The Difference Between Bonded, Composite, and Woven Cord Strapping

BONDED POLY CORD STRAPPING (non-woven)

Bonded cord strapping is used as a safe, inexpensive product for bundling and securing a wide variety of items across a multitude of industries. From agriculture, landscaping, automotive, printing, light building products, to baling corrugated and plastic for recycling, bonded cord strapping is your best solution.

WOVEN CORD STRAPPING

Woven cord strapping provides additional bi-directional strength and split resistance often required in harsher environments. General purpose woven cord strapping is cost effective and ideal for securing and bundling light to medium/ heavy loads for most industries. Heavy duty and extra heavy duty cord strapping are super tough-high tensile products designed for application to replace more expensive steel strapping. These products are used primarily for securing heavy and extra heavy loads in the bundling, metal and plastics industries as well as for rail car load securement.

COMPOSITE CORD STRAPPING

Composite cord strapping is made from polyester fibers coated with clear polypropylene. The clear polypropylene coating provides added water resistance protection and improved handling properties when threading the strapping under pallets and through metal buckles.

Related: Buckles for Cord Strapping

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Stretch Film Containment

Containment Force

Force to load is the amount of force the film exerts on the load to maintain its integrity. This is extremely important when down-gauging. This measurement will show you that the load integrity is just as good, or better than it was before.

 

 

 

Keys to Containment

• A wrapping standard is established
• Total film revolutions are consistent
• Containment force is equal
• Film weight is known, consistent, and repeatable

Pre Stretch: Normally a fixed value affected by the equipment’s gear ratio. This is the amount of stretch achieved in the equipment’s pre-stretch rollers.

Force-to-Load Stretch: The amount film stretches as it is applied to the load. This figure may deviate from the equipment’s pre-stretch. Factors such as equipment settings and film composition affect the “on pallet” stretch.

Cut and Weigh: Exactly what it says. Cut the film off and weigh it. This is the only way to exactly know the customer’s cost per load. Always make sure you get this reading before making any changes to the wrapper. It is suggested that a digital scale be used to calculate the weight.

Be sure to check out our full selection on stretch film.

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Common Stretch Film Problems

Ultimate

An ultimate break is a straight-line break with pointed edges. The break occurs when the film has been pre-stretched beyond its limits.

 

Film Flaws

Bad Edges

• Film has nicks or flaws in edges
• Causes a tear from on edge through the film
• Creates a diagonal break
• May also be caused by machine rubbing edges

Gels

• Unmelted Plastic in film
• Causes a tear from on the center of the roll
• Creates a diagonal break from gel point
• May also be caused by burrs or nicks on rollers

Why do failures occur?

• No understanding of containment
• No wrapping standards established
• No adherence to a developed standard

Make sure you know the difference between cast and blown stretch film and check out our selection of stretch wrap.

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Plastic Strap FAQ

What is AAR and AAR approved strapping?

AAR stands for the Association of American Railroads, an organization that independently test strapping for rail car packaging. The Packaging Group sells several types of Polyester strapping with different characteristics. Search our collection of AAR approved plastic straps by finding the (AAR) listed under “Type”.

How do you remove plastic straps?

Since plastic straps are applied under tension and retain their tension, it must be removed with caution. Eye protection is required even though plastic strapping may not be perceived to be as sharp as steel strap­ping, it still can cause serious cuts or even blindness. As pictured to the right, wearing safety glasses, place a hand on one side of the plastic strapping to be cut. With solid footing, also place your body in front of your hand holding down the strap and away from the free side of the strapping. When the strapping is cut, the free side will fall away from you. On the flip side, here’s how you load a coil onto a dispenser.

Does UV light affect the straps? What plastic strapping is recommended for prolonged outside storage?

Not really, but for any for a length of time, polyester is the preferred strapping. Brick, lumber, plastic pipe, and even corrugated on the west coast are often stored outside for months on end. Black and green poly­ester straps are recommended for this kind of outside storage.

What’s the difference between polyester and polypropylene straps?

One of the most frequently asked questions, and we’re here to help. We have two great resources for this. Steel vs. Poly vs. Polyester Strapping and How to Identify Plastic Strapping.

What’s the joint strength of plastic strap with a heat seal vs. a friction weld?

Generally, a heat seal will produce higher joint strengths, from 70% to 90% of the break strength of the strapping. Friction welds generally produce joint strengths from 75%. Check out more information on weld joints.

Is strap thickness a reliable indication of strap strength?

Not always, as some straps are heavily embossed which increases thickness but reduces strength. Strength depends upon a number of factors so be sure to read the product specifications provided by the manufacturer.

Can the same hand tools that use polypropylene be used for polyester?

No, not always, some tools will handle both products efficiently while others will not. It is best to read and understand the manufacturer’s manual or specifications. Don’t forget to check out our selection of plastic strap hand tools.

Will hand tool grade straps work in automatic machines?

