Polyester and Steel Straps: Differences and Advantages

Commonly used in the industrial packaging sector, polyester straps and steel straps are employed to secure loads on transport pallets. Despite their similar applications, they are distinctly different. To help you choose the most suitable option, let’s delve into their characteristics, applications, and benefits.

Characteristics of Polyester Straps

Woven from polyester fibers, polyester packaging straps are primarily valued for their elasticity and ability to stretch while firmly securing the loads they protect.

Advantages of Polyester Straps

If we were to highlight three major advantages of polyester straps, they would be their elasticity, strength, and cost-effectiveness. They serve as highly resilient and flexible alternatives to steel straps, enduring various environments without deterioration (such as heat or humidity).

Suitable for securing large and heavy loads, their elasticity enables them to absorb shocks during transportation, safeguarding the goods against vibrations and impacts. For instance, if your goods are destined for sea transport or are fragile, using polyester straps adds an extra layer of protection.

While they are flexible, this flexibility does not equate to fragility. Polyester straps are remarkably robust, retaining their tensile strength despite their adaptive shape. They continue to exert optimal pressure to keep the goods intact.

Generally cheaper than steel straps, they are also lighter. The weight of the goods does not increase with their packaging, resulting in transportation cost savings.

Contexts Where Polyester Straps Are Useful

Due to their ability to limit load instability, polyester packaging straps are often used in the transport and logistics industry. They effectively secure loads whether in an airplane, train, or ship.

They are also used in the construction industry to secure the lifting of heavy materials such as steel beams, pipes, or boards. Additionally, they are utilized for the safe transportation of furniture, industrial equipment, and heavy machinery—anything that needs to be securely fastened without the risk of slipping or shifting.

Characteristics of Steel Straps

In the form of flat bands, steel straps can be made from galvanized steel or various steel alloys, depending on your needs. They are valued for their extreme strength, making them excellent tools for securing very heavy loads.

Advantages of Steel Straps

The main advantage of steel straps is their near-impossible breakage due to their strength, making them an excellent choice for securing goods against theft.

Their rigidity can make handling easier. Since they are often used to secure machinery or extremely heavy loads, being able to handle them for storage or shipment is advantageous.

Steel straps are also highly stable, preventing goods from shifting during transportation, especially when stacked on pallets.

Lastly, most steel straps, such as galvanized steel straps, are highly durable. They resist weathering and rust, making them suitable for challenging weather conditions, including high temperatures.

Contexts Where Steel Straps Are Useful

Steel straps have an extremely high resistance threshold, making them useful in contexts involving the transportation of very heavy materials and voluminous loads. This type of strap is not sensitive to abrasive surfaces, allowing for long-distance storage and transportation without the risk of damage.

Furthermore, they retain their shape and are very rigid, ensuring the stability of goods. However, note that if the goods are organic (such as wood), their firmness may lead to the compression of the load and friction between the held elements.

In the construction industry, they are invaluable for securing and transporting the necessary materials for infrastructure repairs to job sites. Steel straps are also very useful for securing large appliances during moves, for example.

Polyester Straps vs. Steel Straps: Which to Choose?

Of course, the choice between these types of straps depends on the intended use and your field of activity. To assist you in making your decision, here is a comparison of these two product categories.

Polyester straps, as discussed earlier, are:

• Lightweight
• Elastic
• Easy to handle
• Resistant to various environments, including humidity
• Cost-effective.

We recommend them for:

• Food transport because of their flexibility that conforms to various shapes
• Retail
• Transporting goods in bags
• Securing art objects or furniture, as they absorb shocks effectively
• Short-term product storage
• Transporting electronic equipment, from lightweight to heavy.

On the other hand, steel straps are:

• Rigid
• Extremely strong, depending on their coating. It may be necessary to treat them against humidity.
• Very heavy
• Less prone to slackening
• Not sensitive to abrasive surfaces
• Expensive.

They find utility in the following domains:

• Steel industry
• Construction
• Vehicle transport
• Shipping very heavy cargoes
• Handling heavy loads.

These lists are, of course, not exhaustive, but they provide a good overview of the advantages of both types of straps.

Environmentally Conscious Industrial Packaging Solutions

Lastly, if the environmental impact of straps concerns you, know that we also offer polypropylene straps, which are entirely recyclable, and straps made from recycled materials like polyester straps. Our experts in industrial packaging are available to advise you; do not hesitate to contact them.