Hand strapping tools

Hand strapping tools: matching the tool to the strap

Loads that are not tightly strapped shift during transport. Boxes slide off pallets and bundles loosen. Hand strapping tools solve this at the point of packing: one person picks up the tool, walks to the load and straps it on the spot. No cable, no hose, no charging downtime.

The right tool depends on the strap material your load requires. Each tool in this category is designed for a specific material and width range. Below is what you will find here.

Sealless steel strapping tools

Three tools in this category join steel strap without separate seals or buckles. They form the joint directly in the overlapping strap layers, removing the need to purchase or stock metal seals.

• A3 takes 13–19 mm wide steel strap and weighs 3.9 kg. It straps pallets, bales, crates and cases carrying heavy or sharp-edged goods.
• BO-51 produces an 8000 N joint. It is used in manufacturing, metallurgy and transport to strap steel, aluminium ingots and heavy packages.
• A4 handles wider strap: 25–32 mm at 0.55–0.75 mm thickness. Maximum tension is approximately 8000 N, and the joint reaches 80–85 % of the strap’s tensile strength. It weighs 4.2 kg.

Tools for PP and textile strap

The PPST-13 combines three functions in one 2.75 kg tool: tensioning the strap, deforming the metal buckle and cutting the strap. It works with 12–13 mm and 15–16 mm polypropylene strap closed with metal buckles of the matching width. Warehouse and production teams who strap pallets and boxes with PP strap no longer need to carry separate tensioning and sealing devices to each packing station.

The XW-20 tensions polyester fibre and flexible or composite straps from 13 mm to 50 mm wide. It is available in three variants; the lightest weighs 1.12 kg. No batteries, air lines or mains connection are needed. The tool is used for paper, aluminium, steel, wood, chemical fibre and cotton goods, among others.

Feeding strap under a pallet usually means kneeling or bending. The B190cm pallet strap threader replaces that effort with a 190 cm flexible fibre rod and a polyurethane clip head that holds PP or PET strap up to 25 mm wide and 1.5 mm thick. Net weight is 185 g.

Selecting the right hand strapping tool

Work through these criteria:

• Strap material. The A3, BO-51 and A4 take steel strap. The PPST-13 takes PP strap with metal buckles. The XW-20 takes polyester fibre, flexible and composite straps.
• Strap width and thickness. Every tool covers a fixed range. Check the width and thickness of the strap you use or plan to buy against the tool’s specifications.
• Seal or sealless. All three steel tools form the joint without seals. The PPST-13 requires metal buckles in 12–13 mm or 15–16 mm sizes, so keep a supply of matching buckles on hand.
• Frequency and location. Hand strapping tools are practical when loads are strapped at varying points on your site or when daily volumes do not call for a powered tool.

Besides the tool itself, you will need strap coils in the correct material and width. For PP strapping with the PPST-13, stock metal buckles as well. If your workflow includes pallet strapping with PP or PET strap, the B190cm threading aid cuts out repeated bending.