Galvanized steel strapping is one of the oldest and strongest forms of strapping in the packaging industry. What’s more, it’s also one of the most sustainable. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, some 88% of all the world’s steel gets reused, making it one of the most recycled materials on earth.
But where did galvanized steel strapping come from? How did it end up as such a vital piece of the American packaging and construction industry?
Steel itself dates back for thousands of years, but the galvanization process — which helps solve steel’s number-one problem, rust — is decidedly more modern. The process involves hot-dipping steel with a coat of protective zinc, which makes it incredibly resistant to corrosion and damage. Though galvanization started sometime around the 1830s in Europe, the technology is always evolving — steel parts today are 30% stronger and more dent-resistant than they were even a decade ago.
Steel strapping is valued for its tensile strength and its wide application of uses. Both galvanized and stainless steel strapping can be manufactured in a variety of sizes, from 3/8 inch x .015 to 3/4 inch x 0.30. Steel strapping is valued particularly for its strength and heavy duty hold, ideal for situations where materials shouldn’t be stretched or jostled around.
While traditional uses for galvanized steel were mostly ornamental, modern galvanized steel strapping is useful in the construction industry to bundle other types of metal, bricks, bailing wire, pavers, and coils.
Today, construction’s wide use of galvanized steel straps means that safety is a top priority. Only government-approved manufacturers that meet quality standards and specifications are allowed to sell strapping tools.
Steel technology has come a long way since the days of the Iron Age. Modern breakthroughs have helped reduce carbon contents to make steel stronger and more effective than ever before. And with the galvanization process, those products are guaranteed to last.
It’s no wonder why so many packaging and construction companies today look to galvanized steel strapping for safety, security, and strength. With such high expectations and manufacturing standards, it’s a material that’s hard to beat.
