| Banding and strapping a finished load of industrial | | | | as big setups. |
| product is one of the most critical factors when it | | | | Although banding machines and systems have |
| comes to several industries, including those | | | | come a long way, there is still no machine that will |
| specializing in forest products, lumber, and brick | | | | work in every industry. Not only will banding |
| and paving stone. It is in the area of packaging | | | | machines be tailored to their industry purpose, |
| strapping that the largest bottlenecks can occur, | | | | they will also be programmed to utilize a certain |
| which can be frustrating as a company’s main | | | | type of banding, such as metal strapping or heat |
| objective is to get the completed packages of | | | | sealing. A banding machine for the lumber industry, |
| material out of the door as quickly as possible. | | | | for example, may be meant to incorporate |
| The high price of labour often means that | | | | dunnage and pallets, while a brick banding machine |
| industries lose quite a bit of man hours at a | | | | should be designed to accommodate fall away |
| strapping station. Many are turning to automated | | | | loads that do not use panels. |
| systems both to save time and to reduce costs | | | | Industry buyers should also consider the makeup |
| both man hours and worker risk. | | | | of the machine before purchase. After all, these |
| Top of the line banding machines and systems | | | | machines do cost quite a lot of money, and they |
| eliminate the need for labour except as far as | | | | need to last for a long time. It is important not |
| operation of the machine. As is the case with all | | | | only that they are made from sturdy materials, |
| automation, the length of time these machines | | | | but also that they have a limited amount of |
| need to band specific products is often a fraction | | | | moving parts, for lower maintenance. Often |
| of what it would take a labourer, thus even higher | | | | machines that incorporate a heat seal will also |
| end machines will pay for themselves in the long | | | | allow for some costs to be cut by using less |
| run. | | | | expensive banding for their loads. |
| Smaller operations may still choose to use a | | | | Using a banding machine or system is one way |
| labour intensive banding system, such as those | | | | for industry to cut costs as well as guarantee |
| that are operated by hand for strapping bundles | | | | that product backup will be minimized. These |
| of plywood in mills. These machines still reduce the | | | | machines can be put to work 24 hours a day, |
| time it would take if the banding were tightened | | | | and are thus a great way to maximize |
| through hand held devices, but they do pose | | | | productivity. |
| some risk to the worker and are not as efficient | | | | |