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 prioritize open communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence.

One of our most valuable partnerships is with the 3M Electrical Materials Division (EMD). This relationship has allowed us to provide even greater value to our customers, especially in the automotive and electric vehicle (EV) industries. Curtis Frye from 3M and Jay Wolfenbarger from Sur-Seal discuss how this partnership continues to drive innovation and performance.

3M Electrical Materials Division: Advanced Electrical Tape Solutions

“The 3M Electrical Materials Division provides solutions for traditional transformers, motors, appliances, EVs, automotive, and some electronics. We specialize in flexible insulation and heat shrink tubing, such as covering lead wires on devices or appliances. We also offer liquid or powder resins for coating stacks and various electronic specialty products,” explains Curtis.

Electrical tapes form the backbone of 3M EMD’s product line—essential for motors, transformers, and electronics.

“We offer a wide range of electrical tapes, including insulating tapes, with many customization options. Our customers often choose discreet, solid, or flexible paper backings. We focus heavily on modifying materials to meet specific needs or applications,” adds Curtis.

3M Insulating and Conductive Tapes Guide

3M Electrical Tapes Product Guide

Key Considerations When Choosing Electrical Tape

Selecting the right tape involves balancing adhesive properties, backing material, and thermal performance. The goal is to find the best fit for your application’s design, function, and process.

1. Adhesive System: Silicone, acrylic, and rubber each offer unique benefits like temperature resistance and tackiness.
2. Backing: The type of backing material affects durability and suitability for different applications.
3. Thermal Value: Tapes must meet UL thermal standards and withstand varying environmental conditions.

It's important to understand that one feature may affect another. For example, high flexibility might reduce heat resistance. Therefore, knowing your application’s priorities is key to making the right choice.

At 3M, our EMD team is here to help you make an informed decision. Start by exploring our product catalog, which includes helpful questions to guide your selection.

How to Choose the Best Electrical Tape for Your Application

We recommend starting the selection process early, but it’s important to remember that it requires a multi-layered approach involving several factors:

• Application requirements
• Operating temperature
• Mechanical challenges
• Agency approvals

We always suggest engaging with your 3M and Sur-Seal experts early on. By doing so, we can ensure that all design considerations, material properties, and application compatibility are addressed from the start, saving you time and cost.

Questions to Ask During the Tape Selection Process:

• What is the material or substrate that the tape will be applied to?
• Who will apply the tape, and how?
• What are the functional requirements?
• What are the operating temperatures?
• Is flexibility required, and if so, to what extent?
• Will secondary cooling be needed?
• Is there a risk of exposure to moisture, chemicals, or other elements? Is it continuous or occasional?
• Does the product require resin, powder, or coating for bonding?
• Is the surface smooth or rough with burrs?
• Is chemical resistance necessary?

Another important factor is the lifespan of the unit. As power demands grow and connected devices use more energy, reducing heat generation becomes increasingly critical. Thermal conductivity and material moisture content play significant roles in this context.

In transformers, for example, the right material can increase load capacity without raising the temperature. Standards like UL and transformer 1446 define major and minor insulation requirements, focusing on thermal stability, aging, shock, vibration, and humidity resistance.

3M’s brochures and selection guides are excellent resources, providing guidance based on your application and mechanical needs. “Our tapes are designed with higher levels of stretch while maintaining their hold,” Curtis says, highlighting their suitability for specialized applications in military, aviation, electronics, shielding, and motor products.

To aid in the selection process, 3M offers testing services.

Testing as a Tool to Determine the Right Insulation Material

“Knowing the specifications is crucial for holding, insulating, or mechanical applications. We can provide samples for you to test,” Curtis explains. This testing phase often reveals higher priority needs, allowing for adjustments based on initial feedback. Curtis emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific demands of each application.

Key factors to consider include:

• The effect of heat or temperature – how intense and for how long?
• What voltage levels are involved, and what are the ramp-up times?
• Mechanical or winding stresses, such as folds, sharp edges, and burrs
• How will the material be integrated into your equipment?
• Is the material under compression? Is it sealed, encapsulated, or saturated?
• How does it respond to thermal stress?

“Test methods are a critical component for your consideration,” Curtis notes, suggesting that clients consult their 3M or Sur-Seal expert for more detailed understanding.

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

Sur-Seal & 3M: A Model of Strategic Collaboration

The Sur-Seal and 3M partnership is central to our success. These kinds of relationships deliver real value to both us and our customers.

As a distributor and converter, Sur-Seal ensures added value through flexible terms, inventory management, and scheduling, especially for smaller orders. We also pass along the benefits of special terms, stock management, and value-added fabrication services like cutting to length, packaging, kitting, and applying tape to cards for optimal utilization and minimal waste.

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

The advantages of working with distributors and converters like Sur-Seal go beyond logistics. While we offer a wide range of customizable options, our engineering and consulting services are part of your project. We conduct thorough walk-through evaluations of processes, offering recommendations for improvement.

This approach is especially beneficial for emerging Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturers who need access to major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Our network of contacts allows us to provide services like die-cutting and managing engagement terms.

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

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

“With our partnership, being able to get materials quickly, then add value through services like slitting, die-cutting, kitting, and fabricating, creates a great synergy between the material itself and the function and fit of the part we provide.”

Sur-Seal’s approach is characterized by responsiveness and agility, especially evident in our engineering solutions team based in Cincinnati. Our team works closely with 3M to rapidly prototype solutions, demonstrating our commitment to meeting customer needs efficiently.

3M, with its robust technology development and applications groups across the US, Europe, and Asia, stays ahead of global industry trends. Their global product development experts are well-equipped with knowledge and resources, making them an invaluable partner. They encourage early engagement in projects for a more comprehensive range of options and better-fit solutions for clients.

This relationship illustrates the importance of strategic partnerships in the manufacturing industry. These collaborations combine expertise, technology, and customer-centric approaches to deliver superior solutions and services.

Jay Wolfenbarger: “Our partnership allows us to swiftly provide solutions through slitting, die-cutting, and kitting, making the most 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 using 3M’s product selection guides as a starting point to begin selecting project materials, followed by engaging their technical team for more nuanced solutions.

The guides provide step-by-step instructions for asking the necessary questions to narrow your selection to the ideal choices.

3M Insulating and Conductive Tapes Guide

Jay emphasizes using 3M’s ‘Protect and Insulate’ guide to make informed choices in insulating and conductive tapes.

As always, your 3M and Sur-Seal team members are ready to engage with you as early as possible, ensuring you get the best results and the most cost-effective solutions.

Contact Sur-Seal today to get started.

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