Industrial Strapping Glossary

Key terms in strapping, polyester and PP strap, logistics and sustainability, defined in four languages.

This glossary defines the core terminology of industrial strapping in four languages. Each term has a stable anchor link, so you can cite or share a single definition.

Products

Polyester (PET) Strapping: Polyester strapping (PET strapping) is high-strength plastic strapping made from polyethylene terephthalate; because it does not rust and weighs less than steel, it is the common alternative to steel strapping for medium and heavy loads. Green is the standard color; black and clear versions also exist.; Related terms:Polypropylene (PP) Strapping Embossed Strapping PET Flake ASTM D3950
Polypropylene (PP) Strapping: Polypropylene strapping (PP strapping, often called poly strapping in the US) is an economical plastic strapping made from polypropylene for cartons and light-to-medium loads. It stretches more than polyester strapping and loses tension sooner, so polyester is the better fit for heavy loads and long transits.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping Break Strength Elongation
Strapping: Securing a load to a pallet, or binding cartons, bales and bundles of raw product, with plastic or steel strap. In industrial packaging, strapping keeps the load from shifting in transit. It is applied by hand, with pneumatic or battery-powered tools, or by fully automatic machines.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping Polypropylene (PP) Strapping Buckle (Clip)
Superbant: Türkiye's first patented embossed strap, developed by Polipak R&D. Its embossed surface grips better than smooth strapping and reduces slippage. 12×0.75 mm and 16×0.75 mm; break strength 275-365 kgf; standard colors white, black, red, yellow and green, other colors on request. Compatible with battery and buckle-style tools.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping Embossed Strapping
Buckle (Clip): A metal or plastic clip that mechanically joins the two ends of a strap. Used with manual tools and buckle-type machines; automatic machines usually use friction welding instead.; Related terms:Friction Weld

Technical Specs

Rail Freight Strapping Requirements: Rail-freight packaging evaluates strap dimensions, strength, joining method, and route-specific technical requirements together. Product suitability and current document status must be verified before ordering.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping Break Strength
rPET (Recycled PET): PET sourced from recycling. Polipak's PET strapping feedstock is 100% PET flake: PET bottles are processed into bottle flake and re-extruded into strap on Reifenhauser twin-screw lines. 1 ton of strap ≈ 50,000 bottles recovered; ~60% lower CO₂ vs virgin PET.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping PET Flake PPWR (EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)
Break Strength: Break strength is the highest tensile force a strap withstands before it breaks, stated in pound-force (lbf), kilogram-force (kgf) or newtons (N). The joint (seal, buckle or weld) usually holds less than the strap itself, so evaluate strap and joint together.; Related terms:Elongation ASTM D3950 Polyester (PET) Strapping Polypropylene (PP) Strapping
Elongation: The percentage a strap can stretch under load. Lower elongation keeps loads tightly bound (PET typical 12-18%). Higher elongation absorbs shock (PP typical 18-25%).; Related terms:Break Strength Polyester (PET) Strapping Polypropylene (PP) Strapping
Embossed Strapping: Embossed strapping has a raised pattern pressed into its surface; the pattern improves grip in buckles and tool grippers and reduces slippage. Its flat-surfaced counterpart is smooth strapping; Polipak's patented Superbant is an embossed strap.; Related terms:Smooth Strapping Superbant Buckle (Clip)
Smooth Strapping: Smooth strapping has a flat surface with no pattern; it suits jobs that need printing or marking on the strap and machines that call for a smooth surface. Its counterpart with a raised pattern is embossed strapping.; Related terms:Embossed Strapping Polyester (PET) Strapping
Core: The core is the center ring a coil of strapping is wound on, specified by inside diameter and width; 16 in × 6 in (406 × 152 mm) is a common size. The strapping dispenser, or a machine's coil holder, must fit the core size.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping Polypropylene (PP) Strapping
Friction Weld: A method of joining two strap ends by melting them together with high-speed friction, with no mechanical buckle. It is the standard joint on automatic and battery-powered strapping tools, and it is faster and cleaner than a buckle.; Related terms:Buckle (Clip)
PET Flake: PET flake is small pieces of PET made by sorting, grinding and washing collected PET bottles; it is the feedstock for recycled PET products such as polyester strapping. Polipak makes its polyester strapping from PET flake.; Related terms:rPET (Recycled PET)Polyester (PET) Strapping IV (Intrinsic Viscosity)
IV (Intrinsic Viscosity): A measure of PET feedstock molecular weight. Higher IV yields higher break strength. Polipak measures IV on each bottle-flake lot and tunes formulation accordingly.; Related terms:rPET (Recycled PET)PET Flake

