His dream career would be to have been a member of one the most inspiring bands ever the Beatles and if he could look like Henry Cavill that would be a bonus. Meet Gary Preston, Continuous Improvement Controller and one of the biggest music lovers at Advance.

How long have you worked for Advance Tapes?

 I have been working for Advance for over 15 years.

How have your responsibilities changed from when you first started?

 I started working at Advance Tapes as a Manager at our coating site in Leicester, UK. Of course, my role and my missions have evolved over the years. Thanks to the skills I acquired, I had the opportunity to join the quality and technical side of the business. I am using my knowledge and experience from my previous roles now.

My job title is Continuous Improvement Controller and this really describes my day to day tasks. I help and improve existing processes and push quality control and make sure that products that come to the converting site have the best quality that we can make and that at the same time we generate as little waste as possible.

Communication is really a key to my job as I am working closely with people across many departments like shop floor staff and managers. My role is very diverse and this is what I like the most about it.

In the past I worked on the production site, so I have quite a good understanding of the production process and how we can all contribute to constant improvement.

If you could switch to any career, what would it be?

 I would have loved being a member of the Beatles .I have a general interest in most genres of music and of course being a part of The Beatles would be a dream job if you can call it a job.

Meeting the fab four in their prime would have been great

Who is the funniest person you work with?

 Alan Gilding, our Technical Manager. He is really one of a kind, thank God.

If you won £10 million, what would you do with it?

 That’s difficult. First thing would be to look after the family and friends, and then help some charities. I am not sure what I would do with the rest of that. It is really difficult question. I have already travelled a fair bit; maybe I would like to go to the US, but at the moment is not very appealing.

What are you best known for at work?

 I would like to say my wit and humour. But if you ask other people the answer might be completely different.

What are your interests we may not know about?

Spending time with my children and grandchildren are the most important pastime I have. I also enjoy travelling with the wife now the kids are all grown up.

Favourite local places I have been to have to be the Cavern Club and enjoy Dublin where I have been on a good few occasions

I am a massive music fan and enjoy listening to many artists with a particular keenness towards the early seventies and early eighties.

If you could have any superpower what would that be and why?

 I would probably say superman and if I looked like Henry Cavill which would be an additional bonus.

What’s your idea of success in your job?

Getting results that show some real benefits to the business which hopefully prove that you are in the right place. I like going home with the feeling that I have put my best foot forward during the day. And generally to be successful means to me to be happy and enjoy what I am doing.

What do you like the most in your job?

Definitely the people, and i enjoy the daily challenges. We have a really good team and it’s great to see how everyone tries to get better and improve our results.

What do you like the most about working for Advance?

Again the people, but also the job itself. It can be extremely interesting and worthwhile at times

Before joining Advance Mike Davies has worked in many different industries. From music, to horticulture to manufacturing one thing never changed – his optimism and passion for everything he does. Read the whole interview and find out why he is a perfect fit to our team!

How long have you worked for Advance Tapes?

I’ve been working for Advance Tapes for just over a year. I joined the company on the 1st of November 2017.  

How have your responsibilities changed from when you first started?

I started as a cell leader at Coating at the filmic line.   To put it in context, Advance Tapes has two production sites in Leicester, UK. The Coating site involves all the production steps from the mixing of the adhesive to the coating adhesives to various backings or carriers (such as filmic, cloth or aluminium for foil tape), through the laboratory.

On the Converting site, Advance Tapes converts the products from jumbo (master rolls) into cut rolls in a wide variety of widths and lengths. So, I was in charge of 3 areas in the Coating site which were Range 1, Range 2 and the Mixing room.

My responsibilities were to run the shifts, organise training sessions, make sure that all queries and problems are looked after and dealt with in an appropriate way. I also managed my teams’ absences and holidays too.

Recently, I have been promoted to the role of Deputy Shift Manager on the Converting site. This is a great opportunity,  and I’m incredibly excited to get started. Fingers crossed, I can have a positive impact and help to improve the business with my team. It’s the next step on the ladder and one I am ready to take on!

If you could switch to any career, what would it be?

Working in motorsport. Anything within motorsport, preferably being a driver, but I think I might be a bit too old for that now!  

Who is the funniest person you work with?

Robin Bradley. He is on the same level with me in terms of sense of humour. We try to compete with each other with jokes every day. He is just an absolutely  top lad.  

