Top Tips To Choosing The Right Strapping Machine For Your Application

Choosing the right strapping machine for your application significantly improves performance and productivity. With such a wide range of choices, it can be a daunting task. To help, we've highlighted some of the main features to look for when considering a strapping system.

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Semi-Automatic Machines

Semi-Automatics are good solutions when strapping is a preferred process for low volume bundling of loose material and carton closing. Operator involvement involves looping a strap end around the product, inserting it into the sealer, and tripping a switch that causes the sealer to tension, cut and seal the strap. Cycle time is several seconds plus product handling time. Economics favor this equipment for occasional needs. More continuous strapping requirements call for a more automatic solution.

Operator Cycled Automatic or Walk-up Machines

Basic automatic or walk-up units add a strap feed track to the design, limiting operator participation in the strapping cycle to placing the package on the table and hitting a switch or tripping a sensor that activates the strap cycle. The strapping cycle takes a second, more or less, depending on track and package size, plus package handling time. While walk up installations may be capable of processing up to 10 packages per minute, such a steady pace argues for a higher level of automation.

EAM-Mosca offers three walk-up, bottom sealing machines, the ROM-Fusion, ROMP-6 SoniXs, and ROMC6 SoniXs:

A low-cost but highly reliable strapper for lighter-duty applications. Track size range goes up to mm (49') wide x 600mm (23.6') high. It uses a heat seal and PP strapping.

Applications for the ROM-Fusion include:

• Bundling printed material and mail bundles, including books, magazines, newspapers, and marketing materials
• Catalog fulfillment centers for securing parcels of any packaged product
• Bundling paper bags and sacks
• Commercial and medical laundry and linen bundling
• Securing small wire coils for packaging and shipping
• Hatcheries that ship live chicks in containers via priority parcel delivery

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A High-performance walk-up machine series with the SoniXs sealer that is used in Mosca's top-of-the-line automated bundling systems. The seal position is 12 inches from the vertical track on the sealer side, which means that it is centered in the track for the 600mm wide model and offset for larger track openings. Track widths go up to mm (65') and heights to mm (49'). Cycles may be initiated by the operator using a pushbutton, footswitch, or optionally by pushing the package past a sensor.

Applications are too many to list, but include:

• Corrugated and solid fiber plants for bulk bin reinforcement and divider bundling
• Commercial laundries: strapping bundles of folded laundry
• Meat packers: strapping boxes of cut parts
• Door/window packaging: tying protective packaging to the products
• Wood veneer bundling: bundling stacks of veneer strips
• USPS and commercial printers and mailers: strapping printed material and zip sorted mail
• Plumbing supplies, auto parts and similar small part packaging: closing individual boxes and case packed products
• Catalog fulfillment centers: securing boxes for parcel shipment
• Dry ice manufacturers: closing insulated boxes of dry ice for shipment
• Greenhouses: securing boxed plants for parcel shipment
• Office furniture: packaging boxed and flat panels
• Miscellaneous manufacturers including auto roof rack and fitness equipment packaging

Because the ROMP6 uses the same sealer as fully automatic Mosca bundlers, it is the best choice for off-line applications in plants using automated Mosca products. It takes advantage of common parts and operator/maintenance training requirements in the plant while maintaining uniformly high performance in all strapping operations.

A special walk-up bottom seal strapper that offers a centered seal on all sizes and larger track widths, up to mm (110') with heights to mm (39') depending on the model. Applications include:

• Door and window makers: securing protective packaging to products transported horizontally
• Office furniture partitions: packaging flat panels for shipment
• Bulk bins: placing multiple girth straps for reinforcement on flat bins
• Outdoor furniture: package securement
• Mattresses: closing and reinforcing packing boxes
• Fireplace equipment: closing cartons
• Bundles of paper tubes: tying bundles of tubes together for transport

The ROMC6 is commonly used to strap flat and panel type products that are conveyed horizontally. Operators apply or prep packaging and feed the product through the strapper, positioning it and cycling the machine to put the desired number of straps in the proper location.

 

Fully Automatic Bundling Equipment

EAM-Mosca offers three series of fully automatic bottom seal bundling models:

Both models have a ROMP6 chassis with an automatic belt (B) or roller (R) conveyor and appropriate controls. Rollers are the preferred conveyor design for heavy or abrasive packages. The seal position is 12' from the dispenser side vertical track, centered on the 600mm wide models, offset on wider models. The ROMP6R-VA SoniXs is a stainless steel and corrosion-resistant machine made for cold, high moisture environments, mainly beef, pork, poultry, and seafood packing plants.

