​What is the Best Weld for Polyester Strapping?

You have decided to switch to polyester strapping. You are concerned about the price of steel, as well as the safety and recyclability of it. Polyester strapping offers a much more flexible material that is appropriate for all but the heaviest, non-compressible loads.

As you are researching your options, you are wondering about the different ways of creating closures for polyester straps. The strap is only as strong as its weakest link, which is the point where it is joined together.

So which method of closure should you be using when you use polyester?

You have two choices for closing polyester strapping. The first one is to use a metal closure. This can be a good choice for light-duty, low-volume packaging. With this method, the seal joint is usually less than half of the overall material’s strength. If you are strapping a heavy load, that’s not good news.

Additionally, since you are dealing with a clip and two tools the process can be slow and time consuming when compared to other available methods. However, as mentioned, for light-duty, low-volume applications, it may be the system of choice. It is the most economical of all because the tools are less expensive. However, seal costs can add up for higher volume usage.

A more effective method is known as a friction joint weld, or friction welding. In this method, rapid vibration creates enough heat to fuse the two ends of the polyester strap together. Friction welds are used by all hand strapping tools as well as most semi-automatic and automatic strapping machines. Friction welds have evolved to become the standard in the industry.

Considering Break Strength: friction joint welds create strong closures on the straps. Anything above 75 percent of the material’s break strength is considered an efficient seal joint. Friction welding is often stronger, often exceeding the 75% percent of polyester strapping’s break strength.

The seal joint efficiency depends on a number of different factors, including the strapping material and the strapping machine used. The type of seal is not the only consideration, so be sure to consider all the factors. Without proper set up of the tool, no matter the technology used, strong welds will not be achieved. Friction welding is the most common option with hand strapping tools.

Seals are a good solution to keep initial cost low but should only be used in light-duty, low-volume applications. Pushing this limit on seals jeopardizes the integrity of the load, increases labor costs and the cost of seals eliminates any advantage of minimizing upfront tooling costs.

In this case, the “best” solution to weld polyester strapping may be the one that comes with the solution that fits your business’s needs.

So long as the material you are using is appropriate for the loads you are strapping, either a friction weld, or seal could be the right choice.

Call Quick Pak Inc @ 813 242 6995 or reach out to sales@quickp[akinc.com and we can further guide you through the process of choosing the right solution for your needs.