ORTPAK PET Strapping：The Preferred Packaging Solution for Steel Wire Bundling

As a fundamental raw material in basic industries, metal steel wire is widely used in various fields such as construction, mechanical manufacturing, hardware processing, and aerospace. In the production, storage, and transportation of steel wire, bundling is a critical process to ensure its shape integrity, prevent scattering and loss, and improve logistics efficiency. Traditional bundling methods mostly use steel straps, hemp ropes, or ordinary plastic strapping tapes, but they have many drawbacks. In recent years, PET strapping tape has gained increasingly widespread application in metal steel wire bundling scenarios due to its advantages in high strength, corrosion resistance, lightweight nature, and environmental recyclability, gradually becoming a preferred alternative to traditional bundling materials.

I. Main Characteristics of PET Strapping Tape Suitable for Metal Steel Wire Bundling

PET strapping tape is a new type of environmentally friendly strapping material made mainly from PET resin through processes such as extrusion, stretching, and heat setting. Its unique physical and chemical properties highly match the stringent requirements of metal steel wire bundling, specifically reflected in the following aspects:

1. High Strength and Excellent Elastic Recovery

Metal steel wire itself has considerable weight and must withstand external impact during stacking and handling after bundling, requiring the strapping material to have sufficient strength. The breaking tensile force of PET strapping tape can reach 1.5–5.0 kN (depending on specifications), far exceeding that of ordinary plastic strapping tape and even comparable to some steel straps. Meanwhile, it has good elastic recovery; when bundled, it fits tightly around the wire bundle and can quickly return to its original state even under sudden external tension, effectively preventing loosening of the bundle.

2. Corrosion Resistance and Environmental Adaptability

During storage and transport, metal steel wire is prone to rust due to humid environments, while traditional steel straps themselves carry a risk of rusting and may further contaminate the steel wire. PET strapping tape has excellent corrosion resistance—it does not absorb water or rust—and maintains stable performance in harsh conditions including humidity, high temperature, and low temperature, without contaminating or corroding the metal steel wire. Whether stored in coastal high-salinity areas or transported in cold northern regions, PET strapping tape reliably completes bundling tasks.

3. Lightweight and Easy Operation

Compared with steel straps, PET strapping tape’s density is only about one-sixth that of steel straps. Under the same bundling strength requirement, PET strapping tape weighs much less than steel straps, significantly reducing transportation and storage costs of packaging materials. Moreover, PET strapping tape is soft in texture and does not require specialized heavy-duty strapping equipment; manual or semi-automatic strapping machines are sufficient for operation. The process is simple and safe, effectively reducing labor intensity for operators and avoiding personal injury caused by sharp edges of steel straps.

4. Environmental Friendliness and Recyclability

With growing awareness of environmental protection, industrial production has increasingly higher demands for the eco-friendliness of packaging materials. PET strapping tape is an environmentally friendly material that can be recycled and reused; after recycling and reprocessing, it can be made into recycled PET products, effectively reducing resource waste and environmental pollution. While traditional natural materials like hemp rope are eco-friendly, they lack sufficient strength; some plastic strapping tapes are hard to recycle and can cause white pollution. PET strapping tape meets bundling needs while also fulfilling environmental requirements, aligning with modern industry’s trend toward green production.

II. Specific Application Scenarios of PET Strapping Tape in Metal Steel Wire Bundling

Depending on the specifications, shapes, and transport/storage needs of metal steel wire, PET strapping tape has diverse applications in bundling, mainly covering the following scenarios:

1. Bundling of Finished Steel Wire Coils

Finished metal steel wire, after drawing, annealing, coating, etc., is usually wound into round or oval coils weighing from tens to hundreds of kilograms. For bundling such coils, secure fastening is essential to prevent loosening or deformation during transport. PET strapping tape can be selected in appropriate widths (12 mm, 16 mm, 19 mm, etc.) and thicknesses according to coil diameter and weight, using circumferential or cross bundling to fix the coil tightly. For example, in bundling construction rebar coils or mechanical spring wire coils, PET strapping tape effectively bears the coil’s weight and impact during handling, ensuring the coil retains its shape.

