What is a Strapping Machine, and How Does it Work?
Sometimes known as banders, strapping machines are a staple in various industries for a range of applications as an end-of-line system to improve efficiency and the overall presentation of a packaged product. The type of production line and product to be strapped determines what machine should be used for maximum production.
What is a Strapping Machine?
A strapping machine secures one or more items for handling and product transport by placing a flat strap around the perimeter. The strap is held in place by various methods, including heat, friction, and ultrasonic welds. A plastic strapping machine uses multiple sizes of thin plastic strap to ensure products stay together.
Strapping machines range from small semi-automatic or “table top” units to automatic “arch” machines, sometimes called bundlers. Larger, fully automatic machine systems secure pallet loads and shipping units for transport and storage.
Different Types of Strapping Machines
Semi-automatic or operator cycled machines require an operator to manually place the product on the machine table, loop a length of strap around it, and insert the strap end into a slot to initiate the machine cycle. The machine then tightens the strap on the product, seals the strap ends, and cuts the strap off. These machines are economical and practical for light-duty, low volume requirements.
Go To Semi-Automatic Machines
Automatic or arch machines include an arch or strap track through which the machine feeds the strap around the product, relieving the operator of that task. These units range from operator cycled via footswitch or pushbutton, to fully automatic with powered conveyors and package sensing technology that automatically positions the product in the strapping zone and applies straps without operator intervention. Throughput speeds for fully automatic EAM-Mosca equipment may approach the 60 packages per minute range depending on a variety of product and process factors.
View Automatic Machines
Larger strapping machines or systems, sometimes called unitizers, because of their function of tying multi-item product groups into secure shipping units, have similar features to the automatic machines referred to above, in a larger size, utilizing somewhat different technology. They may integrate transport and handling functions upstream or downstream of the strapper as needed. Throughput speeds reflect the pace of shipping departments, typically in the 2 to 10 unit per minute range.
See Unitizers
The Basics of Strapping Machine Operation
Every manufacturer’s equipment is different in details, but all share standard functions and features, including:
Options for Sealing the Strap Ends
There are three types of seals used in strapping machines:
Mosca manufactures sealing heads that use all three technologies and is currently the technology leader and significant practitioner of ultrasonic sealing with its SoniXs® system. SoniXs® technology has been used in Mosca strapping machines for more than ten years and is continually refined for the highest performance. Mosca’s ultrasonic technology automatically monitors and adjusts for sealing conditions and parameters on every strap cycle, providing consistently strong seals for both PP and PET straps. SoniXs® machines come with a two-year warranty on the SoniXs® components, and the systems have a demonstrated life of up to 10 million operating cycles over thousands of machines sold worldwide.
Finding the right strapping machine for your application can be a challenge, but the machine experts at EAM-Mosca can help. With over 40 years of experience, EAM-Mosca has the knowledge and expertise to help you find the right system for your unique application. Customized systems are engineered for particular cases where standard systems don’t fit.
Contact or chat online today to find out more.