Steel is an incredible material. It’s astoundingly versatile and durable. The steel hinges on a refrigerator door are able to support over 140 pounds without sagging. Steel is one of the most recycled materials on Earth, with an estimated 88% of steel in the world being recycled. In North America, nearly 67% of steel is recycled annually. Not only that but the strength of steel is increasing drastically as well. When the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed in the 1930s, it used 83,000 tons of steel. Today, only half of that would be needed. Steel strapping — whether it’s stainless steel strapping or galvanized steel strapping — is also one of the incredible uses for the alloy, and has many benefits and few cons when compared to the other materials for strapping.
Pros:
- Stainless steel strapping is some of the strongest strapping you can use. Its “break strength” — or the amount of weight it can take before breaking — is immense, making it the number one choice for heavy shipments. Compared to most other strapping materials, it is also extremely resistant to UV radiation, making it less likely to corrode over time when exposed to the outdoors. In general, it’s an extremely resistant material for both indoor and outdoor use. This could save a lot of maintenance and replacement money down the line.
Cons:
- Stainless steel strapping is a bit more expensive than polyester or nylon strapping. While it’s far more durable than either of those, it might not be worth it to use stainless steel to bind together lighter materials. Steel may also require a bit more training to properly handle, as its edges could be sharp. If it’s carelessly cut under tension and goes flying away, it could cause serious damage to workers.
The type of material used will depend heavily on what it’s needed for. As mentioned earlier, it might not be prudent to use stainless steel for all of your strapping needs, but for anything heavy that requires more strength, or anything that will be held for an extended time either indoors or out, stainless steel is the best bet.