2. Bundling of Straight Steel Bars

Some metal steel wires are cut into fixed-length straight bars per customer requirements for use in hardware processing, furniture manufacturing, etc. Straight bars are usually bundled in multiple strands, requiring the strapping material to fit tightly to prevent individual wires from scattering. PET strapping tape can be applied in multiple passes using manual strapping machines, with spacing adjusted flexibly according to bar length and quantity, ensuring firm bundling without damaging the wire surface due to over-tightening. It is especially suitable for stainless steel straight bars, avoiding contamination of the stainless surface by rust from traditional steel straps.

3. Bundling of Semi-Finished Steel Wire

During production, semi-finished steel wire (such as uncoated black wire or drawn semi-finished wire) also requires bundling for transfer and storage. These semi-finished wires are often exposed and susceptible to environmental effects. PET strapping tape’s corrosion resistance and non-contaminating properties effectively protect the surface quality of semi-finished wire. Its lightweight nature also reduces packaging weight during transfer, improving transfer efficiency.

4. Bundling of Special-Specification Steel Wire

For special-specification metal steel wires, such as ultra-fine wire or high-strength alloy wire, bundling must avoid mechanical damage. PET strapping tape is soft in texture and will not scratch or dent the wire surface like steel straps, well preserving the surface precision and performance of special wires. Its excellent tensile strength meets the bundling strength requirements of such wires, ensuring safety during transport and storage.

III. Usage Precautions for PET Strapping Tape in Metal Steel Wire Bundling

To fully leverage PET strapping tape’s performance advantages and ensure reliable and safe bundling of metal steel wire, the following points should be noted during use:

Choose Appropriate Specifications: Select PET strapping tape of corresponding width and breaking strength based on the wire’s weight, bundling method, and transport environment. For example, heavier wire coils should use tape at least 16 mm wide with breaking tensile force ≥3.0 kN to ensure bundling strength.

Standardize Bundling Operations: Ensure the tape fits tightly against the wire surface during bundling to avoid looseness. In cross bundling, the two straps should be perpendicular and symmetrically distributed to evenly distribute forces. Avoid excessive stretching of the tape to preserve its elastic recovery and service life.

Pay Attention to Joint Treatment: PET strapping tape joints mainly come in heat-sealed and buckle types. Heat-sealed joints offer high strength and good sealing, suitable for heavy bundling; buckle joints are easy to operate, ideal for medium and small bundling. Ensure joints are secure to prevent disengagement.

Proper Storage Management: Store PET strapping tape in a dry, ventilated, cool place away from direct sunlight and high-temperature exposure to prevent aging and performance degradation. Also avoid contact with sharp objects to prevent scratching.

Match with Suitable Strapping Equipment: Choose strapping equipment according to production scale and bundling needs. Manual strapping machines suit small-scale production with flexible operation; semi-automatic or fully automatic machines enhance efficiency and consistency in large-scale production.

IV. Prospects for Future Applications

With continuous development of the metal processing industry, higher demands are placed on metal steel wire quality and logistics efficiency, making upgrading of bundling materials inevitable. PET strapping tape, with its high strength, corrosion resistance, lightweight nature, and environmental benefits, perfectly meets the diversified needs of metal steel wire bundling, gradually replacing steel straps, hemp rope, and other traditional materials to become the mainstream choice in this field. In the future, with advances in PET material production technology, PET strapping tape’s performance will further improve—such as higher breaking strength and better high/low temperature resistance—while production costs will decrease, expanding its application range. It will not only be widely used in general metal steel wire bundling but also gradually penetrate high-end alloy wires, special wires, and other sectors. Furthermore, as environmental regulations become stricter, PET strapping tape’s recyclability advantage will become more prominent, providing strong support for green development in the metal processing industry. 

ORTPAK owns internationally leading strapping tape production lines, producing reliable-quality tape through innovative, scientific, advanced, and stable manufacturing processes. Welcome to inquire by phone!