reliability.

“We offer various types of insulating tapes, including paper-based options like solid, flexible, or discreet designs. Our team also focuses on customizing materials to meet specific application needs,” he adds.

3M Insulating and Conductive Tapes Guide

3M Electrical Tapes Product Guide

Key Considerations When Selecting Electrical Tape

Choosing the right tape involves balancing the adhesive system, the backing material, and the thermal performance. The goal is to find the best fit for both function and application requirements.

1. Adhesive System: Silicone, acrylic, and rubber each offer unique benefits like temperature resistance and adhesion strength.
2. Backing Material: The choice of backing affects durability, flexibility, and suitability for different environments.
3. Thermal Performance: Tapes must withstand varying temperatures, often dictated by standards like UL.

It's important to note that some properties may trade off against others. For example, a tape with high heat resistance might be less flexible. Understanding your application's top priorities is key to selecting the ideal product.

At 3M, our EMD experts are here to help you make an informed decision. You can start by exploring our product catalog, which includes helpful questions to guide your selection process.

How to Choose the Best Electrical Tape for Your Application

While we recommend starting the selection process early, it’s important to take a multi-faceted approach. Key considerations include:

• Application type
• Operating temperature range
• Mechanical challenges
• Compliance with industry standards

We always suggest involving your 3M and Sur-Seal experts from the beginning. Early engagement helps ensure that design, material compatibility, and application requirements are all addressed upfront, saving time and cost down the line.

Questions to Ask During the Tape Selection Process:

• What is the surface or material the tape will be applied to?
• Who will apply the tape, and how?
• What are the functional requirements?
• What is the operating temperature range?
• Is flexibility required, and if so, to what extent?
• Will secondary cooling be needed?
• Is there a risk of exposure to moisture, chemicals, or physical stress?
• Does the product require bonding through resin, powder, or coating?
• Is the surface smooth or rough with burrs?
• Is chemical resistance necessary?

Another crucial factor is the expected lifespan of the component. With increasing power demands and more connected devices, managing heat generation becomes even more important. Thermal conductivity and material moisture content play a major role in this context.

In transformers, for example, the right material can improve load capacity without raising the temperature. Standards like UL and Transformer 1446 define critical insulation requirements, focusing on thermal stability, aging, vibration, and humidity resistance.

3M’s brochures and selection guides are excellent resources, offering guidance based on application and mechanical needs. “Our tapes are designed with higher stretch while maintaining strong adhesion,” Curtis says, highlighting their use in military, aviation, electronics, shielding, and motor applications.

To support your selection, 3M offers testing services. These tests help identify the best solution for your specific needs.

Testing as a Key Step in Material Selection

“Understanding specifications is essential for holding, insulating, or mechanical applications. We provide samples for testing,” Curtis explains. This phase often reveals higher priority needs, allowing for adjustments based on initial feedback. Curtis emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique demands of each application.

Important factors to consider during testing include:

• The effect of heat and duration of exposure
• Voltage levels and ramp-up times
• Mechanical or winding stresses, such as folds, sharp edges, and burrs
• How the material integrates into your equipment
• Whether the material is under compression, sealed, encapsulated, or saturated
• Its response to thermal stress

“Test methods are a critical part of the process,” Curtis notes. He recommends consulting with your 3M or Sur-Seal expert for a deeper understanding of the best approach.

Thorough testing allows us to evaluate aspects like heat, voltage, and mechanical stress. The goal is to find the ideal product based on the desired lifespan and by balancing various properties.

Sur-Seal & 3M: A Strategic Partnership for Success

The partnership between 3M and Sur-Seal is at the core of our success. Strong relationships like these provide real value to both us and our customers.

As a distributor and converter, Sur-Seal ensures added value through flexible terms, inventory management, and efficient scheduling—especially for smaller orders. We also pass on benefits like special pricing, stock management, and value-added services such as cutting to length, packaging, kitting, and applying tape to cards for optimal use and minimal waste.

Beyond Electrical Materials: Sur-Seal & 3M as Strategic Partners

The benefits of working with a partner like Sur-Seal go beyond logistics. While we offer customizable options, our engineering and consulting services are integrated into your project. We conduct thorough process evaluations and provide recommendations for improvement.

This approach is especially beneficial for emerging EV manufacturers who need access to major OEMs and manufacturers. Our extensive network allows us to offer services like die-cutting and manage engagement terms effectively.

LEARN MORE: Explore Sur-Seal’s Engineering and Design Capabilities

Jay Wolfenbarger of Sur-Seal highlights the strength of this partnership:

“With our partnership, we can quickly get materials and add value through services like slitting, die-cutting, and kitting, creating a powerful synergy between the material and the final product.”

Sur-Seal’s approach is known for its speed and responsiveness, particularly through our engineering team in Cincinnati. We work closely with 3M to rapidly prototype solutions, demonstrating our commitment to meeting customer needs efficiently.

3M, with its global technology development and applications teams in the US, Europe, and Asia, stays ahead of industry trends. Their global product development experts bring deep knowledge and resources, making them an invaluable partner. They encourage early project involvement to provide a wider range of options and better-fit solutions for clients.

This relationship demonstrates the importance of strategic partnerships in manufacturing. By combining expertise, technology, and a customer-centric approach, we deliver superior solutions and services.

Jay Wolfenbarger: “Our partnership allows us to swiftly provide solutions through slitting, die-cutting, and kitting, maximizing the value of 3M’s superior materials.”

Curtis adds, “Sur-Seal’s responsive approach perfectly complements our global insights and technical expertise.”

LEARN MORE: Explore Sur-Seal’s Die-Cutting Capabilities

Next Steps in Tape Selection & Additional Resources

We recommend starting with 3M’s product selection guides to narrow down your choices, followed by engaging their technical team for more tailored solutions.

The guides provide step-by-step instructions to help you ask the right questions and identify the best options for your project.

3M Insulating and Conductive Tapes Guide

Jay recommends using 3M’s ‘Protect and Insulate’ guide to make informed decisions about insulating and conductive tapes.

As always, our 3M and Sur-Seal team members are ready to assist you at any stage, ensuring you get the best results and the most cost-effective solutions.

Contact Sur-Seal today to get started.

You may also be interested in:

• Electrical Enclosure Gaskets: A Sur-Seal Case Study
• Choosing the Right Materials for Electronic Products