Certifications & Regulation

ISO 9001:2015: International standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It addresses consistent quality and customer focus across production, sales, and dispatch.; Related terms:ISO 14001:2015 ISO 45001:2018
ISO 14001:2015: International Environmental Management System standard. It addresses emissions monitoring, waste management, and resource efficiency at production sites.; Related terms:ISO 9001:2015 rPET (Recycled PET)PPWR (EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)
ISO 45001:2018: International Occupational Health and Safety Management System standard. It addresses worker health protection, risk assessment, and accident prevention.; Related terms:ISO 9001:2015 ISO 14001:2015
REACH: EU regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. Compliance is mandatory for all manufacturers shipping into the EU market.; Related terms:RoHS
RoHS: EU directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It limits heavy metals and certain chemicals in electrical and electronic equipment.; Related terms:REACH
PPWR (EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation): PPWR is the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40); it has applied since August 12, 2026, and covers all packaging regardless of material. It sets minimum recycled content from post-consumer plastic waste: for other plastic packaging, such as polyester strapping, 35% from 2030 at the earliest and 65% from 2040, calculated as an average per manufacturing plant and year.; Related terms:rPET (Recycled PET)PET Flake ISO 14001:2015
AAR Approved: AAR approved means a strapping product is approved by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) under its Open Top Loading Rules; on US and Canadian railroads, these rules require non-metallic strapping used to secure loads to be AAR approved and marked "AAR". Approval covers only the products and sizes named on the document, and AAR lists polyester strapping as Type IV.AAR — Approved Securement Bands and Strapping (Open Top Loading); Related terms:ASTM D3950 Rail Freight Strapping Requirements Polyester (PET) Strapping
ASTM D3950: ASTM D3950 is the ASTM International standard specification for nonmetallic strapping and joining methods; it classifies plastic strapping into types by material. Steel strapping has its own specification (ASTM D3953), and in Europe EN 13394 covers nonmetallic strapping.ASTM D3950 — Standard Specification for Strapping, Nonmetallic (and Joining Methods); Related terms:Break Strength AAR Approved Polyester (PET) Strapping

Logistics & Incoterms

FOB (Free On Board): Incoterms 2020. Polipak loads the goods on board the buyer's vessel at the port of shipment; risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board, and later costs are the buyer's. The most common delivery term for US, European, and Asian markets.; Related terms:CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): Incoterms 2020. Polipak covers cost, insurance, and freight to the destination port. Risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board the vessel at the port of shipment.; Related terms:FOB (Free On Board)
USMCA Nearshoring: The trend of manufacturing relocating from China to Mexico under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It drives demand for high-strength PET strap in cotton-bale, steel-coil, and automotive-parts packaging.; Related terms:Rail Freight Strapping Requirements Cotton Bale

Industry Applications

Cotton Bale: A press-compacted package of cotton; bales exported from Egypt, Türkiye, Pakistan and Greece are bound with polyester (PET) strapping. Standard bale weight is 220-227 kg. For bale binding, Polipak recommends patented Superbant and 12-19 mm embossed polyester strapping.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping Superbant
Steel Coil: Cylindrical roll of cold- or hot-rolled steel sheet. Typical weight 5-25 tons. High-tensile 19 mm × 1.27 mm polyester strapping is the standard for coil banding. Polipak supplies US, EU and Turkish steel mills.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping Break Strength

Company & Facilities

Reifenhauser Twin-Screw Extrusion: Twin-screw extrusion technology from German manufacturer Reifenhauser, used to produce PET strap. Polipak operates two main lines (commissioned 2003 and 2014); a third is being commissioned at the Bilecik plant.; Related terms:Polyester (PET) Strapping rPET (Recycled PET)
GEPOSB (Gebze Plastics Industrial Zone): A plastics-industry-focused organized industrial zone in Gebze, Kocaeli. Home to Polipak's 6,500 m² covered production facility and two Reifenhauser PET extrusion lines.; Related terms:Reifenhauser Twin-Screw Extrusion
interpack Düsseldorf: The world's largest packaging trade fair, held every three years in Düsseldorf, Germany. Polipak has exhibited at interpack since 2008; in 2026 it was in Hall 7.1, stand C37-5. The next interpack runs June 10–15, 2029.

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