General Fasteners Limited

Package Characteristics

Once you have identified the package types, you must diagnose how the load's physical activities will affect strapping selection. The physical package characteristics which most influence strapping selection include: corners, weight, load stability or integrity.

Corners

Corners have a direct bearing on the type of strapping that you select. For example, you don't want to use plastic strapping on a rigid load such as steel blanks because the sharp metal edges will cut the strapping. Corners also cause strapping to lose tension. For example, if 800 pounds (4,000 Newtons) of strap tension is applied to a load with a very sharp steel corner, only 160 pounds (800 Newtons) of tension will be transmitted around the corner. However, if you modify a sharp corner with an edge protector, tension transmission increases from 160 pounds (800 Newtons) to 660 pounds (3,200 Newtons). Corners can be modified with angle board or plastic edge protectors. Protects the strap from the load and the load from the strap.

Weight

Weight also impacts the type and size of strap recommended. For example, a heavy coil of steel would not be packaged with plastic strapping. It's just not strong enough. Heavier loads require stronger strapping, while lighter loads require lighter-weight strapping.

Load Stability or Integrity

Load Stability or Integrity is yet another factor that will influence strap selection. Unstable loads tend to separate during transit if they are not unitized. Strapping provides stability to secure such products into solid, stackable unit loads; it helps to stabilize loads made up of multiple stacks and/or layers.