Flexo Tape
Plate mounting, splicing, and idler wrap tape from 3M, Tesa, and more, in stock and ready to ship. Choose a category to get started.
Shop by Brand
Licensed 3M Master DistributorCushion-Mount Plus, Flexomount, 3M 2205, Primer 94, and more.Shop 3M →
Tesa TapeTesa Softprint STM and SEC plate mounting tape, Tesa 52060, and Tesa splicing tape.Shop Tesa →
Other Brands
More OptionsLohmann DuploFLEX, Flex Stick, R-Back, and house-brand mounting and splicing tape.See other brands →
Flexo Tape Guide: Plate Mounting, Splicing & Idler Wrap Tape
The same plate can print crisp halftones one day and fill in solids poorly the next, and the cause is often the tape underneath it. Tape choice affects dot reproduction, how securely plates stay put, how cleanly a roll change goes, and how the web tracks across your idlers.
Here's a breakdown of every tape category we stock and what each one is built to do.
Licensed 3M Master DistributorGenuine 3M tape through an authorized 3M channel.Shop all 3M →
Plate Mounting Tape
Plate mounting tape bonds your photopolymer plate to the cylinder or sleeve. The foam's density decides how the plate reacts to impression. Softer foams favor fine screens and halftones, and firmer foams favor solids.
3M Cushion-Mount Plus
3M organizes Cushion-Mount Plus by series. Each series is color coded and placed on what 3M calls the Combination Printing Spectrum, so the color on the roll tells you how it will print. Click a series to shop it, or pick an exact part number.
| Series | Color | Spectrum Position | Best For | Part Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Series | White | Standard | Jobs where solids and halftones are equally important | E1015E1015HL1015E1020E1020HL1020E1040E1040HE1060E1060H |
| 11 Series | Tan | Process | High-quality process work and screen printing | E1115E1115HL1115E1120E1120HL1120 |
| 12 Series | Orange | Light | High-speed process and screen printing | E1215E1215HL1215E1220E1220HL1220 |
| 13 Series | Yellow | Medium-Soft | High-speed combination work where halftones exceed solids | E1315E1315HL1315E1320E1320HL1320 |
| 15 Series | Purple | Medium | High-speed printing with fine type reverses and expanded color gamut | E1515E1515HL1515E1520 |
| 17 Series | Teal | Medium Firm | Combination plates with slightly more solids | E1715HE1720H |
| 18 Series | Blue | Most Firm | Combination plates that are mostly solids | E1815HE1820HL1820 |
| 19 Series | Pink | Light-Medium | Improved tone reproduction at high speed when process and halftones dominate | E1915E1915HL1915E1920E1920HL1920 |
Every series comes in 15 and 20 mil, plus 40 and 60 mil in the 10 Series. All are air release, and the letter in the part number tells you the adhesion level:
E Standard plate-side adhesion
EH High plate-side adhesion
L Less removal force and less plate damage when demounting
For example, E1115H is an 11 Series, 15 mil tape with high plate-side adhesion.
3M Flexomount
Gray, double-liner plate mounting tape in 10 mil (447 DL), 15 mil (411 DL), and 20 mil (412 DL). Built for uniform coverage of solids when halftone dot reproduction isn't critical.
3M 2205 Thin Flexographic Mounting Tape
A 5 mil translucent double-coated film tape with a differential acrylic adhesive on a polyester carrier. Designed specifically for corrugated flexo mounting, it holds plates to PVC and PET, removes cleanly, and repositions easily.
Tesa Softprint
Tesa Softprint is a 15 mil double-coated foam tape for photopolymer plates. It comes in two adhesive versions, and both deliver secure bonding with strong resistance to edge lifting.
