Stick-fast Adhesives Ltd. makes adhesive plasters, cellophane tapes, plastic-coated adhesive tapes, etc. all of which need the basic ingredients of special rubber (Code: RB 342)

and a resin (Code: RS 108) in addition to various other ingredients. The requirements as per the formula are as follows:

(a) Adhesive Hospital Tape (AHT)

RB 342: 100 kg per 1000 m RS 108: 90 kg per 1000 m

(b) Cellotape (CT)

Transparent (CTT)

RB 342: 50 kg per 1000 m RS 108: 60 kg per 1000 m Coloured (CTC)

RB 342: 60 kg per 1000 m RS 108: 72 kg per 1000 m

(c) Plastic-Coated Tape (PCT)

RB 342: 40 kg per 1000 m RS 108; 40 kg per 1000 m

(d) Water-Proof Sticking Tape (WPT)

RB 342: 80 kg per 1000 m RS 108: 75 kg per 1000 m The RB 342 needs to be masticated and cured before it can be incorporated into the tapes.

The mastication and curing time is roughly two weeks. RS 108 is procured from another plant of the same company located elsewhere and the usual notice needed by that plant is about 4 weeks. RB 342 (Raw) is supplied in batches of 4000 kg with a lead time of 4 weeks.

The process of manufacture of these tapes consists of:

(a) Firstly masticating and curing the rubber.

(b) Mixing the masticated rubber, resin (RS 108) and other ingredients with n-Hexane in a mixer.

(c) Coating the solution, thus prepared, onto the cello-paper or cloth (as the case may be) and simultaneously curing the coated sheet in heated chambers.

(d) Slitting the tapes into standard sizes such as 1 inch, 1/2 inch, etc. and packing in containers.

The manufacturing times for all the tapes (inclusive of packaging) are approximately two weeks before the product can be shipped out.