Strapping and banding are vital packaging considerations when you’re shipping goods to your customers. You want your goods to be packaged securely, so that they arrive at your customer’s door in the same condition they left.
Strapping’s Benefits: Secure Travel, Safe Arrival
The terms “strapping” and “banding” can be used interchangeably. They refer to securing goods, not only to combine them into single packages but also to stabilize them in their shipping containers.
There’s considerable choice in strapping materials.
Popular strapping materials: choose the best material for your needs
Materials used for strapping tapes vary according to use; whether you need heavy duty tapes, lightweight tapes, or something in between.
Consider secure steel strapping for heavy or hazardous loads, including concrete, metal, and bricks. Steel strap comes in various widths and is sold according to weight.
Commonly used on light to medium weight loads, popular polypropylene straps may not be suitable for hard outdoor materials like bricks—unless it’s specially treated.
Without special treatment, a polypropylene strap is affected by ultraviolet light and also loses tension after packaging. This can be dangerous.
Nylon and polyester plastic strap are used for lightweight loads, with polyester often preferred because it’s cheaper.
Once you’ve chosen your strapping materials, how will you apply them to your loads?
Strapping Tools Available: Handheld Or Machine
Strapping tools vary widely in size and application, from handheld tools to large automatic machines.
For small everyday and occasional loads, handheld strapping tools combine a tape dispenser with a facility which tensions, seals and cuts the tape. Handheld tools can be manual or automatic.
In high volume situations in which a machine is required, strapping machines can be either powered, or for manual use.
Fully automatic machines are also available with two options: either inline, for use on a production line, or freestanding.
Strapping And Banding Machines For High Volume Situations
If you’re dealing with a high volume of loads you’ll need packaging machinery to cope. You may also have strict specifications if you need to follow protocols and guidelines.
On The Factory Floor: Inline Strapping Machines
Manufacturers of products like beverage containers and glass need rugged automatic strapping machines which are integrated into production lines and can be operated around the clock if necessary.
These machines are customized to suit their operating environment. They’re offered for use with strap of varying width and thickness and can apply the amount of tension needed.
Inline machines are available as fully-integrated end to end systems, manufactured and customized to a customer’s needs. These high-volumes, high-speed systems can be commissioned and built to include robotics if required.
In The Warehouse: Standalone Machines
Freestanding strapping and banding machines for use in warehouses can be fixed installations or mobile.
Smaller semi-automatic machines operate efficiently in a low-volume warehouse environment and usually offer a compact design.
Larger semi-automatic machines are used in higher volume situations. They’re available in fixed or mobile options. Some offer useful features like an anti-jam facility and dial-in tensioning.
