Strapping, wrapping, banding – whatever you choose to call it, those responsible for shipping and handling need secure, cost-efficient solutions for a variety of needs. Once containers are fully packed, they need additional security to strengthen them, stack them, reduce damage, prevent pilferage, and more.
Strapping and bundling boxes or materials together improves risk management by preventing falls. It unitizes items for easier forklift maneuvering and more efficient placement on transport vehicles.
Strapping comes in a variety of strengths, sizes, and materials. So solutions come in a variety of products from low cost to high durability. Different products solve different problems, so knowing which products serve which need is important to shipping procedure.
"More decision-makers are opting away from steel because it lacks the stretch and recovery of polyester strapping."Strapping: Making the right choice
Several factors - the product being secured, weight and shape of the product, amount of shifting or moving in transit, and duration of the strapping - determine the best choice.
- Steel strapping costs and should not be wasted where it does not make sense. If maximum break strength and split resistance are critical, steel is the first choice. However, more decision-makers are opting away from steel because it lacks the stretch and recovery of polyester strapping. Steel may retain tension with durability, but it has poor climate resistance. And, because steel is heavy and rigid, it adds freight weight and requires special tools.
- Polyester strapping costs considerably less than steel, but it has a high break strength and better elongation. With high strength and greater retained tension, it works well with heavy loads that do not absolutely require steel but need high initial tension. It applies easily manually or with fully-automatic dispensers. Its highly recyclable material reduces overall cost.
Companies have saved as much as 78% when they move from steel to polyester.
- Nylon strapping prices higher than other synthetic strapping, but it has a higher break strength than polypropylene. The elongation and tension recovery scores are good, but polyester has better environment and moisture resistance. Its low cost and easy application make it useful for securing heavy and rigid pallet loads.
- Polypropylene strapping has the lowest break strength but the highest elongation and elongation stretch recovery score of any option. Low cost and fully recyclable, it applies easily by hand or with semi-automatic dispensers. It works best on bundling, light carton closing, and light duty unitizing.
Other conditions to consider are the availability of color, customization, machine grade versus hand grade, and versatility. After all, any distribution warehouse will have more than one project that raises quality and pricing issues.
iPack Strapping Solutions
iPack engineers suggest a simple formula that is moving more shippers from steel strapping towards polyester strapping (all other factors being equal):
Step 1:
- Price per coil of steel/Feet per coil = Price per foot of steel
- Price per foot of steel X Feet per application = Price of application with steel strapping
Step 2:
- Price per coil of polyester/Feet per coil =Price for foot of polyester
- Price per foot of polyester X Feet per application = Price of application with polyester strapping
- Step 1 minus Step 2 = $ Savings per application with polyester strapping
Every shipment requires security, stability, safety, and savings. Long ago, iPack took the lead on providing solutions that build customer relationships by boosting productivity and maximizing the cost-effectiveness. And, that means engineering solutions that match existing products or create innovative responses to serve and satisfy customer performance metrics.
