Palletizing cardboard boxes, bundling light packages, or securing packages in standard logistics operations requires strapping that tensions quickly, is safe to handle, and keeps goods stable during transport without adding weight or handling complications. This polypropylene (PP) strapping—also called plastic strapping or packaging tape—is manufactured by Fortemo from professional-grade virgin polypropylene, in standard 13 and 16 mm coils, and is the basic format for Dominican logistics for light and medium loads.
Key Benefits
- Balanced tension and elasticity: polypropylene maintains tightening force on the load while absorbing small settlements of the package without loosening, which is key in road transport with vibration.
- Operational safety: light plastic material, without sharp edges or dangerous whiplash when cut, which reduces the risk of injury compared to metal strapping.
- Wide compatibility: works with manual strapping tools (tensioner + mechanical or plastic seal), semi-automatic machines, and arch machines with friction welding.
- Virgin polypropylene of uniform gauge: 0.8 mm controlled thickness in every meter of coil, which prevents thinner areas that yield under tension and break the strapping cycle.
- Standard market format: 1300 m (13 mm) and 900 m (16 mm) coils that fit common dispenser carts and machines in warehouses, without the need for adapters.
Typical Applications and Uses
- Palletizing corrugated cardboard boxes in logistics warehouses and distribution centers.
- Bundling light packages for consolidated shipments, courier, and e-commerce.
- Security sealing on large boxes for domestic transit and regional export.
- Securing bundles of light piping, plastic profiles, and moldings in hardware stores and construction.
Quality and Durability
Economical PP strapping fails in two points: recycled polypropylene loses tension after a few hours because its elastic memory is degraded, and irregular gauge causes the tape to break when passing through the seal. Fortemo works with virgin polypropylene and maintains tight tolerances in width and thickness, resulting in fewer breaks on the line, fewer machine jams, and pallets that arrive with the same tension as when they left.
PP is sized for light to medium loads, typically pallets up to 300-400 kg depending on strap width, number of passes and bundle geometry. The 13 mm width covers parcels and standard corrugated cardboard; the 16 mm reaches a bit higher on bulky stable loads. For heavy loads (bricks, blocks, solid timber, dense steel sections) the right choice is PET strapping, which holds tension on loads that PP can't control well.
The difference is in the raw material and the consistency of the gauge. A budget strap is made with recycled polypropylene of lower crystallinity: it loses tension within hours, breaks at sealing and frequently jams arch-machine strappers. This strap uses virgin polypropylene with factory-controlled gauge and width, which translates into fewer breaks during strapping, fewer loose products in the truck and a smoother packing operation.
Polypropylene resists moisture, rain and temperature swings well without rusting or staining the goods. Under prolonged direct Caribbean sun, without a specific UV additive, the polymer loses tension and turns brittle within weeks, so for pallets that will sit out in the open for months it's worth switching to UV-treated PET or covering the pallet. For indoor storage or covered transport there is no restriction.
No. Steel strapping has higher break strength but it cuts and rusts; it loses tension when the load settles because it has no elastic memory. PET is high-tension plastic, equivalent to steel for many heavy-load applications, with the added benefit of absorbing vibration. PP is the lightest of the three, ideal for light to medium loads where the priority is operating speed, operator safety and compatibility with manual dispensers or standard machines.
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| UV protection | Yes (high) |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Material | Virgin polypropylene (PP) |
| Strap width | 13 mm (1/2 in) |
| Spool length | 1300 m (4265 ft) |
| Internal mandrel dimensions | 203 mm (8 in) diameter and 203 mm (8 in) wide |
| Edges | Rounded, anti-cut |
| Mandrel material | Cardboard |
| Embossing | Yes (both sides) |
| Strap thickness | 0.8 mm (0.032 in) |
| Coil: Width | 38.0 cm (14.96 in) |
|---|---|
| Coil: Height | 17.0 cm (6.69 in) |
| Coil: Depth | 38.0 cm (14.96 in) |
| Coil: Weight | 11.0 kg |
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