Galvanized steel strapping is one of the oldest and strongest forms of strapping there is. What’s more, it’s also one of the most sustainable.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, some 90% of all the world’s steel gets reused, making it one of the most recycled materials on earth.
Read on to learn more about steel strapping and its many uses across several industries.
What Is Galvanized Steel Strapping?
Strapping is also called bundling or banding. As a process, it is the application of a strap to something (in this case, steel) to stabilize, combine, hold, fasten, or reinforce it.
This process produces strap, which is a flexible material made from steel or plastics. The packaging industry uses strapping the most, though other industries have their own uses for it.
The Joining Process
The strap secures through a joining process. You tension the strap as tightly as possible. Then, you seal the strap to itself using a hammer. If the strap is thicker, you would seal using a joint notch, seal and crimp, or by welding it together.
Strength and Durability of Steel Strapping
Steel straps are not vulnerable to sun and heat damage. They resist exposure to ultraviolet rays. This means that steel straps hold up in extreme heat and sunny weather. Other materials would deteriorate under such conditions.
Steel is the oldest form of strapping. The tensile strength of galvanized steel is the highest. Tensile strength is the force needed to pull something to the point where it breaks.
Galvanizing Steel
Galvanizing is another joining process. This process includes coating the steel with a protective layer of zinc. In short, galvanizing is hot-dipping steel into zinc. The zinc makes the steel resistance to corrosion, rust, and other damage.
Galvanized steel strapping comes in different thicknesses and widths. The grades of steel vary as well. Still is the strapping of choice for heavy-duty applications where minimal stretch and strength are needed.
Surface Finishes for Galvanized Steel Strapping
The surface finishes you’ll find on steel strap are bluing or zinc and way, paint, and paint and wax. The wax better transmits tension around the bundle. It also works better with select types of tensioners.
Common uses are baling wire, steel coils, metal bundles, pavers and bricks, and roll end-binding. Galvanized steel strapping is sold by weight not length because steel naturally expands and contracts during the manufacturing process.
History of Galvanized Steel Strapping
The use of steel is age-old. Though, the process of galvanizing steel began in the 1830s in Europe. Since then, the technology has continuously evolved.
Steel parts are 30% stronger than they were just 10 years ago. They are also more dent-resistant as well.
Other modern breakthroughs include reducing carbon contents to make galvanized steel strapping stronger. Of course, galvanizing makes the steel products last.
Uses For Galvanized Steel Strapping
The tensile strength of galvanized steel strapping makes it the best choice for many uses. It comes in several sizes, from 3/8 inch x .015 to 3/4 inch x 0.30.
Industries value galvanized steel strapping because of its strength and strong hold. Steel strapping has a high break strength. It will secure heavy loads without breaking.
Uses in the Construction Industry
The construction industry uses fully galvanized steel strapping extensively. They use it to bundle other types of metal. They also use it to bundle coil and pavers.
Steel strapping hold materials together that have sharp edges and hard corners. Examples of such are I-beams and steel plates. Steel strapping is rigid and won’t give as softer materials would.
This rigidity also makes steel strapping perfect for loads that won’t settle over time. The steel won’t lose its shape.
When you see construction companies installing guardrails along the highway, they are using steel strapping seals to bind everything together.
Uses in the Packaging Field
The packaging industry, naturally, relies on steel strapping is the packaging field. For instance, newspapers are delivered to newsstands and convenience stores bound in strips. The strapping contains galvanized steel.
Uses for the Transportation of Goods
Steel strapping also helps move heavy, larger items. The strapping keeps everything together. This way, little to nothing breaks, gets lost, or falls out of place.
You have no doubt seen some sort of steel trapping on open-bed semi-trucks or tractor trailers as you pass them on the road.
Strapping also locks items into place inside shipping containers, securing them to pallets and crates. Finally, strapping can also conveniently secure smaller items, such as small packages, and book when shipping.
Alternatives to Galvanized Steel Strapping
Steel strappings have proved their worth time and again. Though, you may not need steel strapping if your loads are lighter. Other types of strapping may be more cost-effective and a good choice.
Common banding and strapping materials outside of steel include polyester, rubber, nylon, and polypropylene.
Polyester Strapping
Polyester strapping, for example, will stretch and contract with a shifting load. If you need something flexible, polyester may be a good choice. If your materials are subject to shifting during shipment, the rigidity of steel won’t work.
Of course, a stretchable material like polyester is less durable than steel. Anything with sharp edges can cut through polyester as well rubber and nylon.
Loads like metal sheets or I-beams must have edge protection so that the non-steel strapping holds.
Withstanding Corrosion
All of these materials stand up to weather reasonably well, but only steel can resist corrosion. Polyester will deteriorate over time. Thus, it is not reliable for longer transports like cross-continental trips.
Is Galvanized Steel Strapping for You?
In summary, the tensile strength of galvanized steel makes it the leading choice for strapping for heavy loads. It is simply the strongest, toughest material around when it comes to securing materials.
Galvanized steel strapping keeps its load in place. It resists corrosive agents in the environment. For these reasons, many industries, including the United States Government and Armed Forces, use steel strapping over other varieties.
If you have any questions about steel strapping, please contact us.