Plastic Strapping

What is Plastic Strapping?
Plastic strapping is a high tensile strength banding material that is used in a wide variety of packaging bundling, carton closing and palletising applications. Plastic strapping is economical, has higher strength with elasticity and is recyclable. Plastic straps are moisture-resistant and are effective across a wide temperature range.

What is Plastic Strapping Made From?
Plastic strapping is made from Polypropylene (PP) or Polyester (PET). Nylon is another option however nowadays much less common. Polypropylene strap is typically made from virgin resins or a virgin/recycle blend depending on the quality required for the strap’s intended use. Machine grade strapping would normally be made from virgin material because of the impact of strap quality on machine and process efficiency. PET strapping is manufactured with up to 100% recycled content, consisting of recycled bottles or reprocessed pellets since PET can be continually enhanced to near virgin quality between each use.

What is Polypropylene (PP) Strap?
PP strapping is the highest volume plastic strap due to its versatility and low cost. When standard PP strap is tensioned to its working range, 20-40% of its breaking strength, it typically elongates by about 4-10%, providing tight straps with significant elastic recovery. It is stable from freezing temperatures to the upper range of ambient temperatures. It can also be used for outdoor storage for limited periods. Industry guidelines suggest 30 to 90 days of UV life depending on sun intensity and colour. Black is best for outdoor use. PP strap is water and moisture-resistant. It is used in many general duty applications including for a variety of bundling, carton closing, and palletising requirements.

What is Polyester (PET) Strap?
Polyester strapping is a low elongation plastic strapping with qualities often referred to as “steel-like”. When tensioned to its working range, 20-40% of its breaking strength, standard PET will elongate approximately 2-6%. While this elongation is less than PP, PET maintains initial tension, staying tighter on packages, for a longer period than PP straps. PET is relatively unaffected by temperature from freezing to the upper levels of ambient temperatures. Standard PET stands up to UV deterioration for several months and special formulations are available if longer storage times are needed. PET is commonly used to secure larger and heavier loads for in-plant transfer, storage and shipment. Its characteristics make it the preferred solution to contain expanding or hard to restrain products, packages that tend to settle and products that are warehoused for relatively long periods.