Confident for any packaging challenge
Whether you want to buy packaging materials now, ask for advice about custom packaging or transform your entire packing operation, our experts are on hand.
How can we help?
Loading...
Checkout using your account
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA - the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Don’t have an account?
We serve businesses of various sizes, allowing you to find the ideal packaging solutions for your requirements with ease.
Strapping & Pallet Banding
Strapping is perfect for securing pallets or bundling products to ensure they're sealed or contained in transit and in storage. At Macfarlane Packaging, we provide a wide range of hand applied and machine applied strapping, along with an extensive selection of buckles, seals and tools to secure your banding.
Categories
Hand Applied Strapping
Ample range of hand strapping, inc. polypropylene, polyester & steel banding
Machine Strapping
Quality semi & fully auto machine strapping
Strapping tools and dispensers
Equipment designed to make strapping simple & hassle-free
Custom Strapping & Pallet Banding
Strapping Machines & Automation
Looking for advice about strapping and pallet banding?
The Macfarlane Packaging team is here to help you choose the right pallet strapping solution for your packaging needs. Explore our guides, ask us for packaging advice or discover our range of strapping machines.
Looking for the best strapping product?
Custom strapping solutions just for you
Improve productivity in your operation
A packaging review could help your business thrive
90% of your packaging costs can be hidden in the unit price you pay. A packaging review can help you significantly lower costs and lower your impact on the environment, helping you thrive.
Strapping associated services and products you may also find interesting
We’re here to help you get the packaging you need
As the UK and Ireland’s largest distributor of protective packaging materials, we can help you find the best strapping and pallet banding solutions to suit your business needs.
Strapping, also referred to as banding, pallet strapping or pallet banding, securely fastens pallets and bundles items together, preventing them from shifting and getting damaged during transit.
We differentiate between two primary types of strapping: metal strapping, typically made from steel, and plastic strapping, which is usually either polypropylene or polyester.
Strapping can be hand or machine applied, depending on its type. Steel strapping is typically hand applied, whereas polypropylene and polyester strapping can be either hand or machine applied.
We differentiate between two primary types of strapping: metal strapping, typically made from steel, and plastic strapping, which is usually either polypropylene or polyester.
Strapping can be hand or machine applied, depending on its type. Steel strapping is typically hand applied, whereas polypropylene and polyester strapping can be either hand or machine applied.
Strapping involves the use of strapping material and relevant tools or machinery to secure and bundle products or packages for shipping, storage or handling.
Typically, steel strapping is used for securing heavy-duty items, such as bricks, concrete blocks and timber during shipping. Plastic strapping is considered more appropriate for palletising lighter-duty products and is often applied directly to cardboard boxes to enhance their handling.
Common applications of strapping include:
Typically, steel strapping is used for securing heavy-duty items, such as bricks, concrete blocks and timber during shipping. Plastic strapping is considered more appropriate for palletising lighter-duty products and is often applied directly to cardboard boxes to enhance their handling.
Common applications of strapping include:
- Securing loads: Can be used to secure and stabilise loads on pallets or within containers.
- Bundling products: It is used to bundle together individual items, such as newspapers, magazines or metal rods, for easier handling and transport.
- Reinforcing packaging: Hand strapping reinforces the packaging of boxes, cartons, and packages. It adds an extra layer of protection and security.
- Tamper-evident sealing: Strapping can be used to provide tamper-evident seals on packages. If the strapping is removed or damaged, it indicates potential tampering.
- Heavy-duty applications: In industries, like construction and manufacturing, strapping is used to secure heavy or irregularly shaped items.
Strapping machines are electrically powered and designed to automatically apply strapping to pallets, bundles and parcels. They offer a range of benefits, including time savings, increased packing speeds and reduced manual handling in your warehouse.
With a variety of options available, including fully automatic and semi-automatic models, the operation of each machine may vary slightly.
In addition to banding machines, you can get battery operated tools that weld strapping together for you, as well as manual frames which can help you apply the banding to pallets. For more information, get in touch.
With a variety of options available, including fully automatic and semi-automatic models, the operation of each machine may vary slightly.
In addition to banding machines, you can get battery operated tools that weld strapping together for you, as well as manual frames which can help you apply the banding to pallets. For more information, get in touch.
Pallet banding involves the use of sturdy plastic, polyester or steel straps that can be either hand or machine applied and then tightened around a bundle of goods. This process ensures that the loads are stable and secure, preventing them from moving around, dropping or breaking while in transit.
Strapping has different break strains – the higher the break strain, the greater amount of durability a strapping material has.
Steel strapping has the highest break strength of all the strapping types, typically, between 500-930kg, depending on material width.
Light duty polypropylene strapping typically has a breaking strain of about 115kg while heavy duty can be around 310kg.
Polyester strapping is extremely strong, yet soft and lightweight. Generally, it has a breaking strain of between 300 – 460kg.
All the above numbers will depend on the width, application and duty of the strapping material, therefore, please check with a packaging professional if you are unsure which strength is right for your needs.
