Pallet Strapping Machines: What They Do and How They Work
Strapping goods onto pallets secures your goods for handling, as well as for safe shipping and storage. Which strapping machines you choose depends on your applications.
Strapping goods onto pallets secures your goods for handling, as well as for safe shipping and storage. Which strapping machines you choose depends on your applications.
At Gateway Packaging, we offer a range of strapping machines, from handheld machines, to semi-automatic and fully automatic machines. We also offer all the strapping accessories you need.
Firstly, how does pallet strapping work?
Pallet strapping: safely secure your goods onto pallets
It’s easy to overlook the importance of pallet strapping. (Alternative terms for this process include banding, or bundling.) However, it’s a vital form of packaging which aids profitability.
Not only does pallet strapping guard your goods from damage, it helps with employee safety—boxes tumbling from pallets can cause injury. An additional economical benefit: strapping helps to ensure efficiency—you save space.
For the pallet strapping process you need:
- Basic packaging protection for your goods on the pallets during handling, shipping and storage;
- Strapping materials which will bind cartons or goods together;
- Pallet strapping machines to secure your goods on their pallets.
Let’s look at the process in more detail.
1. Provide basic packaging protection for your goods to avoid costly damage
Unfortunately, accidents are common. Once goods leave your facilities, they need secure protection. That begins with basic packaging.
Gateway Packaging offers many different options for basic packaging, including wraps, and foam materials. We even offer chill packs for perishables. Our strapping machines secure your cartons, or can bind goods together if you’re not using cartons.
Start by considering the size and weight of your goods, as well as how they’ll be loaded onto pallets, and transported. Will your goods be exposed to the environment and UV light? How long will they be stored? Do you need heavy duty packaging and strapping, because your products will be shipped across the world in containers?
2. Secure your products with safe strapping materials
After your goods are packed, you need to protect them on their pallets. Again, consider the weight of your goods, and whether lightweight or heavy duty cartons will best protect them.
To secure your cartons before adding them to a pallet, use a handheld strapping machine, or an automatic machine.
For high volume operations, we offer pallet wrapping machines, which apply stretch film to hold pallet loads in place.
Alternatively, our strapping tools can bind items together and secure them to their pallets.
3. Choose the best pallet strapping machine for your applications
When it comes to strapping machines, you have many options, including handheld machines, as well as automatic machines. However, it’s vital to consider how you’ll protect your goods on their pallets. The best protection begins with securely stacking goods onto their pallets.
Handheld pallet strapping machines: convenient and easy to use
Consider ways for stacking goods onto a pallet: a defined stacking process is often overlooked, but it’s vital. Not only can you save space with proper stacking, you’ll avoid accidents.
Before stacking goods, check each pallet to ensure that it is undamaged and sound. Then stack the heaviest items on the bottom layers of the pallet. A brick-like stack (where each layer is reversed from the layer beneath in the stack) will minimize shifting and movement during loading and transport.
You have a choice of many materials for strapping your pallets, ranging from plastic strapping, to twine and ropes. A friction welding tool tensions and seals both polyester and polypropylene strapping securely to avoid movement during transport.
When you’re strapping each pallet, use at least two straps, and begin by feeding the strap through the bottom of the pallet. If you’re securing heavy, awkwardly-shaped, or expensive products, use more than two straps. After strapping, test each pallet to ensure that you can’t shift any items on your stacks—if anything moves, add more straps.
Strapping machines for high-volume operations will save time and manpower
If you’re managing high-volume operations, consider strapping machines. A strapping machine can strap goods together, ready for pallets; while a pallet wrapping machine quickly secures stretch film around a pallet.
Two forms of mobile strapping machines are common: arched, and arch-less. These machines are mobile: you can move them to any area in your facility. Both types of machines quickly strap, tension and seal straps around individual products, and strap products and cartons together.
When your goods are strapped and loaded onto a pallet, a pallet wrapping machine quickly wraps and tensions film around the pallet to ensure a safe and secure load. Gateway Packaging offers both automatic and semi-automatic pallet wrapping machines.
Pallet strapping: get cost-saving advice from Gateway Packaging
There’s a lot involved in economical pallet strapping. The right equipment ensures safe handling and shipping, whether you’re sending your goods across the state or across the world.
At Gateway Packaging, we’re ready to offer recommendations and advice to save you time and money. Please get in touch.