STRAPPING & UNITIZING
Load Shifting, Safety Incidents, and Freight Damage Start With an Inadequate Strapping Program
Strapping is your last line of defense before a load leaves your facility. When it’s wrong — wrong material, wrong tension, wrong tool — the consequences show up as product damage, safety incidents on the dock, and freight claims. Most operations don’t evaluate their strapping program until something fails.
What’s at Stake When Strapping Fails
Strapping failure isn’t just a product damage issue — it’s a safety issue. Loads that shift or fail in transit put workers, drivers, and customers at risk. When the strapping program isn’t engineered for the load, those risks are predictable.
- Load shifting in transit — under-tensioned or wrong-material strapping allows loads to move, causing product damage and freight claims
- Safety risks on the dock — failed strapping creates hazards for forklift operators and dock workers during loading and unloading
- Inefficient unitizing — manual strapping with the wrong tools is slow, inconsistent, and a bottleneck at the end of your line
- Excess material cost — many operations are over-strapping or using a higher-cost material than the application requires
Strapping Solutions We Provide
Polypropylene (PP) Strapping
Lightweight, cost-effective strapping for light to medium-duty unitizing. Available in a range of widths and break strengths. Suitable for carton bundling, palletized loads with moderate weight, and general-purpose unitizing applications.
Polyester (PET) Strapping
High-tensile, high-elongation strapping for heavy-duty unitizing. Retains tension better than PP over time — the right choice for heavy palletized loads, long-distance shipping, and applications where load shift is a concern. A cost-effective alternative to steel in many applications.
Steel Strapping
Maximum-strength strapping for the heaviest industrial loads — coils, pipe, lumber, concrete products, and applications where rigid, non-elongating strap is required. Available in a range of widths and gauges.
Strapping Tools and Automation
Manual tensioners and sealers, battery-powered combination tools, and fully automated strapping machines. We match the right tool or machine to your throughput requirements, strap material, and budget.
Selecting the Right Strapping Material for Your Application
| Application | Recommended Material | Key Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Light carton bundling, light pallets | Polypropylene (PP) | Cost-effective, sufficient strength for light loads |
| Heavy palletized loads, long haul | Polyester (PET) | Higher tensile strength, superior tension retention |
| Metal coils, pipe, heavy industrial | Steel | Maximum strength, rigid, non-elongating |
| High-volume automated end-of-line | PP or PET with strapping machine | Throughput, consistency, labor reduction |
| Replacing steel to reduce cost | PET strapping | Comparable strength, lower cost, safer handling |
Why Allied for Strapping and Unitizing
Strapping is a system — the strap, the tool, the tension, and the pattern all work together. We evaluate the full system before making a recommendation, not just the consumable.
- Load-matched specification — we evaluate your load weight, distribution environment, and transit requirements before recommending a material and break strength
- Tool and machine alignment — we source the strap and the tooling together to ensure compatibility and consistent tension application
- Steel-to-PET conversion analysis — many steel strapping programs can be converted to PET with equivalent performance at lower cost and improved safety
- Automation pathway — when volume justifies it, we identify the right strapping machine to eliminate the manual bottleneck and improve throughput
How We Work
- Assess your load and application — product weight, pallet configuration, transit distance, and current failure modes
- Specify the right material and tool — strap width, break strength, material type, and tooling matched to your operation
- Identify automation opportunities — evaluate whether strapping machine investment is justified by your throughput and labor costs
- Ensure reliable supply — consistent specifications, stocked inventory, and dependable lead times
- Optimize over time — revisit the program as your load profiles, volumes, or equipment change
Ready to Build a Safer, More Efficient Strapping Program?
Whether you’re dealing with load failures, looking to reduce material cost, or evaluating automation for your end-of-line — we can help. Most strapping program reviews identify both performance improvements and cost savings within the first conversation.