Strapping Machines: What You Need to Know | Blog

Secure transportation is essential when shipping inventory and materials. A strapping machine can be an excellent investment for your warehouse, whether you need to manage oversized loads or protect fragile items. The straps help maintain product groupings and hold pallets or items together.

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This equipment can be designed as a fixed machine or a portable device to place either metal or plastic straps around shipping loads. Manufacturing facilities and industrial warehouses often have diverse needs, which is why you might consider various strapping options to handle all situations.

Types of Strapping Machines

When you are ready to invest in a strapping machine, the first step is to learn about the different types of equipment. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every warehouse. Therefore, consider how you will use the machine and what features will best suit your needs. Here’s an overview to help you compare the most popular types of strapping machines:

Automatic Strapping Machines

Automation allows you to place straps quickly and securely, without the need for manual labor throughout all packing stages. If your packaging line needs to strap a large volume of packages each day, an automatic strapping machine is the ideal solution to speed up the process.

These automated features work best when you have similar volumes, weights, and loads moving through the machine. The settings are custom-designed to ensure optimal automation, including automatic tightening and strap fixing during the process.

A fully-automated strapping machine that includes a conveyor can detect packages as they move down the conveyor line. The machine can operate without an operator managing each load and can quickly process products. For instance, some automatic strapping machines can place up to 60 straps per minute. Although this type of strapping machine tends to be the most expensive, it is worth the investment for handling large volumes of products as your ROI increases over time.

Automated strapping machines, such as the VarioMaster pictured here, provide excellent throughput and efficiency for strapping operations.

Semi-Automatic Strapping Machines

Semi-automatic strapping machines are often smaller units and include either a flat tabletop or an arch-like overhead structure. A strapping table primarily relies on operators to position the items, pressing a button to engage the strapping machine and removing the items when the cycle is complete.

In comparison, an arch strapping machine has a limited capacity, so it's crucial to know the maximum load size to ensure the machine is sufficient for your products.

The advantage of a tabletop strapping machine is its ability to accommodate products of various sizes. Conversely, arch strapping machines work best for handling consistent sizes and types of products. Regardless of which semi-automatic strapping machine you consider, it’s important to note that these machines are primarily designed for small to mid-volume operations. If you are managing large pallets or groups of products at a high volume, relying on an operator for loading and positioning can be inefficient.

Handheld or Manual Strappers

If mobility is a priority on your work floor, consider portable strapping tools instead of fixed machines. Handheld devices are excellent for working with different packaging types. Their mobility allows for both vertical and horizontal strapping.

Manual strappers are suitable for companies requiring fewer than 50 strapping jobs per hour per employee. They also perform well when mobile workstations are distributed throughout the warehouse. Additionally, a manual strapping machine is a fraction of the cost of larger equipment.

Types of Strapping

Along with choosing the right equipment, it's essential to select the best strapping tape materials. Consider these factors when selecting strapping materials:

• Intended use
• Load weight
• Type of load (dynamic or static)

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Polypropylene Strapping

The primary advantage of polypropylene (PP) strapping is its low cost. It is commonly used with both automatic and manual strapping machines.

This material is easy to use due to the flexible nature of the straps. Additionally, it is resistant to temperature variations and rust, making it suitable for various climates. PP is ideal for lightweight or fragile packages. While effective for short periods, it is not recommended for long-term storage.

Polyester Strapping

If you seek a durable and resilient strapping material, then spun polyester is the best choice. This textile material is lightweight, making it an effective solution for securing delicate products. Moreover, polyester is tear-resistant and provides extreme strength for large, heavy loads.

The downside to polyester is that it may not work effectively in automated machines. These straps perform best when paired with hand tensioners, allowing for additional tightening once the load is secured.

Metal Strapping

Metal strapping is one of the strongest options for securing rigid and heavy loads. It is recommended for loads that do not compress or for items with rough or sharp edges, such as concrete, iron, or bulk lumber.

Since metal straps are not bendable, it’s crucial to ensure they are sized correctly for each load. Depending on your equipment, metal straps can be sealed with or without joints. Although metal is ideal for sturdy materials, it can be too harsh for easily damaged products. Additionally, metal strapping can be expensive, making it less feasible for those with a tight budget.

Selecting the Right Strapping Machine for Your Business

At Gertex Solutions, we offer full-service support to help you choose the optimal equipment for your company. We provide guidance throughout the purchase process and ongoing support to ensure you know how to use strapping machine equipment effectively. Our goal is to enhance your packaging automation, improving productivity and saving you money.

What questions do you have about strapping machines? If you want more information about the right equipment for your business, please contact us to schedule a free assessment.

Paul Gertin
Co-Founder

Banding is often a better alternative to strapping, although not in all cases.

Top advantages of banding include a more accurate tensioning process, which is gentler on the product. Banding also allows for high-quality printing, a wider variety of binding materials, and easier opening.

However, strapping does have its advantages: when the expected tensile forces of the package exceed 30 kg, strapping is the most effective solution to provide the necessary stability.

Here are some main reasons manufacturers prefer banding over strapping for bundling:

Reduced likelihood of damage. Excess force can cause irreversible damage, like ripped edges and corners. Ultrasonic banding technology enables a machine to precisely sense when the banding material contacts the product. In fully automated applications, the machine aligns the product on all sides before banding the bundle, creating the tightest possible bond without causing damage.

Room for branding & creativity. Bands allow for color printing on both sides, serving as an informative and marketing medium for packaging. They can also display dynamic information, such as batch numbers, product codes, QR codes, sell-by dates, and more.

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