Complete Guide to PP Strapping Selection and Usage: Choose Right, Use Right, Secure and Cost-Effective Packing

Why Choosing and Using PP Strapping Correctly Matters

PP (Polypropylene) strapping has become a mainstream choice in logistics, transportation, and industrial packaging due to its lightweight nature, low cost, and eco-friendly recyclability. However, frequent issues like "strapping breakage," "loose cargo," and "product damage" in practice often stem from improper selection or incorrect operation. Choosing the right PP strapping enhances packaging safety and reduces loss, while using it correctly maximizes its load-bearing capacity, achieving both security and efficiency.

Part 1: Selection Guide: 3 Steps to Choose the Right PP Strapping, Avoid Wasting Money

(1) Core Principle: Match Needs, Avoid Blindly Pursuing "Thicker is Better"

The suitability of PP strapping is more important than sheer strength – overly thick strapping increases costs and may damage goods, while overly thin strapping cannot bear the load, leading to packaging failure. Assessment should consider three dimensions: "Cargo Characteristics + Packaging Scenario + Quality Indicators."

(2) Specific Selection Steps

Determine Specifications Based on Cargo Weight and Volume (Key Parameters)

• Lightweight Goods (≤10kg, e.g., small cartons, accessory boxes): Choose standard PP strapping with a width of 12-15mm and thickness of 0.6-0.8mm. A breaking strength ≥1200N is sufficient, balancing lightness and cost.

• Medium-weight Goods (10-30kg, e.g., appliance cartons, medium wooden crates): Choose reinforced PP strapping with a width of 15-19mm and thickness of 0.8-1.0mm. A breaking strength ≥1500N suits most manual/semi-automatic strapping scenarios.

• Heavy Goods (≥30kg, e.g., large equipment, metal parts, stacked goods): Choose high-strength PP strapping with a width of 19-25mm and thickness of 1.0-1.2mm. Breaking strength should be ≥2000N. For some scenarios, "fiber-reinforced PP strapping" with better tear resistance can be used.

• Very Heavy Goods (≥50kg): It is recommended to use buckles/clips or directly choose PET strapping (higher load capacity) to avoid PP strapping breaking under excessive force.

Avoid Pitfalls Based on Cargo Material to Prevent Damage or Cutting

• Goods with Sharp Edges (metal products, hard plastic parts, stone): Prioritize thicker strapping (thickness ≥1.0mm) or anti-slip PP strapping with a diamond pattern. The pattern increases friction and helps prevent the strapping from being cut by sharp edges. Additionally, use padding like cardboard or bubble wrap on edges to reduce point pressure.

• Soft/Easily Damaged Goods (fabrics, foam products, fragile items in cartons): Choose standard PP strapping with good flexibility (elongation 15%-20%). Control tension during strapping to avoid overtightening and deformation. High-strength, thick strapping is not recommended as it may damage the goods' surface.

• Goods Stored/Transported in Humid Environments: Choose moisture-resistant modified PP strapping (with anti-humidity agents). Regular PP strapping can lose over 30% of its strength when damp, making it prone to breakage.

Choose the Right Type for Your Strapping Method to Improve Efficiency

• Manual Strapping (hand wrapping, heat sealing/buckle fixing): Choose PP strapping that is easy to bend, with a smooth, burr-free surface. The joint should have strong heat-seal adhesion. Buckles must match the strapping width (e.g., 15mm buckle for 15mm width) to avoid joint loosening.

• Semi-automatic / Fully Automatic Strapping Machine Use: Choose PP strapping with consistent specifications (thickness tolerance ≤ ±0.05mm) and stable tension. The width must match the machine's feed channel (common widths: 12/15/19mm). Specification deviations can cause jamming or poor cutting.

• Continuous Batch Strapping: Choose PP strapping on rolls with a length ≥1000 meters to reduce roll change frequency and improve efficiency.

Check Quality Indicators to Avoid Inferior Products

High-quality PP strapping should meet these criteria: ① Breaking strength ≥1500N (standard), elongation 10%-20% (too low leads to brittleness, too high leads to loosening). ② Surface free of bubbles, burrs, uniform color (strapping with many impurities is prone to cracking). ③ Density 0.91-0.93g/cm³ (lighter weight may indicate corner-cutting). ④ Heat-seal joint strength ≥80% (the joint should not fail before the strapping body breaks under tension).

