How to Select the Best Strapping Material for Your Industrial Packaging Needs

Are you looking to evaluate your current strapping materials move to a lighter, safer, and more cost-effective option? We’re here to shed light on the different options of strapping materials that exist and help you make the right choice for your packaging needs.

Anyone who has ever ordered items to be delivered to either their home or workplace has undoubtedly noticed the many variations of packaging styles and materials that exist. Smaller packages may arrive in cardboard boxes or even plastic bags. But larger shipments that arrive on pallets are often sealed in stretch wrap and banded with strapping material. Years ago, there was only steel strapping to choose from. It’s strong and reliable, but it does have its limitations. While steel strapping materials are still useful in many heavy-duty shipping applications today, science and technology have paved the way for lighter, stronger and safer strapping options.

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Steel Strapping Materials 
Steel is the oldest type of strapping on the market. You may recall seeing it on flatbeds traveling down the highways, often carrying very heavy and large loads. It has high tensile strength and is available in many widths and thicknesses to accommodate almost any application. Steel strapping material is most often used when high strength and minimal stretch are required. 

Steel strapping materials are ideal in applications such as transporting extremely heavy and stable loads like sheet metals.

Polypropylene Strapping Materials 
Polypropylene is economical and is made from a plastic resin blend and does not offer the same strength as steel or polyester. Like other strapping materials, it is available in many widths, thicknesses, and polymer variations and often used in arch strappers or tabletop strapping applications. Polypropylene strapping material has some level of elongation, meaning the material can stretch some, but has irrecoverable dead stretch and does not recover as well as polyester. 
 
Polypropylene strapping materials are ideal in light to medium applications such as unitizing, palletizing, and bundling. 

Polyester Strapping Materials 
Polyester is more rigid than polypropylene and is often used in place of steel. It has excellent retained tension and has recovery properties that allow loads to absorb impact without breaking the straps. Polyester is often preferred because it’s made from recycled plastics. Polyester is commonly marked by its green color though it can come in other colors as well. In addition to being environmentally friendly, polyester strapping material is safer than steel.  
 
Polyester strapping materials are ideal in applications that require the hardiness and durability of steel, but users prefer a lighter, safer and more cost-effective option with even greater tensile strength. Additionally, polyester strapping can be applied with battery-operated, cordless tools that not only reduce the time spent applying the straps but minimize exposure to safety hazards common with steel strapping. 

Woven Strapping Materials 
Woven strapping material is a great alternative to steel and can often handle larger and heavier loads than polyester. Woven strapping materials are made from polyester cording that’s woven together to provide superior tensile strength while remaining lightweight and safe.  
 
Woven strapping materials are ideal in applications involving large and heavy loads or in situations where the company prefers to not use steel due to the possibility of injury during application or removal. Examples of common loads that use woven strapping materials include the transport of large heavy equipment or bundles of wood straight from the lumberyard.