A guide to strapping and pallet banding

Ensuring product safety during transit minimizes returns and maintains customer satisfaction amidst various hazards like impacts and falls.

Two popular methods for securing items together are strapping and banding! Their job is to keep products from shifting or becoming damaged during transit. Whether you’re packing products for shipping or storage, choosing the right materials and techniques can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about strapping and banding, including the different types of materials, the tools and equipment you’ll need, and tips for selecting the right methods for your specific packaging requirements.

What is strapping used for in packaging?

Most metal strapping is made from steel, and most plastic types are made from either polypropylene or polyester. Traditionally, steel is used to ship heavy-duty items, such as bricks or timber. Plastic is deemed more suited to the palletisation of lighter-duty products. It is also applied directly to cardboard boxes to improve handling.

Types of application

There are two ways strapping and pallet banding can be applied:

Manual application is when strapping is applied by hand directly or using a manual dispenser and secured manually using a hand-help tensioning or sealing tool.
Automated application is when the application of strapping uses some sort of machinery. This could include semi and fully automated machines, friction welders and battery-powered tools, and semi and full-automated strapping tables.

Both polyester and steel strapping are hand-applied. Polypropylene strapping can be either hand or machine applied.

Common questions about strapping and banding

Below we have listed some popular questions about strapping and pallet banding, but if you have any more queries that are not listed, our team of experts will be happy to help you.

Strapping automation

We can offer a full range of packaging automation solutions to help take your business to the next level, including strapping and banding automation. Our services cover reviewing your operation and recommending, testing, and supplying packaging machinery for your business. Imagine the time and effort of assembling, packing, sealing, and dispatching your products. Automating your process can dramatically improve productivity, help you control material use, cut waste, and allow you to future-proof spikes in demand. Carefully planned packaging automation will make your business more resilient and flexible year-round!

Can I have strapping printed with my logo?

If pallet security, product tracking or branding is essential to you, consider custom options that can help! Contact us to learn more.

Which strapping is best for your business?

The kind of strapping you need will depend on your sealing product. For a recommendation tailored to your packing processes and product, contact us to speak with one of our packaging experts, who will help you determine the best strapping option for your requirements. If you want any other packaging advice, why not contact us today?