Fully automatic models are typically integrated with automatic conveyors and controls to place straps in quantity and location selected algorithmically or via operator input during run setup. Applications Include:

ROMP6B SoniXs

• Pharmaceutical distribution: tote securement
• High volume mail bundles and trays: bundling and securing
• Paper bags and flexible packaging: bundle tying
• Cosmetics: carton closing
• Medical supplies: parcel and case packing
• Boxed printer and other cut paper: closing telescoping cartons
• Consumer goods packaging for transport

ROMP6-R SoniXs

• Pharma and convenience store tote securement
• Meat and poultry packing: banding boxes of parts
• Catalog fulfillment: tying boxes for parcel shipment
• Newspapers: bundling papers for distribution and mailing
• Mail bundling including financial documents
• Door, window, and furniture accessories and hardware
• Wood trim and flooring: bundling for transport to retailers
• Shelf systems: closing and reinforcing cartons for shipment

The TR6 also offers the choice of belt (TR6B) or roller (TR6R) conveyor. Standard track sizes range from 500mm wide x 400mm high to mm wide x 800mm high. Seal position is in the center of the table. It has a heavier duty and more flexible chassis than the ROMP6 automated models and its PRO option enables remote access to the strapping program. Successful applications include:

• High volume commercial printers and graphic arts producers: general and zip sorted mail bundling
• Large, automated commercial laundries: automated laundry bundle strapping
• Pharmaceutical distributors: tote securement
• Packaged consumer goods
• Wood/flooring products: bundling
• Meat and Poultry packers in non-moist environments: telescoping carton closing
• Catalog fulfillment: parcel packaging

 

Specialty TR6 Bundlers

EAM-Mosca offers two specialty high-speed bundlers for specific requirements:

Built for high-speed strapping of zip sorted magazines and other bound product. It is capable of single strapping up to 55 bundles per minute by maintaining 6-sided control of incoming bundles. The standard configuration handles bundles from 5'w x 7'l to 10'x 13' with a tabloid adaptation available. Bundle height range is from .25' to 8.5'. It can be paired with other equipment to create a two machine high speed cross strapping system if required.

Straps bundles in the direction of travel (rather than across the bundle) at speeds of up to 30 per minute, enabling cross strapping without bundle rotation. It automatically straps bundles from pamphlet to tabloid size from ½' to 14' high.

The TRC6-Sonixs is a fully automated strapping machine with powered roller conveyor. It is built in track widths from mm to mm. It's main application is fully automatic high speed strapping of bundles of knocked down corrugated boxes as they are produced on Flexo Folder Gluer lines. The TRC6-SQ4A series is a special squaring bundler model that is the North American market leader in corrugated bundle strapping. Single machine installations can strap up to 24 bundles per minute and dual machine tandem models up to 36 single strap bundles per minute. Other active applications for the various size TRC6 SoniXs models include:

• Ceramic tile: Tying stacks and boxes of tiles
• Fruit packing: securing boxes of various fruit
• Bulk bin reinforcement: automatic bin girth banding for reinforcement
• Bundling empty plastic storage bins together for transport
• Stacks of 2'x4' sheets of drywall: bundling for shipment to retailers
• Office partitions: strapping protective packaging for transport

 

Side Seal Machines

The machines mentioned above are all bottom sealers. Side seal models can provide advantages when strapping tall products and when products are transported along the side rail of a conveyor so that packages will naturally be positioned against the sealer face, assuring a tight strap. They may be operator cycled or automated but are usually conveyor fed in either case. They can accommodate lower conveyor heights than table machines, as low as 12 inches. A minimum package height of about 6 inches is required in order to achieve a good seal and consistent strap tension. A special narrow seal option is available when low-height products are common.

EAM-Mosca offers a line of side seal products called ROMS6 SoniXs. Track sizes range from 650mm wide x 600mm high to mm wide x mm high with the Mosca closed track system. Larger sizes are available with a spring gate track system, as is a sealer head that indexes to meet the side of the package where product position varies or is not aligned with the conveyor edge.

The 650mm x 600mm size is available in stainless steel for cold/moist environments common in protein packing.

