At Heskins, product development often means creating new materials that improve safety and performance. Occasionally, however, innovation means bringing back a product that industries genuinely relied upon. That is exactly the story behind the launch of H5510 TBS10 Rubber Crumb Grip Anti-Slip Tape.
For many years, TBS10 anti-slip tape was widely used in marine and boating environments, valued for its distinctive grip characteristics and comfortable surface. It offered a type of traction that was difficult to replicate using conventional non-slip tape technologies. When the original manufacturer closed due to financial and production difficulties, the product disappeared from the market entirely.
Many companies attempted to find alternatives, but the unique design of TBS10 meant that standard abrasive anti-slip tapes or rubber grip materials could not fully match its performance.
As the world’s largest manufacturer of anti-slip tape and slip-resistant materials, we believed reproducing this product would be straightforward. With decades of experience manufacturing industrial, commercial, and marine anti-slip tapes, we immediately began development.
Very quickly, we realised the challenge was much greater than expected.
Recreating a Unique Anti-Slip Material
Unlike conventional abrasive anti-slip tapes, which rely on mineral grit bonded to the surface, TBS10 uses a completely different construction.
The base layer is made from a highly flexible plastic compound, allowing the tape to conform well to surfaces while remaining durable. On top of this sits the distinctive rubber crumb grip surface. These small plastic crumb particles are melted directly into the plastic base during manufacturing.
Because the crumb and the base are made from the same plastic compound, they bond together extremely effectively. The result is a rubber crumb grip anti-slip tape that visually resembles abrasive materials but is actually non-abrasive.
This design creates deep traction valleys similar to those found in abrasive materials, helping provide excellent grip in wet or challenging environments. At the same time, the surface remains softer and more comfortable than mineral grit tapes, making it suitable for areas where a non-abrasive anti-slip surface is beneficial.
The combination of comfort and grip makes this material particularly well suited for marine decks, boating environments, and safety walkways.
Two Years of Development
Recreating the TBS10 material proved to be far more complex than expected. The unusual plastic compound used for the base and the distinctive crumb grip surface required specialised manufacturing processes that could not simply be replicated using existing equipment.
Our internal production specialists spent significant time experimenting with different production techniques, but the unusual structure of the material presented constant challenges.
To overcome these issues, we began working with external plastic specialists to better understand the behaviour of the material. Even then, further development was required, and we eventually collaborated with engineering specialists to design custom machinery capable of producing the crumb grip surface reliably.
The project required extensive testing, experimentation, and refinement. Many early production attempts failed as we worked to perfect the bonding process between the crumb surface and the plastic base.
After two years of development and considerable investment, we finally achieved the result we were aiming for.
TBS10 is back in production.
Designed for Marine and Safety Applications
The new H5510 TBS10 Rubber Crumb Grip Anti-Slip Tape delivers the same unique combination of traction and comfort that made the original product so popular.
Its non-abrasive anti-slip surface provides dependable grip while avoiding the harsh texture associated with mineral grit materials. This makes it ideal for environments where both safety and user comfort are important considerations.
Currently, the material is available in black with a 1mm thickness, with the potential for additional colours to be introduced in the future.
A Welcome Return
Bringing TBS10 back to market has been one of the most technically demanding product recreation projects Heskins has undertaken. However, the result is a unique marine anti-slip tape that once again provides industries with a material that many thought had been lost.
For customers looking for a durable, flexible, and non-abrasive anti-slip tape, the return of H5510 TBS10 Rubber Crumb Grip Anti-Slip Tape offers a reliable solution for marine, boating, and safety-critical environments.
We are proud to have successfully reintroduced this innovative material and look forward to seeing it once again used where dependable slip-resistant grip is essential.