If you won £10 million, what would you do with it?

Well, that’s never going to happen! First of all I would help my family and friends. I would make sure that they are safe and secure. And probably I would try to do some good things like giving some money to charities.

I would probably spend also some money on travelling. You know, it’s quite a difficult question. It is hypothetical and I couldn’t answer that properly! I know what I would do with £10,000, it’d be a deposit for a house, but £10 million, it’s just too much money to comprehend.  

What are you best known for at work?

I hope positivity and my sense of humour. I would like to think that this is what I am best known for. I would imagine people might say otherwise and that my imminent career in stand up is a non-starter!  

What’s one of your interests we may not know about it?

Well, motor racing, people know about. A few people know that I have played bass guitar for around 20 years, but one thing people might not know about is that I went to a circus school for a while. I have learnt how to unicycle, diabolo, how to juggle. That is probably not going to come as a surprise, actually!

Another thing is that I am also building a race car. I have got an MG which I’m in the process of making track-ready.   I have lots of interests. My brain constantly needs stimulation and I like learning new things. But not only do I like learning new things, I want to be as good as I possibly can be at them.

I have been doing all sorts of things and they usually turned out to be quite successful. I think it is because I always want to be better and want to improve. I know, it doesn’t sound very humble, does it?  

If you could have any superpower what would that be and why?

Probably the ability to know what people think. It would be great to know what girls think, definitely! I have a wife, two daughters, a female cat, a female dog… So, yes that would be quite useful.  

What’s your idea of success in your job?

Success is all about personal fulfilment. My idea of success is being happy and passionate about what I am doing. If I earned millions per year and I was unhappy, I wouldn’t continue doing it. The success of those around me is also very important to me. It is essential for me to take care of the member of my team and to make sure I support them in their development by helping them to acquire new skills.

I strongly encourage them to learn and gain solid expertise in their field, hoping that they will become as passionate as I am. So yes, that’s my idea of success. The happiness, the passion and helping other people grow.

What do you like the most in your job?

First of all, I think Advance Tapes has a healthy atmosphere which is vital to create a nice working environment. I like the people who work here.

Secondly, I like that there are always opportunities to grow which are supported by training programs. I took part in training sessions, which were massively useful and it’s great to see Advance Tapes investing so much in the development of its employees. I really feel that I am listened to by upper management and I have a great relationship with them, useful when ideas start to flow!  

What do you like the most about working for Advance?

Definitely the people, the atmosphere and the development opportunities. It’s a great place to work and I look forward to many more years of success here.

Paula is the Director of the Advance Tapes France located in Meaux (France) and is responsible for the performance of the following departments: sales, processing, stock, logistics and accounting. Paula focuses on the development of European business and ensures, with all her expertise, that our customers receive exceptional service. Find out more about her career and her values in the below interview.  

How long have you worked for Advance Tapes?

I’ve been working for Advance Tapes for over 30 years and yet I remember my first day as if it was yesterday.  

How have your responsibilities changed from when you first started?

My role and responsibilities have considerably changed since I started. I joined Advance Tapes France in 1987 as a sales assistant. My first major mission was to set up a computer for inventory management, delivery notes and invoices in the French subsidiary.

Slowly, I was given much more responsibilities and had the chance to work on various projects which naturally led me to the position of Logistics Manager in France. This new role involved managing a team, purchasing goods and completing inventory.

Then I was appointed to several positions such as Head of Administration and Logistics France, Head of Sales Administration Europe South and subsequently Head of Administration and Sales Europe South.   It was a constant change until 2004, when I became Director of the French subsidiary. My role is now to link between our subsidiary and headquarters to harmonize the management of our sales. I focus on the development of European business and ensures that our customers receive exceptional service.

This evolution has been made possible thanks to a training program, but above all because I have always received full professional and personal support from the Advance Tapes Board of Directors.

If you could switch to any career, what would it be?

Nothing … I am completely satisfied with my career. I think if I had wanted to change my career I would have done it already. If we are not happy somewhere, we have to change.  

Who is the funniest person you work with?

We are not clowns! Joking aside, it is difficult for me to answer this question without hurting the sensitivity of my colleagues. All I can say is that I have the chance to work with a cheerful and motivated team who has a good sense of self-deprecation.  

If you won £10 million, what would you do with it?