Part 2: Usage Guide: Correct Operation to Maximize PP Strapping Performance

(1) Manual Strapping Procedure (Most Common Scenario)

1. Wrap the Goods: Wrap the PP strapping around the goods 1-2 times (1 loop for light goods, 2 for heavy goods). Leave a 3-5cm overlap for heat sealing. Ensure the strapping is snug against the goods without causing deformation.

2. Secure the Joint: Clamp the overlapping section with a manual strapping tool. Activate the heating element (heat seal temperature approx. 180-220°C). Hold for 3-5 seconds (2-3 sec in summer, 4-5 sec in winter). Wait for the joint to cool and solidify before releasing the tool to prevent a weak bond.

3. Trim Excess: Use scissors to cut the excess strapping, leaving a 1-2cm tail to prevent sharp ends from injuring personnel or damaging goods.

(2) Machine Strapping Key Points

• Parameter Adjustment: Adjust the machine's tension based on cargo weight (low tension for light goods, medium for medium, high for heavy goods). Excessive tension can break the strapping or damage goods; insufficient tension results in loose packs.

• Compatibility Check: Ensure the machine's cutter, heat sealer, and feed rollers are not worn and are clean. Debris can cause uneven cutting or poor sealing.

• Batch Testing: Test strap 3-5 items before full-scale operation. Check joint strength (should not loosen when pulled manually) and ensure no significant strapping indentations on the goods.

(3) Usage Precautions: Extend Lifespan + Avoid Risks

• Storage Requirements: Store PP strapping in a dry, ventilated area. Avoid direct sunlight (UV radiation accelerates aging, reducing strength by up to 50%) and moisture (humidity ≥80% can soften it). Store rolls upright to prevent deformation.

• Do Not Mix: Do not use different specifications (width, thickness) of PP strapping together. Buckles must match the strapping width (e.g., don't use a 15mm buckle with 19mm strapping), otherwise joints may fail.

• Avoid Entanglement: Ensure the strapping is free of strings, paper scraps, etc., during application, as embedded异物 can cause uneven force distribution and breakage.

• Regular Inspection: Before bulk use, randomly test 3-5 straps for breaking strength (using a simple tension gauge). If strength has decreased by over 30%, replace with new strapping.

Part 3: Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Strapping Breaks Easily: Possible causes: specification too thin/weak (use thicker/stronger type), sharp edges on goods (add padding), aged strapping (replace), excessive tension (reduce machine tension).

• Poor Joint Sealing: Possible causes: insufficient heat seal temperature (increase temperature), insufficient overlap length (ensure ≥3cm), short heating time (extend to 3-5 sec), worn heat sealer (replace element).

• Machine Jamming: Possible causes: inconsistent strapping dimensions (use higher quality strapping), debris in feed path (clean path), dull cutter (sharpen/replace cutter).

• Loose Cargo: Possible causes: insufficient number of wraps (add one wrap), insufficient tension (increase tension), strapping elongation too high (use type with 10%-15% elongation).

  
  

Summary

The key to selecting PP strapping is "matching the goods and scenario." The core of using it well is "standardized operation + regular inspection." By following the principle of "determining specifications by weight, avoiding risks based on material, selecting compatibility by method," and combining it with correct usage practices, you can maximize the value of PP strapping. This ensures cargo transport safety while reducing packaging costs and losses. For industrial batch strapping, it is advisable to discuss cargo parameters with suppliers beforehand and consider custom-sized PP strapping for better suitability.

ORTPAK Packaging PP Strapping is manufactured using new, high-quality PP material, combining advantages such as low cost, light weight, excellent flexibility, and strong breaking strength. It offers customizable colors and specifications, supports printing, and is known for being durable and easy to use. Leveraging advanced fully automatic winding equipment, it addresses issues of low efficiency and unstable quality associated with traditional winding methods, significantly enhancing production efficiency. This product boasts a wide range of application scenarios.