Strapping
PET strapping machines and tools from Whittaker Packaging Solutions
PET strapping has replaced steel in a lot of Australian operations over the last decade, and Whittaker Packaging Solutions supplies the machines and battery tools that do it. PET (polyester) holds high tension, absorbs shock without snapping, and ships safely without the cuts and rust steel brings.
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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.
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Tell us about your application and we'll come back to you with a useful steer.
The range
PET strapping we supply
Heavy-duty battery PET tooling and tough strap dispensers for high-tension pallet and bundle strapping that used to mean steel.
The WPS PET strapping machine and tool range covers everything from a single bench-top sealer through to inline automatic strappers, with the operator training and service backup to keep them running.
Why PET
Why PET strapping
PET strapping is the right answer when you need real holding force on a load that might shift, settle or be handled hard in transit. Timber bundles, brick packs, steel coils, white goods, heavy pallets, all places where steel used to be the default and PET has taken over.
Safety.
No cut hands, no rust, no recoil if the strap snaps.
Cost.
PET costs less per metre and per strap break-strength unit than steel.
Recyclability.
PET strap is a single-polymer plastic and is recyclable through stream-1 streams.
PET also keeps tension over time better than PP. If the load settles, PET stretches a little and holds. PP tends to go loose.
PET vs PP strapping
They look similar in the coil and behave very differently.
PET (polyester) is high tension, high retention and recyclable, the right choice for pallets, bundles and any load over about 250kg where holding force matters. The strap costs more per metre, but you use less of it per load.
PP (polypropylene) is lighter-duty and cheaper, the right choice for cartons, light bundles and unit packs that don't need to hold a heavy load over distance. PP loses tension faster than PET if the load shifts, so it's not used for heavy palletised freight.
A useful rule: under 100kg and won't shift much, PP is fine. Heavier, taller, or going on a long road haul, look at PET. We talk both through during a site visit and recommend on the actual load, not the brochure.
How a PET strapping machine works
The mechanics are the same family as PP strapping machines, with two important differences.
Higher tension capability. PET tools and machines need to deliver well above 3000N of force, where PP rarely needs more than 1500N.
Friction-weld seals, not heat seals. PET doesn't melt cleanly under a heat platen. PET tools weld the overlap by rubbing the two strap layers together at high speed, fusing them without consumable seals.
Battery-powered handheld PET strapping tool (most common for pallets and bundles)
Pneumatic PET strapping tool (fixed station, plenty of air)
Bench-top semi-automatic PET machine (lower-volume cartons and unit packs)
Automatic arch PET strapping machine (high-volume lines)
We supply all four configurations through the WPS range.
Choosing the right PET strapping setup
The decision rests on three things: load weight, daily strap count, and where the strapping happens.
Mobile or multi-station despatch with heavy loads. Battery PET strapping tool. One operator, no air line, walk-and-strap.
Fixed bench with light cartons. Semi-auto PET bench machine. Lower tension range, faster cycle.
Inline production with high volume. Automatic PET arch machine. Sensor-triggered, no operator handling the strap.
Workshop with plenty of compressed air. Pneumatic PET tool. Still a fair option if mobility isn't the priority.
We also look at what strap width and break-strength you actually need. Over-spec'd strap is wasted money. Under-spec'd strap is a transit failure.
What's included
Every PET strapping machine and tool from Whittaker Packaging Solutions includes delivery, installation, commissioning and operator training. We document the tension settings for your application so operators don't second-guess the dial.
Service and parts coverage
WPS 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 PET strapping machines and tools. If an older unit is running rough, send us the model and what's going wrong.
For Regional QLD (Roma and Bundaberg) and Northern NSW, we supply machines and parts with scheduled service runs and ad-hoc breakdown attendance where feasible.
Book a free on-site validation visit
Moving from steel to PET, or from PP to PET? A 30-minute walk through your despatch area answers more than a fortnight of brochures. We'll validate the load, the tension you need and the right machine. Book a free on-site validation visit across SEQ, Toowoomba or Melbourne.
FAQs
Common questions
PET strapping is high-tension polyester strap used to secure heavier loads where PP would lose tension. It's the modern replacement for steel strap in most palletised freight, timber, brick, white goods and steel coil applications. WPS supplies PET strapping machines and tools across the range.