Strapping
Heavy duty strapping machines from Whittaker Packaging Solutions
A heavy duty strapping machine is what you reach for when the load is past the limits of a standard bench unit. Timber packs, brick pallets, steel coils, large white goods, pallets going on long-haul road or sea freight. Whittaker Packaging Solutions supplies heavy duty strapping machines and high-tension battery tools for these jobs, with the spec advice and service to keep them running.
Get in touch
Request a quote
Tell us what you are strapping and your daily volume, and the WPS team will match the right machine and come back to you within 24-48 hours during business hours.
Send us your details
Tell us about your application and we'll come back to you with a useful steer.
The range
Heavy-duty strapping we supply
High-tension battery PET tooling and rugged strap dispensers built for demanding pallet, bundle and export work.
The WPS approach is straightforward. Specify the machine for the actual load and the way it'll be handled in transit, not the brochure's headline rating.
Why heavy duty
Why heavy duty strapping
Heavy duty strapping covers any application where standard PP strap and tension won't hold. PET has replaced most steel strap use in Australia, but the need is the same: a strap that holds high tension over a heavy load that may shift, settle or be handled hard in transit.
A heavy duty strapping machine delivers the tension, seal strength and strap width to do that reliably.
What counts as heavy duty
There's no formal threshold, but as a working guide:
Load weight above 250kg
Strap tension above 2500N
Strap width 12mm and up, often 15.5mm or 19mm
Strap material PET or steel
If your load fits any two of those, you're in heavy duty territory.
The WPS heavy duty strapping machine range
We supply three main configurations:
Heavy duty battery PET strapping tools.
Handheld, high tension (typically 3000 to 4500N+), 16mm or 19mm strap. Used at the pallet for timber, bricks, steel and palletised freight. The walk-around alternative to a pneumatic tool.
Pneumatic high-tension PET tools.
Fixed station, plenty of compressed air, often used in steel mills and timber mills where a compressor is already plumbed.
Heavy duty automatic strapping machines.
Inline or stand-alone arch units for high-volume heavy applications.
The choice usually comes down to whether the strapping happens at the load (battery or pneumatic tool) or at a station (automatic machine).
Steel vs PET in heavy duty strapping
Steel strap was the standard heavy duty strap for decades. It's still used in some steel-mill and coil applications where temperature or load characteristics require it. For most other heavy duty work in Australia, PET has taken over. Reasons:
PET is safer to handle (no sharp edges, no recoil cuts)
PET costs less per metre at equivalent break strength
PET holds tension better as the load settles
PET is recyclable through standard plastic streams
PET doesn't rust or stain product
If you're still running steel and the application doesn't strictly require it, talk to us about a PET conversion. We'll look at your load, your tension requirements and your shipping route before recommending.
How a heavy duty strapping machine seals the strap
Heavy duty PET tools and machines use a friction-weld seal: the two overlapping strap layers are rubbed together at high speed, generating enough heat to fuse them without consumable seals or heat platens.
Steel strapping machines, where used, seal with a metal notch seal or buckle.
Properly tuned, friction-weld seals hold above 70% of the strap's break strength, which for 19mm heavy duty PET is well above steel of equivalent width.
What's included with a new heavy duty strapping machine
Delivery, installation, commissioning and operator training. We document the tension and seal parameters for your specific load. Heavy duty carries more transit risk than light duty, so we're thorough during commissioning.
Service and parts coverage
Whittaker Packaging Solutions provides full service, preventative maintenance and breakdown support across South East Queensland, Toowoomba and Melbourne. Typical breakdown response is 24-48 hours during business hours, especially in our key service hubs.
We service most quality competitor heavy duty strapping machines. If you've inherited equipment and the original service has lapsed, send us the model.
For Regional QLD (Roma and Bundaberg) and Northern NSW, we supply machines and stock parts, with scheduled service runs and ad-hoc breakdown attendance where feasible.
Send us your application details for a quote
Tell us the load weight, the strap width you use or want, the tension required (or your best guess), and whether you need a handheld tool or a fixed machine. We'll size the right heavy duty strapping machine from the WPS range. Prefer we look in person? Book a free on-site validation visit across SEQ, Toowoomba or Melbourne.
FAQs
Common questions
A heavy duty strapping machine is a strapping tool or machine designed to handle high-tension PET or steel strap on heavy palletised, bundled or coiled loads. The Whittaker Packaging Solutions heavy duty strapping machine range covers handheld battery and pneumatic PET tools and inline automatic units.