Steel Strap

The strapping material starts in a plastic "state". Once tension is applied to it, it becomes elastic and can hold the load intact while providing some shock absorption. Apply too much tension, and it will lose the ability to absorb shock, putting the load at risk.  As a general rule of thumb, more than 35% of the total breaking strain of the material is needed to create the elastic "state". Past the limit of 80%, the strapping material’s ability to absorb shock will be hindered.

A strapping machine will be able to consistently apply the right level of tension in the strapping material, making it easier and faster to pack items without worrying about their integrity.

There are three strapping materials, Steel, Polyester (PET) and PP (Polypropylene)

Steel strapping has been the benchmark strapping/unitizing globally for many years.

In the last 10 years PET strapping has taken the market by storm, replacing steel in probably all but the heaviest or hardest applications. It is safer, easier, strong, and meets the acceptable operational standards of all major Australian industry sectors.

Steel is still used in very small products such as pipes and tubes, because the PET strapping tool technologies cannot strap very small bundles. In addition, it is still used in hot environments where the strapping is in contact with hot products.

Beyond these critical applications polyester strap, purchased from reputable manufacturers, using quality strapping tools or machines will deliver excellent results.

PP strapping is normally used in light applications such as closing of small boxes, empty cartons, small light mixed pallets. It has a tendency to stretch beyond 22% of its original state, so is not suitable for compressing and holding heavy or large products.

A strapping tool is a battery or pneumatic hand held device which requires an operator to apply the strapping around the product and using the machine tighten strapping, apply tension and seal. 

A strapping machine is bespoke technology which is usually used as part of a process or manufacturing line. Strapping is fed around the product automatically by the machine, and applied with correct tension and sealing for an optimized product.

Automated strapping machines have a lot of "plug in" technologies such as bearer inserters, top and or bottom corners, top, and or side compression to square the load.