They may, but it will not perform reliably or efficiently enough to justify the price difference and is not guaranteed by The Packaging Group for use other than hand grade applications.

When buying a semi-automatic arch machine how do I determine the correct arch size?

You must first know the minimum and maximum package size requirements. For the maximum package size, the arch will need at least two inches of “play” or clearance at the top and two sides of the arch to seal properly. On the minimum package size, you should have a perimeter, (measure around the package as it would feed through the machine) of at least one third the perimeter of the arch opening for best results. When you have these measurements the selection of the correct arch size can be easily determined.

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Loading Coil onto a Dispenser

How to Load a Coil Onto a Dispenser

Most plastic strapping is shipped with protective and securing packaging. The coil pictured below has a protective shrink wrap­ping. Many of the narrow­er straps also have corru­gated side plates to avoid problems like massive unwinding and pull downs (see photos).

Using a pair of scissors or safety knife carefully cut the plastic stretch film out of the core opening.
Keep all of the remaining packaging on the coil until the coil is tightened securely on the dispenser, then, and only then is the top pack­aging cut carefully off the top edges of the coil with a safety knife or scissors.
Always leave the side plates on and don’t worry about the shrink wrap remaining on the sides of the coil.
Your plastic strap is ready for use now that it’s been properly loaded onto the dispenser!

Be sure to check out our full selection of plastic straps, tools, and accessories.

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Plastic Strap Weld Joints

Plastic Strapping Sealless Weld Joints

Seallesss joints can be created with manual strapping tools or pneumatic combinations strapping tools. Using interlocking keys, the sealless joints provide static joint strength equal to that of notch-type joints. The reverse lock sealless joint emphasizes one reversed interlocking key for added security in impact conditions. Used for medium to high volume use.

Heat Seal

A heater blade produces the strongest seal joint efficiency.

Friction Seal

Strap is fused by heat created by friction.

Read more on the other types of plastic strap closures and shop our selection of plastic straps.

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Plastic Strap Metal Seals

Polypropylene Smooth Metal Seals

The proper steel seals for polypropylene straps are smooth metal seals. A tensioner and the correct sealer with symmetrical jaws will produce tight professional seals.

Polyester Serrated Metal Seals

The proper metal seals for polyester straps are serrated metal seals. Look at the open seal in the picture below. If you look closely, you can see the rough texture fabri­cated inside the seal for better gripping power on slick sur­faced polyester. A tensioner and the correct sealer with non—symmetrical jaws will produce tight professional seals. Be sure to place the long tooth of the sealer over the long open top of the seal (see arrows) before crimping.

Read more on the other types of plastic strap closures and check out our selection of buckles.

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Plastic Strap Closure

Three Basic Types of Closure

The area where two ends of plastic strapping are joined is called the seal joint. Generally, the strength at the joint of the strap is weaker than the break strength of the strapping itself. The joint efficiency is the percent of joint strength in relation to the straps break strength. For example, if the break strength of the strap is 500lbs and at the joint is 400lbs, the joint efficiency is 80%.

Strapping is joined by three methods; buckles, seals, and welds. 

Learn more about them below:

Buckles
Seals
Welds

 

 

 

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Plastic Strapping Buckles

Plastic and Wire Buckles

The work volume, production speed required, and required strength deter­mines closure method. For low volume, low tension applications, buckles are a good method of joining plastic strapping. This is particularly true if portability and cost are major issues. One can easily hand tension the strap, with or without the use of a hand pull or crank tensioner, and apply the buckle without the need of a power source. The metal buckles are stronger than the plastic ones and can withstand greater tensioning. Plastic buck­les are used on lighter weight loads, espe­cially in agriculture, as they can be easily hand applied in the field without the need for tools.

Always Use:
Phosphate finished buckles on bonded and all woven cord strapping.
Galvanized finished buckles are required for composite cord strapping
Bright finished buckles are for polypropylene strapping.

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Determining The Number of Straps

This guideline will help you figure out how much strapping do you need for packaging. A general safety rule for products on skids or pallets is to always have a minimum of 2 straps in the load direction. The load direction is how the skid or pallet is moved by a forklift or other piece of equipment. See the bottom of the page for more.

1. Determine Type of Load

2. Ask 3 Questions

1. WEIGHT: Heavy or Light? Heavy loads may require more straps with a heavier break strength.
2. CORNERS: Sharp or Soft? Sharp corners require corner protection.
3. INTEGRITY: Stable or Unstable? Unstable loads require more straps.

3. How Will it be Handled?

1. Handling: On pallets, without pallets? Products without pallets require more securement.
2. Storage: Where is it stored, for how long? Outdoor storage and exposure to UV light favor Polyester strapping.
3. Transported: How is it transported; by rail, open truck, closed truck, common carrier, company carrier? The rougher the ride, the more securement required.

Break Strength Guidelines

Check out our entire collection of straps, tool, and accessories.

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