STM (520 series) High-tack adhesive for mounting in unclean and cold conditions
SEC (528 series) Low-tack adhesive for fast, easy mounting in clean, standardized conditions
Pick your foam hardness by what's on the plate:
| Hardness | Color | STM | SEC | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard | Green | 52014 | 52814 | Solids |
| Medium-Hard | Blue | 52015 | 52815 | Combinations and solids |
| Medium | Purple | 52016 | 52816 | Solids, line work, and screens with one foam |
| Soft | Red | 52017 | 52817 | Screens and line work |
| X-Soft | Yellow | 52018 | 52818 | Fine screens |
We also carry Tesa 52060, a 60 mil white closed-cell PE foam tape with acrylic adhesive.
More Mounting Options
- Lohmann DuploFLEX 4.1EBX in 18" x 25 yd rolls
- Flex Stick Black sticky back tape in 10 mil, 15 mil, and 20 mil, 18" x 25 yd
- White Cushion Plate Mounting Tape, 18" x 25 yd
- R-Back Plate Mounting Tape, 15 mil x 25 yd, in 10" and 54" widths
- Build Up Tape, 40 mil, 18" x 50 ft
3M Tape Primer 94
Improves tape adhesion to surfaces including polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PET/PBT blends, glass, and metal. Pairs with 3M plate mounting tape and comes in ampules, bottles, and gallon sizes.
Other 3M Tapes in Stock
- 3M 431 Aluminum Foil Tape (3.1 mil) for heat shielding, heat reflecting, seaming, and sealing
- 3M 401M Double Coated Tape (9 mil, red) with high initial adhesion and a paper liner
- 3M 1280 Circuit Plating Tape (4.2 mil, red polyester film) for masking during electroplating
Splicing Tape
A failed splice means a web break, downtime, and wasted material. Splicing tape joins the end of one roll to the start of the next so the press keeps running through roll changes.
| Tape | Thickness | Film | Adhesive | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House Splicing Tape | 2.3 mil | Colored UPVC | Natural rubber | Various sizes and colors, by the case or single roll |
| House Splicing Tape 150C | 2 mil | Polypropylene | Water-based acrylic | 72 yd rolls, various sizes and colors |
| Tesa Splicing Tape | 2.6 mil | PVC | Natural rubber | Various sizes and colors |
| 3M Scotch 371 | 1.8 mil | Polypropylene | Synthetic rubber | 110 yd rolls, doubles as box sealing tape |
Idler Wrap and Roller Coverings
Idlers carry the web through the press, and their surface affects tension and grip. Wrapping them with the right material keeps the web moving the way it should.
Grip and Tension Tapes
- Knubby Tape, 2" x 27.5 yd, wraps idlers to help with tension
- Black Diamond Tape, similar to Knubby with a diamond pattern, 2" x 27 yd
- High Friction Tape, smooth and light gray, adhesive backed with liner, in 3/4", 1", and 2" widths, 27.5 yd
- Grit Tape, with or without adhesive, in various widths and grit numbers
- Velcro Tape, hard and soft (loop) sides sold separately, 2" x 75 ft, used on idlers
- Cork Tape, cloth backed, 100 ft rolls in various sizes
PTFE (Teflon) Tapes and Fabrics
- Teflon Tape, 2, 3, or 5 mil, 36 yd rolls, without liner or with liner, for wrapping idler rolls
- Teflon Tape with Liners, 5 mil x 11" wide x 36 yd
- 3M Teflon Tape, 3.7 mil, 36 yd rolls
- PTFE Coated Fiberglass Tape, 2" x 36 yd x 5 mil, with liner
- PTFE Coated Fiberglass Fabric, 39.375" x 39.375" sheets in 6 mil and 10 mil porous
Roller Coverings
- Roller Wrap, tan/white silicone blend, 36 yd, various widths, for idlers and other rollers
- Teflon Heat Shrink Tubing in 4 ft, 5 ft, 6 ft, and 7 ft tubes with various diameter ranges
Not Sure Which Tape Fits Your Job?
Tell us what's on the plate, what press it's running on, and what's going wrong. We'll match you with the right tape and get it shipped.
Talk to Our Team