Common applications of the ROMS6 SoniXs series include:

• Packaged Foods: closing boxes of product
• Bundles of insulation: bundling
• Ceramic tile: bundling and box closing
• Windows and window parts: closing boxes and securing protective packaging
• Cabinets and other wood products: carton closing and bundling
• Metal cabinets: securing protective packaging for shipment
• Consumer products including pharmaceuticals, cosmetic, and snack products: securing boxes and totes
• Seed and fertilizers: bundling multiple bags together
• Furniture: securing protective corrugated packaging
• Plastic containers: banding bulk stacked shipping units for transport
• Honeycomb packaging: bundling multiple pieces for shipment
• Meat, poultry, and seafood (wild-caught and farmed) products: box closing

 

Specialty Bundling Machines:

• • • For bundling wood trim and dimension lumber products
    • Track system resides below the table to allow the product to pass across the table into strapping position, then is electrically driven around the bundle, allowing a heat sealed strap to be applied.
    • Can be operator or automatically cycled. Most commonly systems include 2 machines with bundles automatically moving transversely across their tables, with the strappers applying simultaneous straps at each end of the bundle.
    • Heat sealer operates with PP strapping

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• For securing sleeved mail trays at up to 30 trays per minute in the travel direction
• Sold to printer/mailers and USPS facilities
• Heat sealer operates with 5mm PP strapping

• For bundling printed signatures in vertical signature stackers
• Uses Mosca high tension SoniXs sealing head with PP or PET strap
• Roll-in, easy access construction
• The narrow track fits between vertical rollers on a stacker
• Inclines to match stacker angle

• For operator cycled bulk bin reinforcement
• Special bottom seal units with a narrow 12' depth that allows machines to be set up side by side for simultaneous multi-strap application. Operator slides a bulk bin into position, and cycles all units at once to yield a completed bin in a single cycle.

 

Pallet And Shipping Unit Strapping Systems

EAM-Mosca manufactures 3 machine configurations that provide flexible load securement for many pallet and non-pallet shipping units. All models utilize the high tension Mosca SoniXs unitizer strapping head with high tension capability to 450 lbs. and multiple options to meet specific application needs:

A bottom seal machine with center seal and spring gate track system in widths from to mm wide and 650-mm high. Minimum conveyor height is 12'. It fits neatly into conveyor lines and is a good solution to secure non-palletized shipping units that are conveyed down the center of the conveyor line and where minimum load height can be less than 12'. It can be operator cycled or automated. Typical applications include:

• Unitizing stacks of cut to size corrugated sheets coming off corrugators and digital printers
• Securing units of corrugated displays for shipment.

A fixed-position side seal strapper with a fixed track. It is effective for strapping loads that are in a consistent position relative to the conveyor side rail. The head can be positioned up to 14' inboard of the rail. Minimum load height is about 12'. The UHS2-Sonixs can be inclined as much as 20 degrees to accommodate vertical easel style assembly common in door/window assembly/packing operations. Current UHS2 applications include:

• Door and window packaging
• Corrugated sheets and displays
• HVAC equipment transport packaging
• Retail clothing in totes and boxes: for transport from warehouse to retailers
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A side seal strapper with indexing strapping head and pallet lance options. USI offers the options of strapping under the load, through a pallet void or both depending on automatic detection of a void. The indexing head advances up to 18' to accommodate varying load position on the conveyor. Minimum practical load height is about 18'. Minimum conveyor height is 12'. Common applications are strapping:

• Bulk palletized plastic bottles, cans and rigid packaging for storage and shipment from manufacturing location to the filling or assembly site.
• Oil filter housings
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Power tool displays
• Machined metal and injection molded plastic components in bins
• Corrugated sheets and displays

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Fully automatic horizontal strapping machine

• Applications include stabilizing layered stacks of boxes and crates and securing packaging protecting furniture and appliances
• Product height range is 8' to 90'
• Production rate is typically 2-3 pallets per minute depending on product, number of straps and conveyor speed.

Note that EAM-Mosca designs and builds complete systems, including material handling equipment and controls or will work with users and integrators that build individual machines into broader based systems.

 

The EAM-Mosca System Approach

We are a machine-based system supplier that offers a portfolio of standard and specialized machine and strap systems to targeted markets with an emphasis on high performance and automation. We provide factory trained technical service and spare parts to help customers keep their systems running at top efficiency for many years. Purchase of an EAM-Mosca machine, strapping, service and parts assures the user of single-source, performance-focused support for the life of the system. We believe that our approach offers customers the highest performance and lowest total cost possible in the markets that we choose to serve. Our intention is to be the industry leader in high performance strapping sales, offering innovative technology, application driven design and practical solutions.