Steel strapping has the highest break strength of all the strapping types, typically, between 500-930kg, depending on material width.
Light duty polypropylene strapping typically has a breaking strain of about 115kg while heavy duty can be around 310kg.
Polyester strapping is extremely strong, yet soft and lightweight. Generally, it has a breaking strain of between 300 – 460kg.
All the above numbers will depend on the width, application and duty of the strapping material, therefore, please check with a packaging professional if you are unsure which strength is right for your needs.
It’s always a good idea to consider wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and safety shoes, to help prevent accidents and injuries.
Your working area should be safe and clean and equipped with all the necessary tools and apparatus. Additionally, ensure you know how to operate any machinery before you start using it.
Your working area should be safe and clean and equipped with all the necessary tools and apparatus. Additionally, ensure you know how to operate any machinery before you start using it.
Pallet strapping and pallet banding are both used interchangeably and refer to methods of securing items together for transit and storage.
Pallets can be strapped together using hand or machine-applied strapping.
Hand strapping involves the use of sturdy plastic, polyester or steel straps, which are manually applied and tightened around a load of items. It can be used in conjunction with manual strapping tools and equipment, such as tensioners, sealers and cutters.
Machine strapping or banding, on the other hand, involves the use of strapping machines to apply straps around packages, pallets or products to hold them firmly in place.
The type of strapping you need will depend on your products and requirements. Contact us for tailored packaging advice – we can help you find the best strapping solution for your packaging needs.
Hand strapping involves the use of sturdy plastic, polyester or steel straps, which are manually applied and tightened around a load of items. It can be used in conjunction with manual strapping tools and equipment, such as tensioners, sealers and cutters.
Machine strapping or banding, on the other hand, involves the use of strapping machines to apply straps around packages, pallets or products to hold them firmly in place.
The type of strapping you need will depend on your products and requirements. Contact us for tailored packaging advice – we can help you find the best strapping solution for your packaging needs.
Discover our video guides
Bestselling Products
Looking for detailed packing advice?
Speak to one of our packaging specialist online, by email or by phone.
Call 0800 2 88 88 22 in the UK or
+353 (404) 37370 from Ireland during business hours.
Free standard delivery when you spend £150 / €150
We offer a wide range of delivery services and options to suit your business. Your delivery is in the safest of hands.
Register for a trade account with Macfarlane Packaging
We serve businesses of various sizes, allowing you to find the ideal packaging solutions for your requirements with ease.
Packaging advice to protect your products
Speak to one of our packaging specialist online, by email or over the phone 0800 2 88 88 222 in business hours.
High-quality strapping and pallet banding designed to safely secure your products
We've got a wide selection of strapping and pallet banding solutions to keep your products safe and sound.
Strapping, also known as pallet banding, is a vital part of product packing and distribution. It's mainly used to keep pallets safe and is also great for bundling together items for transport.
At Macfarlane Packaging, have an extensive selection of pallet strapping and pallet banding solutions to choose from, including plastic polyethylene and polyester strapping, as well as steel strapping.
Additionally, we offer an extensive range of buckles and seals to secure your banding as well as an array of strapping equipment, including manual and electric hand tools as well as automated strapping machines.
We can also provide complete strapping kits that include strapping, dispenser, and sealing tools for quick setup.
Our strapping options come in various widths and lengths to meet your specific needs.
Custom strapping solutions and expert packaging advice are also available. Contact us for more information.
Packaging advice, news and opinion
Protective packaging products and services to businesses throughout the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe
A guide to strapping and pallet banding - Updated 19.11.24
Your products deal with numerous hazards before arriving to your customer; from knocks to tumbles, keeping your product (and its packaging) safe is a simple method to minimise returns.
Two popular methods for securing items together are strapping and banding! Their job is to keep products from shifting or becoming damaged during transit.
Whe
A guide to strapping and pallet banding
Your products deal with numerous hazards before arriving to your customer; from knocks to tumbles, keeping your product (and its packaging) safe is a simple method to minimise returns.
Two popular methods for securing items together are strapping and banding! Their job is to keep products from shifting or becoming damaged during transit.
Whe
How online retailers can combat rising business rates through packaging optimisation
Do you work for an online retailer that owns its own warehousing site or uses a third-party logistics (3PL) provider?
If you do, you may be aware of the incoming rise to business rates for large distribution warehouses. Announced in the 2022 Autumn statement, the review of business rates could see some online retailers (and their 3PL partners)
Macfarlane Packaging announces automation agreement with Lantech
Macfarlane Packaging, the UK’s leading distributor of protective packaging, announces today (18 March) a new automation distributor agreement with U…
Macfarlane Packaging announces automation agreement with Lantech
Macfarlane Packaging, the UK’s leading distributor of protective packaging, announces today (18 March) a new automation distributor agreement with U…
Macfarlane Packaging announces automation agreement with Lantech
Macfarlane Packaging, the UK’s leading distributor of protective packaging, announces today (18 March) a new automation distributor agreement with U…