Tesa tape: from Beiersdorf to Norderstedt

Tesa began inside Beiersdorf, the Hamburg company behind Nivea. Oscar Troplowitz launched its first technical adhesive tape in 1896, and the name "tesa" was coined in 1906 by Elsa Tesmer, from the first letters of her surname and the end of her first name. Transparent tesafilm followed in the 1930s. The tape business became an independent company in 2001 and is still a Beiersdorf subsidiary, with its headquarters on a campus in Norderstedt, north of Hamburg, since 2016. Today it makes tapes for consumers, trades and industry, from household tape to bonding tapes for cars and electronics.

The Tesa tapes we stock for the boat

On board, tape does three jobs: holding and protecting (cloth tape), keeping paint and varnish lines clean (masking tape) and insulating wiring (insulation tape). We carry one or more Tesa tapes for each.

Tesaband: Tesa tape with a cloth backing

Tesaband is a self-adhesive fabric tape: a woven backing makes it strong in tension yet elastic, and it tears cleanly by hand. On a boat it is used to cover split pins and ring dings, wrap shroud ends and spreader tips so they don't chafe the sails, hold sheet ends and whippings, and make temporary repairs. It sticks to almost any surface that is free of grease and dust, so wipe the surface clean first. The 2.75 m rolls fit in a toolbox or grab bag; the 50 m roll is for the workshop or a long season.

Masking for paint and varnish

The Tesa Masking Tape Outdoor is a paper tape for masking outside. Tesa states it resists weather and UV and comes off without residue for up to 8 weeks outdoors, which suits varnishing teak or painting a boot top over several coats. Press the edge down firmly and pull the tape back at a low angle while the last coat is still soft to get a sharp line.

Insulation tape for wiring

The 19 mm white insulation tape covers and marks connections in the boat's wiring. For connections exposed to spray or bilge water, use heat-shrink sleeving or self-amalgamating tape over a crimped joint; insulation tape alone does not seal out water.

Choosing the right Tesa tape width

19 mm suits split pins, clevis pins and small wire terminals; 38 mm covers spreader ends, turnbuckles and wider repairs in fewer turns. Wind tape in the direction the line or sail runs over it, so the edge is not lifted.

Beyond the Tesa tapes we stock

Tesa makes thousands of tapes, including duct tape, double-sided mounting tapes and industrial bonding tapes. Upffront stocks only the tape types described here. For self-amalgamating tape, rigging tape and other makes, see our tapes category, and read about Millionaires tape for protecting sails from rigging.

Tesa FAQ

Who makes Tesa tape, and where is the company based?

tesa SE, a subsidiary of Beiersdorf AG, with its headquarters in Norderstedt near Hamburg. Its plants include Hamburg and Offenburg in Germany.

Where does the name Tesa come from?

From Elsa Tesmer, a Beiersdorf employee, who combined the first two letters of her surname and the last two of her first name in 1906.

Which Tesa products does Upffront sell?

Tesaband cloth tape, the Tesa Masking Tape Outdoor and Tesa insulation tape. For the current sizes and colours, see the Tesa range in stock.

Is Tesaband the same as duct tape?

Both have a fabric backing, but duct tape usually has a thicker plastic coating and a more aggressive adhesive. Tesaband is thinner and leaves a neater finish, which suits rigging and repairs that have to look tidy.

Is Tesa tape waterproof?

Tesaband resists water once applied to a clean, dry surface, but no tape seals a joint permanently. Replace tape on rigging when it lifts or hardens.