Manual strapping of a pallet requires two complementary tools: a tensioner that stretches the strap over the load, and a sealer (or crimper) that closes the metal seal to fix the joint. Both are manufactured in specific versions for PP and for PET because the required force and the strap width are different. This comparison of the four Fortemo tools helps you choose the right set for your operation.
🎯 Choose in 10 seconds
- If you need to tension plastic strap (PP) on light and medium warehouse loads: go to PP Tensioner
- If you need to close seals on plastic strap (PP) after tensioning: go to PP Sealer
- If you need to tension heavy strap (PET) in construction, export or agribusiness: go to PET Tensioner
- If you need to close seals on heavy strap (PET) after tensioning: go to PET Sealer
What to consider before choosing
Before buying the tools, evaluate these four criteria. They determine whether the strapping will hold securely during transit or loosen within a few hours of travel.
- Strap material in use: PP strap (polypropylene) works at moderate tensions and requires tools calibrated for that specific force. PET strap (polyester) works at much higher tensions and needs a lever mechanism with a higher force ratio. Using a PP tensioner on PET does not apply the necessary tension; using a PET tensioner on PP breaks the polypropylene through overstress.
- Width of the strap to handle: PP tools are sized for straps of 13-16 mm (the standard widths for light palletizing); PET tools cover 13-20 mm to include wide straps for industrial loads. Check the compatibility of the seal with the strap width and the sealer before buying the set.
- Operational frequency of use: occasional operation with few pallets a day tolerates moderate-cost tools. Industrial operation with dozens of pallets daily requires a body in heat-treated steel, reinforced joints and an ergonomic grip that reduces operator fatigue over long shifts.
- Tensioner + sealer combination: both tools work together: the tensioner stretches and the sealer closes. Buy the set in the same version (both for PP or both for PET) and check that the seals used are of the width compatible with the sealer's jaw. Combining PP with PET does not work: neither the strap nor the seal comes out correctly.
Manual tensioner for PP strap: compact light tensioning
- Mechanism calibrated specifically for PP strap of 13-16 mm
- Compact and lightweight design (reduces operator fatigue)
- 100% mechanical operation (requires no power or compressed air)
- Compatible with standard polypropylene plastic straps
- Ergonomic non-slip handle with controlled tolerances
- Not suitable for PET strap (does not apply the necessary tension)
- Compatibility limited to 13-16 mm widths
Manual tensioner for polypropylene (PP) straps of 13-16 mm (1/2 - 5/8 in) wide. Lever mechanism calibrated for the specific force of PP, without the oversizing of PET tools. Designed for warehouses, hardware stores, workshops and packaging operations where PP strap is the dominant format: palletizing corrugated cardboard boxes, closing bundles in daily flow, grouping light tubing and packaging operations in the field or on site without access to a power source.
Manual sealer for PP strap: seal closing in light strapping
- Jaws in heat-treated steel for intensive use
- Long handles with multiplied leverage (little physical force)
- Calibrated for PP strap seals of 13-16 mm
- Non-slip grip for handling with gloves
- Reinforced joints with controlled tolerances
- Not suitable for PET strap seals (insufficient jaw)
- Compatibility limited to 13-16 mm widths
Manual sealer for polypropylene (PP) straps of 13-16 mm (1/2 - 5/8 in) wide. Heat-treated steel with a lever mechanism and long handles to multiply the operator's manual force. Designed for closing palletized corrugated cardboard boxes in logistics warehouses and distribution centers, sealing bundles and light groupings in hardware stores and parcel operations, closing bundles of plastic tubing or light profiles in the workshop, and sealing regional export boxes.
Manual tensioner for PET strap: heavy tensioning in stainless steel
- Stainless steel body resistant to moisture, rain and salinity
- Lever with high force ratio for the real tension of PET
- Compatibility with PET straps from 13 to 20 mm wide
- 100% mechanical operation for use on site or in the field
- Reinforced joints with controlled tolerances
- Higher unit cost than PP tensioner
- Oversized for PP strap (may break it)
- Heavier than the PP version due to reinforced structure
Manual tensioner for polyester (PET) straps of 13-20 mm (1/2 - 3/4 in) wide. Stainless steel body that resists moisture, rain and the salty environments of the Caribbean without rusting, especially suitable for outdoor use on site or on coastal yards. Lever with high force ratio sized for the real tension that PET needs. Designed for securing pallets of heavy construction materials (bricks, blocks, grouped bags), strapping loads of wood and metal profiles, agribusiness operations with dense bags and closing bulky bundles where PP cannot withstand.
