Which Strapping Should You Use?

Strapping can be used to bundle items together into packs to make it easier to store, handle and dispatch them, secure packages such as boxes to give them extra strength, or keep items attached to pallets. Before choosing your strapping, you should ask yourself some questions to help you choose which strapping you should use:

  • What products will I be strapping?
  • What is the purpose of strapping them?
  • How much do the products weigh?
  • How long will your items be strapped for?
  • What will the conditions be?

By asking yourself these questions you will be able to find out which option is best for you and which strapping you should use.

Polypropylene Strapping

Polypropylene Strapping CoilPolypropylene strapping is the lightest duty and least expensive strapping around. It’s perfect for bundling together lighter products into packs making it easier for you and your customers to store, move and ship products. Even though it’s the lightest weight strapping, here at Davpack we still offer it with a maximum break strain of 350 kg which might be more than enough for your needs. It’s also great for banding larger or heavier parcels to give them some extra strength to ensure that they are kept sealed. Although it is very economical, constant pressure on polypropylene strapping can cause it to stretch without being able to return to its original length.

Pros

  • Good for light to medium duties
  • Cheaper than other strapping
  • Resistant to rust

Cons

  • Lowest break strain of the strapping types
  • Can elongate under consistent pressure without recovering
  • Not suitable for use on sharp edges

 

 

Polyester Strapping

Polyester Strapping Coil

The next level up from polypropylene strapping is polyester strapping. Polyester strapping generally has a higher break strain and can be used in a similar way to polypropylene strapping but is better suited for medium to heavy-duty loads depending on which end of the break strain capacity the individual product falls on. It is very durable and unlike polypropylene strapping, polyester strapping has the ability to better recover from stretching, making it more able to deal with shifts in pressure and weight on certain points.

Pros

  • Good for medium to heavy duties
  • Strongest out of the plastic strapping types
  • Elongates and contracts
  • Resistant to rust

Cons

  • More expensive than polypropylene strapping
  • Not as strong as steel strapping
  • Not suitable for use on sharp edges

 

Steel Strapping

Steel Strapping Coil

Steel strapping is the strongest and heaviest duty strapping available and has the highest break strain weight of all the strapping. Commonly used to transport heavy loads such as construction materials, machinery and fixing heavy items to pallets. Unlike both polyester and polypropylene strapping, steel strapping is safer to use on loads that have sharp edges as they won’t cut through and is more resistant to UV and hot temperatures. Many types of steel strapping are coated in zinc or painted to provide resistance to rust and corrosion, although this can still be a problem if used for a long period of time.

Pros

  • The strongest type of strapping
  • More resistant to higher temperatures and UV
  • Safer to use on sharp edges

Cons

  • Most expensive form of strapping
  • Can be susceptible to rust and corrosion
  • Can pose a risk of whiplashing if cut improperly

 

 

 

We hope that after reading this guide, we’ve helped to give you a better understanding of how different types of strapping are used along with their pros and cons so that you can make the right choice for you and your products. If you require any more information regarding which strapping you should use, tools or machines give us a call on 01332 821200.

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Remy Courtois

Remy has been a contributing author since late 2011, when he arrived at Davpack from a major packaging competitor. Originally a product buyer with many years of specialist knowledge in the fields of custom cardboard boxes and corrugated products, Remy now combines his purchasing and literary skills to maximum effect in our marketing team as a content writer. Born to French and British parents in Nottingham, Remy had a bilingual upbringing and has lived for the past twelve years just South of Paris. He presently commutes twice a month to France but is in the process of re-locating to his birthplace. Davpack

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