Polyester (PET) strapping

Polyester strapping, also known as PET strapping, sits between polypropylene and steel. It is a plastic strapping, light and rust-free, but with tensile strength clearly higher than PP. That is why it is used when the load is too heavy for polypropylene strapping and you do not want to resort to steel.

Its most useful quality is elastic memory. A palletised load settles during the journey: boxes give, the product compacts and the pallet loses a little height. Strapping that does not recover goes slack; PET, on the other hand, retains a good part of the tension applied and keeps holding when the load moves. This is what the sector calls residual strength, and it is the reason it is preferred for long-distance transport and export.

Compared with steel it has practical advantages. It has no sharp edges, so it is safer to handle and to remove at destination; it does not rust in humidity or stain the goods; and it weighs less per metre. Many loads that were traditionally strapped with steel, such as pallets of building materials or dense loads, can be handled with PET. Steel remains the option for extreme loads, loads with sharp edges or where maximum rigidity is needed.

PET is applied by hand with a tensioner and seal, with semi-automatic strapping machines or with battery tools that tension and seal it. It is supplied in different widths, thicknesses and colours, and the reference is chosen according to the weight of the load and the machine or tool you are going to use. On cardboard loads it is advisable to protect the corners with edge protectors, because well-tensioned strapping marks the box if it rests directly on the edge.

At Fontanet Group, from Fraga (Huesca) and with a team that has more than 30 years in the sector, we help you decide whether your load calls for PP, polyester or steel. Tell us what you strap, how much it weighs and which tool you use, and our sales team will propose the right PET strapping reference.