 

Glossary Of Plastic Strapping Terms

Bulk load: A multi-item product grouping, typically in stacks or layers that is held together by strapping alone, rather than a box, crate or similar restraint

Bundler: A strapping machine typically used to strap individual items or small bundles of products into a secure package.

PP: Polypropylene, an oil derived polymer plastic

PET: Polyethylene Terephthalate, commonly called polyester, a polymer fabricated from natural gas.

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System Approach: EAM-Mosca strategy of supplying all elements, including machines, strap, service and parts needed to maintain the highest system performance over its operating life.

Telescoping carton: 2-piece box design where top slides over bottom, often secured with plastic straps.

Tension: Tensile force applied to a strap to tighten it on a given package

Unit load or Shipping unit: Multiple items tied together to form a single entity usually in preparation for transport.

Unitizer: A strapping machine that ties a multi-item grouping together into a single unit load

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Deciding what type of Automatic Strapping system we need is not as simple as it may seem, since the safety of our cargo during transportation and handling will depend on it. Strapping is especially important in grouping boxes, packages or bulky packages, fragile and/or heavy loads, and mainly unstable loads. Therefore, choosing a specific Strapping System affects not only the packaging process itself but also the company's profitability since it will reduce losses and prevent accidents in the loads transport.

In this article, we will analyze the aspects to consider before buying an Automatic Atrapping Machine for pallets or boxes, to optimize our end-of-line and logistics process.

Factors to take into account in Automatic Strapping

Choosing the right automatic pallet strapping machine is not a simple task. There are several options on the market, each with its characteristics and applications, and the final decision will depend on several crucial factors that will determine the efficiency, safety, and costs of your packaging process. The following factors are listed below.

1. Product Type, Characteristics, and Conditions

The first and most important point is everything related to the load and its characteristics (format, weight, fragility, quantity, etc.). By analyzing these aspects, we can orient ourselves to look for strapping systems that are compatible with the load.

• Type of load: Solid, liquid, or gaseous product formats, fragile, delicate, or robust products, etc. The type of strapping and strapping tension depends, to a large extent, on the nature of the product. For example: in the case of boxes with heavy but fragile material, it is important to strap horizontally but also vertically to join the load to the base.
• Dimensions and weight: What are the dimensions and weight of the products or packages to be strapped? Knowing this data is important to determine the load capacity of the pallet strapping machine. For example: high and unstable loads (such as drums, stacked boxes, etc.) will require vertical strapping or a similar restraint system (such as a stretch wrapper with a strap applicator).
• Product surface: Is the product surface smooth, rough, or uneven? The surface texture can affect the adhesion of the strap and the need for edge protectors or other protective materials as well as the handling, transportation and storage conditions throughout the logistics process.
• Exposure conditions: What environmental conditions will the products be exposed to during transportation and storage? If there is a risk of humidity, dust, extreme temperatures or chemical agents, a strap resistant to these conditions should be chosen. For example, when stored outdoors for long periods of time, strapping may lose tension.

2. Handling, Transport and Storage Circumstances

Concerning transport and handling, it is necessary to ask ourselves some questions about the entire path of our cargo. The necessary strapping tension, the choice of strapping type and the need for additional protective materials such as corner protectors or other safety accessories are directly and indirectly affected by these circumstances:

• Handling: How will the products be handled? Will they be moved manually, with a pallet truck, forklift, or AGV? How many workers do we have? How much working space do we have?
• Transportation: Will we use land, sea or air transportation? Will it be short or long distance?
• Storage: How will the products be stored: on shelves, stacked on the floor, or in containers? Will the environment be wet or dry?

There are several levels of strapping: first-level strapping (strapping the box or package) and second-level strapping (strapping the product to the pallet). It is recommended to strap the load on both levels for maximum efficiency.

At Innova, we offer automatic box strapping systems that also incorporate vertical pallet strapping technology, a more precise solution for box and pallet securing.

3. Types of strap: characteristics and applications

If our cargo is robust and bulky, we cannot use a strap with inferior characteristics. The load will not be well protected and will suffer significant damage. In this section, we will talk about the four types of strap: PET, polypropylene, polyester, and textile, briefly summarizing the characteristics of each one and their applications to choose the best material for our cargo.

1. Polypropylene (PP) strap

PP or Polypropylene strapping is economical, versatile, flexible, and adaptable. It is the most common choice due to its low cost (much cheaper than PET). It is moisture resistant, making it ideal for humid or temperature-changing environments, and it is also highly resistant to corrosive environments.