If I win the lottery, I would build an orphanage and a retirement home together. I will try to reach the “two ends” of life and create a bond between the children who bring their energy and the elderly who bring their knowledge and wisdom.

What are you best known for at work?

My colleague should answer this question, not me! I would like to think that they would say that I am reliable. Often, I am told that when there is a problem, I see a project through to the end and even further. I always look at the cause of the problem in order to eradicate it at the root so that it does not happen again in the future. I always try to have a forward-looking solution.  

What’s one of your interests we may not know about it?

I really like aviation. I dream of flying with my own plane.  

If you could have any superpower what would that be and why?

I would fly! I would fly high to have a better view on the world.   What’s your idea of success in your job?

I think that no matter what your role or position is, we all contribute to the success of the company. I strongly believe that we all can be successful in our role when we put our heart into our job and achieve our objective. Having pride in one’s work and achievements should mean an inner satisfaction that we have literally done our best.

What do you like the most in your job? Without hesitation, I would say the diversity of my projects. I have never been bored during my career at Advance Tapes, not even once! I have had the chance to work on very exciting projects which give me great motivation and so, even after more than 30 years in this company. I am very proud to be part of this team who contribute to develop Advance Tapes International and change the world of adhesive foil tapes.

What do you like the most about working for Advance?

The values of the company. At Advance, we place people at the centre of our values and recognise that a company’s performance lies in its ability to mobilize and deploy the potential of its human capital. We are fortunate to be part of a human-sized company that is committed to nurturing the talents and aspirations of its employees to create positive energy and meet the expectations of our customers with high quality products.

‘When you do something, put 100% of your efforts to do it right.’- that’s the philosophy of Andrzej Zbigniew Nahorski, our Customer Delivery Operative. Read the interview and find out more about his work ethics.  

How long have you worked for Advance Tapes?

I have been working for Advance for almost 2.5 years. I worked for 20 months as an agency worker, and for the last 10 months I’ve been employed directly by the company.

How have your responsibilities changed from when you first started?

At the beginning I had few tasks and everything was relatively easy, but in the course of time I took on more and more responsibilities and I am constantly learning new things. As a Customer Delivery Operative I am responsible for various tasks: I am printing the orders, organising products depending on whether it is delivery or collection, checking whether all the orders are properly packed, depending on the needs of the customers. I also physically log the products, double check received and dispatched goods and I do a product inventory check every day on all of our tapes including our foil range. In the last month I have learnt about our export department and I started working with invoices, logging of the products etc.  

If you could switch to any career, what would it be?

Definitely filmmaking. This is my biggest passion. I worked for 10 years as a camera man for Polish TV providers. I filmed interviews with actors, politicians and celebrities, but the problem was that you often had to do things or record material which was against your beliefs. I witnessed how the bosses of the TV manipulated the film materials and this just against my principles. Additionally the wages weren’t proportional to the costs I had as a self-employed. To earn some more money I filmed during different events like weddings, communions etc. but I started to have problems with my eyes, and it was too expensive to buy new equipment regularly.  But I really like independent cinema and if I could, I would go in this direction.

Who is the funniest person you work with?

There are a few people who are really funny, e.g. Tony from Dispatch, Steve my new manager and David, one of the drivers. They all have a great sense of humour. I think that as Logistics and Dispatch we are a really good team.  

If you won £10 million, what would you do with it?

I would buy some land in a forest with a lake and I would build a small house there. And the rest I would give away to family, friends, some charities. I don’t really need much. Maybe I would travel to some places like Vietnam or India. In the UK I have met people from all over the world, and it would be nice to learn more about different cultures and visit different countries.

What are you best known for at work?

I think I’m known for being organised. People who work with me know that I like to plan and organise everything in advance. It is impossible to work in chaos or a mess. I like when everything is neat and tidy and is in the right place. I am very strict about it.

What’s one of your interests we may not know about it?

Except for filmmaking, I also like sports. Any sort of sports really, but my favourite ones are football and speedway. I like swimming and cycling. And I am also passionate about growing my own fruit and vegetables on my allotment. I like gardening, angling and general spending time outside in the nature. I am also interested in all new technical and technological developments. In my house there are plenty of electronic devices.

If you could have any superpower what would that be and why?

I don’t like when people lie, cheat or are dishonest, and I don’t like when someone does harm to another person. So, if I had a superpower I would like to be able to stand up in these moments if I witness them, and not be afraid to help.

