Choosing between polypropylene (PP) strapping and polyester (PET) strapping is the most common decision when setting up a palletizing operation in the Dominican Republic. Both are plastic strappings for securing cargo, but they respond to different use profiles: the weight of the package, the type of transport, and the machine you use determine the correct choice. This comparison helps you decide in less than a minute.
🎯 Choose in 10 seconds
- If you palletize cardboard boxes or light/medium packages: go to Polypropylene (PP) strapping
- If you secure heavy loads (bricks, blocks, wood) or export in the sun: go to Polyester (PET) strapping
What to consider before choosing
Before buying a roll, evaluate these four criteria. They define whether the strap will withstand the journey without loosening or breaking.
- Load weight: polypropylene works well with light to medium loads (cardboard boxes, packages, plastic bundles). For dense pallets of construction materials or metal parts, you need the retained tension of polyester.
- Transport and storage conditions: if the pallet will spend hours or days in the Caribbean sun before shipping, PET better resists solar radiation, humidity, and rain without degrading. Standard PP is for quick transit indoors.
- Strapping machine or tool: PP fits manual strappers with mechanical or plastic seals, semi-automatic machines, and arch machines with friction welding. PET requires manual, pneumatic, or battery-powered strappers with notched seals. Verify that the roll's core matches your dispenser shaft.
- Material quality: virgin plastic maintains uniform tension and gauge; recycled plastic loses strength after a few hours and often breaks when passing through the seal. This leads to more line breaks and loose pallets upon arrival.
Polypropylene (PP) strapping: the standard for light to medium loads
- Virgin polypropylene with uniform 0.8 mm gauge
- Available in 13 mm and 16 mm widths
- Compatible with manual, semi-automatic, and arch strapping machines
- No sharp edges or dangerous whip-back when cut
- Loses tension under very heavy loads
- Standard resistance to sun and weather
Fortemo's polypropylene (PP) strapping is the standard format for Dominican logistics: 1300 m rolls in 13 mm or 900 m in 16 mm, with a uniform thickness of 0.8 mm (0.031 in) on a standard 203 × 203 mm (8 × 8 in) core. It works equally well with manual strappers with plastic seals, semi-automatic strappers, and arch machines with friction welding, making it the universal strap for warehouses, distribution centers, and courier operations.
Polyester (PET) strapping: the option for heavy loads and export
- Industrial-grade virgin polyester, 1 mm thickness
- Long roll of 1200 m in 16 mm width
- Resistant to sun, humidity, and rain: does not rust or stain
- Safe substitute for steel strapping (no sharp edges)
- Larger core diameter (406 × 152 mm): check machine compatibility
- Closure with notched seals, not by welding
Fortemo's polyester (PET) strapping is the modern standard for replacing steel strapping. A 1200 m roll in 16 mm × 1 mm on a 406 × 152 mm (16 × 6 in) core, green in color for quick identification in the warehouse. Its great advantage over steel is its elastic memory: it absorbs vibration from transport without losing initial tension, which prevents the typical loosening of metal after several hours on the road. It fits manual, pneumatic, and battery-powered strappers that work with high-security notched seals.
Comparison table: PP vs PET
| Feature | PP Strapping | PET Strapping |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal use | Light and medium loads | Heavy and industrial loads |
| Material | Virgin polypropylene | Industrial virgin polyester |
| Thickness | 0.8 mm (0.031 in) | 1 mm (0.04 in) |
| Available widths | 13 mm and 16 mm (1/2 and 5/8 in) | 16 mm (5/8 in) |
| Length per coil | 900–1300 m (2953–4265 ft) | 1200 m (3937 ft) |
| Core (Ø × width) | 203 × 203 mm (8 × 8 in) | 406 × 152 mm (16 × 6 in) |
| Color | Black | Green |
| Resistance to sun and weather | Standard | High — does not rust or stain |
| Closure system | Mechanical seal, plastic, or friction weld | High-security notched seals |
| Machine compatibility | Manual, semi-automatic, arch with welding | Manual, pneumatic, and battery-powered |
Use case matrix → recommended product
| If your case is… | Recommended product |
|---|---|
| Palletizing cardboard boxes in a warehouse or distribution center | → PP Strapping |
| Securing pallets of bricks, concrete blocks, or cement bags | → PET Strapping |
| Closing large boxes and bundling light packages | → PP Strapping |
| Exporting pallets that spend days in the sun before shipping | → PET Strapping |
| Securing bundles of light pipes or plastic profiles | → PP Strapping |
| Securing wood, metal profiles, or heavy industrial parts | → PET Strapping |
Before purchasing a roll, measure the inner diameter and width of your strapping machine's core holder. Standard PP works with a 203 × 203 mm core, while PET comes on a 406 × 152 mm core. Confirming compatibility avoids buying rolls that don't fit your machine and blocking the strapping line for the entire day. If you combine both in your operation, consider separate strapping machines for each material.
Do not use PP strapping to secure loads of bricks, concrete blocks, or bundled cement bags. Polypropylene loses tension under very heavy loads, and the strap may break during transport. For this application, always use PET or, for the most demanding requirements, steel strapping.
Don't know if your strapping machine works with PP or PET?
Every strapping machine is designed for a specific type of strapping, width, and core. If you have doubts about compatibility or the appropriate thickness for your load's weight, ask the virtual assistant and receive an instant technical recommendation.
All products compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use PP strapping to secure heavy export pallets?
It is not recommended. Polypropylene is designed for light to medium loads and loses tension under the weight of blocks, bricks, or dense sacks. For heavy or export pallets that spend days in the sun, use PET strapping, which maintains tension and resists weathering without rusting.
What is the real difference between virgin and recycled polypropylene?
Virgin polypropylene maintains uniform tension and stable gauge throughout the entire coil. Recycled polypropylene loses elastic memory, has thinner areas that yield under tension, and often breaks when passing through the mechanical seal. In practice, a virgin coil yields more usable meters and reduces downtime due to breakage on the line.
Does PET strapping really replace steel strapping?
Yes, for most heavy loads. PET offers break strength comparable to steel in heavy palletizing applications, without the risk of oxidation staining the merchandise and without the whiplash that causes accidents when cutting steel strapping. Only for extreme loads (structural steel, sheet metal coils) is metal still preferred.