Applications:

• Box and pallet packaging (irregular loads, different formats, etc.).
• Indoor and outdoor use.
• Ideal for light and medium loads.

2. Polyester (PET) Strap

PET or Polyester strapping is extremely resistant, so it is recommended for heavy loads and demanding conditions since it is highly resistant to humidity, chemical products and abrasion. It offers great holding capacity, adapting to the shape of the load. It is mainly used in palletizing, ceramic products and construction materials. A great advantage it offers is that it can be applied 100% automatically.

Applications:

• Palletizing of heavy products.
• Packaging of building materials and ceramic products.
• Ideal for loads that require a firm and resistant fastening.

3. Steel Strap

This type of strapping offers maximum strength, supporting extremely heavy loads. It has high stiffness and strength, so it is recommended for demanding conditions.

Like PET strapping, it also has abrasion resistance and low elongation and generally has a waxed finish to avoid strapping problems. Their cost is much higher than polypropylene or polyester strapping, so usually, if the load is not so extremely heavy, PET strapping is resorted to.

Applications:

• Steel and construction industry.
• Packaging of heavy machinery and bulky products.
• Ideal for loads that require maximum security and resistance.

4. Textile strap

This is a sustainable and environmentally friendly strap that usually replaces steel strapping. Like steel strapping, it offers high strength, as well as elasticity and great adaptability to different types of loads. It absorbs impacts and reduces the risk of injuries. The disadvantage of textile strapping is that it is mostly used, manually.

Applications:

• Packaging of fragile or abrasion-sensitive products.
• Loads requiring secure and sustainable securing.       
• Industries seeking to reduce their environmental footprint.

It should be remembered that strapping can also be replaced by other packaging materials and systems, such as seals or film wrapping, but the desired fastening results will not be the same as using strapping.

4. Types of Automatic Strapping

We have talked about our load and the types of strapping, but which strapping system would be the ideal one taking into account the above factors? We know that there are two types of pallet strapping: horizontal and vertical. Therefore, the recommended applications for each are as follows: 

• Horizontal pallet strapping: serves to compact the load in a block. It provides a very strong fastening of the load to each other, perfect for tall or unstable products. It can also be used to reinforce the stability provided by vertical strapping.

Horizontal strapping has small disadvantages, as it is a slower and more complex method than vertical strapping as it has to be performed at various heights from the load, and may not be very suitable for small or irregularly shaped products.

• Vertical pallet strapping: its purpose is to secure the load to the pallet. This type of strapping is quick and easy to apply, provides good load securing and is a versatile solution. Contrary to horizontal strapping, it is not recommended for tall products due to the large strapping arch sizes required. In the case of ultra-high loads, we would recommend the use of the automatic stretch wrapper, as it also allows for the attachment and securing of the entire load to its base.

Remember that choosing the right pallet strapping machine will allow us to optimize the packaging process, protect the products, and reduce product-related costs due to damage, deterioration, and possible errors.

5. Accessories for Automatic Strapping

Automatic strapping systems allow the inclusion of a multitude of accessories to increase strapping safety or the performance that a strapping machine can offer. So knowing what accessories are available in a particular piece of equipment is also key to choosing a strapping system over another, or a particular brand or manufacturer,

At Innova, we provide a wide range of accessories to offer a better process in the box and pallets strapping and thus achieve more efficient packaging. Some of the most common accessories are:

For Horizontal Strapping:

• Edge band applicator system
• Automatic compactor

For Vertical Strapping:

• Edge band applicator
• 4-sided strapping
• Strapping displacer system

6. Strapping Head, the key to efficiency

The strapping head is also a component of the strapping equipment to be considered when choosing a specific strapping machine model. There are numerous systems on the market with different mechanics and processes, but the current trend is towards simpler strapping head equipment, with more electronics than mechanics, without sensors, with Smart motors, etc.

In Innova, for example, we offer a strapping head of our technology, the ODEN head, with a patented system to achieve greater precision and control in the automatic strapping of pallets. It offers numerous advantages over the conventional head: more strength and durability, lightness, compactness, and accuracy, in addition to a significantly lower maintenance reduction.

In short, a good strapping system is essential for the optimal operation of the company and the decision between one or the other must be studied in depth, analyzing a wide range of variables, especially if you work with a large catalog of products. Strapping systems provide the necessary security and, together with optimal packaging, we ensure that our cargo will arrive in excellent condition to its final destination.

At Innova, we are experts in end-of-line packaging systems, so if you have related questions or need a quote, do not hesitate to contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

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