Manual sealer for PET strap: seal closing in heavy strapping
- Reinforced jaws with deep teeth and heat-treated steel
- Lever with high force ratio (long handles)
- Compatibility with PET strap seals from 13 to 20 mm
- Non-slip grip for a firm hold with gloves
- Reinforced joints for strapping heavy pallets
- Higher unit cost than PP sealer
- Oversized for PP strap seals
- Heavier due to reinforced structure
Manual sealer for polyester (PET) straps of 13-20 mm (1/2 - 3/4 in) wide. Heat-treated steel with deep-toothed jaws calibrated to deform metal seals over polyester without the seal slipping under tension. Designed for closing palletized heavy construction materials, sealing loads of wood, metal profiles and industrial parts for transit or export, agribusiness operations with dense bags and closing bulky bundles with heavy strapping for prolonged storage or inter-island transit.
Comparison table
| Feature | PP Tensioner | PP Sealer | PET Tensioner | PET Sealer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Tension the strap | Close seals | Tension the strap | Close seals |
| Compatible strap material | PP | PP | PET | PET |
| Compatible widths | 13-16 mm | 13-16 mm | 13-20 mm | 13-20 mm |
| Construction | Compact and lightweight | Heat-treated steel | Stainless steel | Heat-treated steel |
| Operation | 100% mechanical | 100% mechanical | 100% mechanical | 100% mechanical |
| Corrosion resistance | Standard | Standard | High (stainless) | Standard |
| Ideal use | Boxes, light parcels | Warehouses, hardware stores | Construction, export | Construction, export |
| Non-slip grip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Use case → recommended product matrix
| If your case is… | Recommended product |
|---|---|
| Palletizing cardboard boxes with PP strap in a logistics warehouse | → PP Tensioner |
| Tensioning polypropylene plastic strap in a hardware store | → PP Tensioner |
| Sealing a PP strap seal after tensioning a light pallet | → PP Sealer |
| Closing parcel groupings with PP strap | → PP Sealer |
| Tensioning PET strap over a pallet of bricks for export | → PET Tensioner |
| Stretching heavy strap in an outdoor or coastal operation | → PET Tensioner |
| Tensioning PET strap over a load of wood or metal profiles | → PET Tensioner |
| Sealing a PET strap metal seal after tensioning a heavy load | → PET Sealer |
| Closing export pallets with PET strap | → PET Sealer |
| Closing bulky bundles in a heavy agribusiness operation | → PET Sealer |
Before buying, define two facts: the strap material you use (PP or PET) and the strap and seal widths usual in your operation. Buy the complete set (tensioner + sealer) in the same version: both for PP or both for PET. Combining tools from different versions does not work — the PP tensioner does not apply the necessary tension to PET, and the PET sealer has a jaw too deep for a PP seal. If your operation handles both materials in comparable quantities, consider two separate sets.
Do not use PP strap tools on PET strap. The PP tensioner does not apply the tension that polyester requires, leaving the load loose at the first movement of transport; the PP sealer has insufficient jaw to fix seals over PET, which produces seals that slip under real load. The investment in the right tools is recovered on the first load that arrives at its destination without shifting.
All compared products
Does your case not quite fit the profiles described?
If you need to validate the choice for a specific operation or have a combination this comparison does not cover exactly, you can check it here.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need two different tools to strap manually?
Because they are complementary operations in the strapping cycle. The tensioner passes the strap around the load and tensions it to the degree appropriate to the material and the weight of the pallet. The sealer closes the metal seal that fixes the two ends of the strap, forming the definitive joint. Without a tensioner the strap stays loose; without a sealer the strap is not fixed and loosens when cut.
Can I close seals with ordinary pliers instead of the sealer?
No. The sealer has a jaw with calibrated teeth and specific geometry that deforms the seal to fix it on the strap without slipping under tension. Ordinary pliers apply force but without the correct geometry, leaving a seal that gives way at the first movement of transport. The difference is measured in loads that arrive at their destination with the same hold they left with.
Do Fortemo tools work with seals of any brand?
Commercial seals follow width standards (13, 16, 20 mm) and a geometry that Fortemo tools respect, so they are compatible with seals of the same size. Always check that the seal matches the width of the strap in use and the jaw of the sealer before proceeding.
