Packing strap
A packing strap is a flat, flexible, and high-tensile material used to secure items for transport, storage, and handling. Also known as strapping or banding, it is used to reinforce, bundle, and stabilize single or multiple items to form a larger, more secure unit load, such as on pallets.
Common use
Bundling: Grouping items like newspapers, pipes, or lumber together for shipping and handling.
Unitizing: Combining multiple packages, such as cardboard boxes, into a single, stable unit on a pallet.
Securing: Fastening and reinforcing heavy or irregularly shaped items, from large appliances to coils of steel.
Load stability: Keeping products from shifting or moving during transit to prevent damage.
Types of packing straps
Strapping is available in different materials, each with unique properties suited for specific applications.
Material
Polypropylene (PP)
* Offers flexibility and good elongation (the ability to stretch).
* Can lose tension over time and with temperature fluctuations.
Polyester (PET)
* Provides high retained tension, excellent recovery, and resistance to UV and weathering.
* Resistant to rust and staining.
Composite
* Combines the strength of steel with the flexibility of a textile strap.
Steel
* Offers minimal elongation and won’t stretch or contract.
* Heavy and can be dangerous to cut.
Woven
* Offers high strength, durability, and shock resistance, even during harsh weather.
How strapping is applied
Depending on the material and application, strapping can be applied in several ways:
Manual: For lower-volume jobs, a worker uses handheld tools to apply tension and seal the strap ends with a crimp seal or buckle.
Semi-Automatic: A machine automatically tensions, seals, and cuts the strap after the operator feeds the strap around the item.
Automatic: Used for high-volume applications, these machines automate the entire process, including feeding, tensioning, and sealing the strap around the package.
