When it comes to securing pallet loads for shipping or storage, two methods dominate the floor: strapping and stretch wrapping. Both work. But they don't work the same way — and choosing the wrong one for your load type costs you in damaged product, wasted material, or slow cycle times.
Here's how to tell them apart, when to use each, and how to build the right program for your operation.
WHEN STRAPPING IS THE RIGHT CALL
Strapping applies focused, high-tension force to compress or bundle a load at specific points. It's the right choice when:
- Your load needs compression force — stacked boxes, bundled lumber, pipe, or bar stock
- You're shipping heavy, rigid, or high-density products that require a strong containment point
- You need to secure a load to the pallet deck at defined points, not just wrap the exterior
- Your product has sharp edges, rough surfaces, or irregular shapes that would damage or tear stretch film
- You need a tamper-evident seal — a cut strap is visually obvious in a way a torn film edge often isn't
- You're shipping open-deck freight where individual bundle integrity matters more than full-pallet containment
Common applications: steel coil, heavy cartons, paper rolls, brick and masonry, wood products, metal components, and bundled industrial parts.
WHEN STRETCH WRAPPING IS THE RIGHT CALL
Stretch wrap uses elastic film that clings to itself, holding a full pallet together through tension and film memory. It's the right choice when:
- You're securing a mixed pallet load of multiple SKUs or carton sizes that need to be unitized
- You need to protect products from dust, moisture, or surface contamination
- Your operation processes high pallet volume and needs fast cycle times
- You want full-perimeter containment rather than point-based compression
- You're handling lighter to medium-weight pallets where compression strapping would crush product
WHEN TO USE BOTH
The two methods complement each other. Many operations use them together:
- Strap first, wrap second — apply PET strapping to anchor heavy cartons or compress the load, then stretch wrap the full pallet for dust protection and unitization
- Strap for heavy bottom tiers, wrap for lighter top tiers — common in manufacturing environments with mixed-density pallets
- Use a single horizontal or cross strap to secure product to the pallet deck before wrapping, preventing load shift from the bottom up
If your operation handles both light mixed pallets and heavy uniform loads, having both a stretch wrapper and a battery strapping tool isn't redundant — it's the right tool for every job.
CHOOSING YOUR STRAPPING CONSUMABLE: WHY PET
For industrial applications, PET (polyester) strapping is the standard over polypropylene. Here's why:
- Higher break strength at equivalent widths
- Better retained tension — PET holds tension through temperature and humidity changes; polypropylene can relax and go slack over time
- Recyclable — same material as PET plastic bottles, accepted in most recycling streams
- Safer at high tension — releases gradually when cut rather than snapping back like steel
Fromm PET coil strapping is available through Tarheel Paper & Supply in three widths:
5/8" (16mm) — Light to medium cartons, bundling — ~1,100 lbs break strength 3/4" (19mm) — Medium industrial loads, standard pallet strapping — ~1,600–2,000 lbs break strength 1" (25mm) — Heavy loads, high-compression applications — ~2,500–3,000 lbs break strength
The rule: match strap width to your tool, and match tool tension to the heaviest load you regularly run.
THE FROMM BATTERY STRAPPING TOOL LINEUP
Manual tensioners have their place — but for operations running more than a handful of pallets per shift, battery-powered tools deliver consistent tension, faster cycle times, and measurably less operator fatigue. They eliminate the human variable in tensioning, which means fewer under-tensioned straps (damaged goods) and fewer over-tensioned straps (crushed product).
Fromm P328 — 18V | 585 ft/lbs tension Fromm's entry-level battery strapper, built for lighter industrial applications and operations stepping up from manual tools. Handles 5/8" and 3/4" PET strapping efficiently. A solid choice for e-commerce distribution, beverage, and lighter manufacturing environments.
Fromm P329 — 18V | 900 ft/lbs tension The workhorse of the Fromm battery lineup. Same compact 18V platform as the P328, but with 900 ft/lbs of tension — enough for the majority of industrial pallet strapping applications. Runs 3/4" and 1" PET strapping and is the model we most often recommend for manufacturing and distribution customers with moderate daily volume. Fast, reliable, and ergonomically well-balanced for all-day use.
Fromm P331 — 40V Heavy-Duty | 7,000N tension When you need maximum tension for heavy loads, the P331 is the answer. On a 40V battery platform, it delivers 7,000N — nearly double the P329. Built for heavy industrial applications: steel coil, dense hardwood, heavy brick and masonry, or any application where load failure is simply not an option.
QUICK DECISION GUIDE
Use the P328 if: Your loads are light to medium weight, you're strapping 5/8"–3/4" PET, and you're looking for a cost-effective step up from manual tools.
Use the P329 if: You're running a production or distribution environment with regular daily volume across standard industrial load weights. It's the right tool for most operations.
Use the P331 if: You're handling heavy, dense, or high-value loads where maximum tension is required. Heavy manufacturing, steel service, hardwood, or masonry.
TALK TO YOUR TARHEEL REP ABOUT THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR YOUR LOAD PROFILE
Strapping tools are a capital purchase, and the wrong choice wastes money — either on a tool that's underpowered for your loads or on one that's more than you need. Our reps can walk through your load profile, bring PET coil samples in all three widths, and arrange a demo at your facility in many cases.
We stock Fromm PET coil strapping and battery strapping tools at all six of our branch locations across NC, SC, and VA, with next-day delivery throughout our service area.