POLYESTER STRAPPING VS STEEL STRAPPING: FOUR BENEFITS OF POLYESTER STRAPPING
June 03, 2019
Today’s advanced engineering capabilities, combined with evolving raw materials, offer a variety of product options. These options complicate the consumers buying decision process, requiring more research and discovery. Whether buying a new car, renovating homes or choosing packaging materials for our business. Certain products often can become the benchmark others are measured against. This leads to other products being seen as lesser, or not effective.
There are long-held perceptions that polyester Strapping is no match for its steel counterpart when it comes to securing heavy loads. This is no longer the case. The materials used to make strapping today are highly advanced compared to their cousins of yesterday. These new strapping materials come with many unique benefits that make polyester a trusted choice for strapping in today’s marketplace.
- Increased Safety
- Reduced Environmental Impact
- Increased Performance and Durability
- Increased Cost Savings
1. Safety Benefits of Polyester Strapping
Polyester strapping is safer to handle than Steel Strapping. When comparing rolls of equal length, polyester strapping is considerably lighter. Polyester offers increased safety to operators as it lacks the sharp edges commonly found on steel straps. Polyester strapping’s dull edges are easier on hands and forklift tires, reducing cuts and damage. Steel strapping operators are required to wear gloves for protection or risk of serious injury. Once the strapping has been removed, employees can easily gather up the removed polyester strapping by bundling them up and disposing of them in the garbage or via closed-loop recycling programs.
2. Polyester Strapping and the Environment
The overall environmental impact of polyester strapping is much lower than steel. In the manufacturing process, polyester is extruded from raw resin materials. Steel, on the other hand, is a forging process that requires high amounts of energy. The use of polyester strapping helps to generate great net energy savings for environmentally-conscious businesses.
The lighter polyester strapping also reduces overall load weights. This creates space, time and fuel saving to move these goods from point A to point B. Polyester strapping is a recyclable product and can reduce packaging waste and disposal costs. These costs reductions improve company profits and reduce environmental impact. This recycled material can then be recycled many times over to make post-consumer products including new strap.
- Reduced Environmental Impact
- Lightweight
- Reduced Waste
- Recyclable
3. Performance and Durability
Polyester strapping is formulated to have the properties of steel while providing many performance advantages. The excellent elongation and memory retention characteristics help straps stay tight when loads expand and contract. These characteristics help the straps absorb impact without breaking or losing their ability to retain the load. It is the best choice for loads that shrink and settle after cooling. The ability to stretch and maintain strength make polyester strap ideal for lumber loads. Polyester materials are resistant to the elements and ultraviolet degradation to prevent straps from weakening when stored in outdoor areas. Unlike steel that rusts when wet, polyester strapping will not stain products when exposed to the elements.
- Similar Performance to Steel
- Increased Load Security
- Resistant to Ultraviolet Degradation
- Water Resistant
- Rust Resistant
4. Cost Savings
Polyester’s unique qualities make it one of the best strapping materials to use for securing a variety of palletized and unitized loads. When used as an alternative to steel strapping, polyester strapping can provide a savings of up to a 25%. Polyester strapping
- Extremely Versatile
- 25% Savings Compared to Steel
- Reduced Handling Costs
- Reduced Changeovers
- Reduced Freight Weight
- Reduced Operator Fatigue
- Low Environmental Impact