What’s your idea of success in your job?

To do the job right, so that no one needs to correct it or improve it. When you do something, put 100% of your efforts to do it right. You sign it off with your name, so the signature should stand for the quality of your job and you as a person. Of course mistakes can happen, we are all human, but it is important to be honest about it and learn from it.  

What do you like the most in your job?

The people I work with. I am not a native English speaker and my English is not as good as it should be, but everyone is very helpful and respects me, and I don’t feel isolated because of my language. My colleagues speak slowly and have a lot of patience and understanding, and it is a very friendly environment. Besides this I really like my job, because it is very diverse. I do many different things and it is a mix of sitting in front of the computer and some manual work. Every day brings new challenges and that is what I like about it.

What do you like the most about working for Advance?

It’s really again the people. There are no divisions, there is a very flat hierarchy and there is no distance between employees and directors. All of that makes me happy about working here. I am happy to wake up and go to work. What is also important to me is that people do appreciate your work. I got the award of the employee of the month and to me it was very important, because my hard work was noticed and appreciated. It is really nice to work in such an environment.

Even if you spend time researching and selecting the best product for the job, you might still find from time to time that your adhesive cloth tape simply won’t stick. We understand this situation can be extremely frustrating. That’s why we’ve compiled this useful troubleshooting guide to help you identify what the cause of your not-so-sticky situation might be.

The right tape for the job

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that there’s a good reason why we manufacture such a wide range of products at Advance Tapes: each one is designed for a different set of requirements. If you’re using one of our adhesive tapes and you’re struggling with any of the problems listed below, we can probably offer an alternative that’s better suited to your needs.

Step 1: Is it the tape?

If you’ve had success before and you’re using the same tape, on the same surface, and under the same conditions, then there’s a chance your tape might need to be replaced. This can sometimes be an age-related problem. Although adhesive tape can often keep working for many years, it will eventually deteriorate, even when it’s still on the roll. However, before you rush out to replace your tape, keep reading. It’s actually more likely that one of the following is the source of your problem. 

Step 2: Is it the surface?

Different materials obviously have very different scientific properties, and this can have a significant effect on the performance of adhesives used on them. Even “all-purpose” tapes might have trouble with certain applications, so you might need to check whether a tape designed specifically for the material you’re working with (e.g. cardboard, wood, steel, PVC etc.) might perform better. The texture of the material you’re trying to use your tape on can also make a major difference. Some tapes require a smooth surface to adhere properly, otherwise they won’t make enough contact to form a strong bond. You might need a tape that’s more conformable or has a thicker coating of adhesive for rough surfaces. You will almost always get better results if you clean and prepare your surface before trying to stick anything to it, making sure any dirt, dust, oil or water is removed. Gently using a cloth to wipe and dry the surface will usually achieve this without doing any damage. Alternatively, if constant cleaning isn’t practical (for example, if you’re doing messy construction work), certain high-tack tapes will still be effective even on dirty or dusty surfaces.

Step 3: Is it the user?

The surface might be prepared, but what about you? For most applications you can obviously use your hands to apply tape without worrying about oil from your skin affecting the adhesive. However, if your hands are particularly wet or oily from working with machinery or using cosmetic products, this might present more of an issue.

Step 4: Are you applying it correctly?

Once you have clean hands, ensure you are applying the tape exactly as instructed. A certain amount of pressure is usually required for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes to work properly, hence the name. Placing tape lightly won’t necessarily provide much of a bond, but applying some pressure ensures the adhesive makes as much contact as possible with the surface. Another thing to avoid is stretching the product as you apply it. After being positioned, some stretchy tapes (especially those made of PVC) will gradually shrink. With long strips of tape, this can have a much more noticeable effect and cause your tape to unstick itself from the surface.

Step 5: Is it the temperature?

If it’s too hot – or more likely if you’re in the UK, too cold – when you try to apply your tape, it might not function as well as it should. You shouldn’t let either the roll or the surface get too cold before applying the tape, which can cause the adhesive to become too hard and unable to stick. All our tapes have a defined service temperature range, and some are designed to withstand more extreme temperatures than others.

Still having trouble?

We’re constantly developing new ideas and improving the performance of our existing products, so we know a thing or two about using the best adhesive for the job. If you still have any problems using our products or similar tapes, feel free to get in touch and we’ll do our best to advise you on the best solution!