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Polypropylene vs. Polyester vs. Steel Strapping
Choosing the right strapping to secure your shipments
Polypropylene, polyester, and steel strapping are commonly used to secure shipments in transit. But which one is right for your use case? This guide will help you decide which strapping product is best for your business. In general:
- Polypropylene is the most economical option, best suited for light to medium bundling
- Polyester is a popular alternative to steel, best for all but the heaviest bundling
- Steel is the strongest strapping material, is the most resistant to the elements, and is suitable for all bundling
Polypropylene Strapping
Polypropylene is an economical strapping material often used for lighter shipment packaging and is usually designed for light to medium bundling purposes. Polypropylene strapping is often printed and embossed, making it easy to manufacture and bringing costs down. Polypropylene strapping can be applied by manual tools, battery-operated strapping tools, and fully automatic machines. This type of strapping can lose strength through long periods of UV light exposure with temperature changes.
Some of the advantages of polypropylene strapping include:
- Non-corrosive material
- 80% lighter and easier to use than other types of strapping
- Easily sealed with sandpaper seals
- Weather & moisture resistance
- Soft edges
- Split resistance
- Smooth, strong, economical, and easy to use
- Some UV Resistance
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Polyester Strapping
When you’re looking for an affordable, economical alternative to steel strapping, polyester strapping is the way to go. Pound for pound, polyester has a higher tensile strength than steel, with high elongation and a high level of elasticity. This type of strapping is able to absorb shocks and impacts during transportation and bundling better than polypropylene but can lose strength when exposed to extreme temperatures or extended periods of UV light.
Some of the many advantages of polyester strapping include:
- High-retained tension
- Split resistance
- Environmentally friendly
- Weather Resistance
- Recyclable
- Long-lasting
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Steel Strapping
Steel strapping is the best method of protecting your heavy shipments with waxed steel oscillated coils. Steel banding equipment and supplies are the industry standard for securing heavier shipments, offering high strength and durability with break strengths ranging from 860 to 7600 lbs. Steel strapping can handle exposure to more extreme temperatures and UV light and is resistant to chemicals and moisture, especially when chemically treated. The strength of steel banding makes it perfect for securing wooden crates, concrete blocks, steel barrels, glass, and other heavier products.
Some of the benefits from using steel strapping include:
- High strength
- Inexpensive
- Sturdy
- Low risk or damage to products
- Easy to handle
- Cost-effective
- Self-adjusting
- Chemical resistant
- Reusable
- Custom printed