Air Quality- FRL – pneumatic banders for steel or plastic strapping require clean, dry, lubricated air. There are minimum requirements for both PSI and CFM.
Battery Powered – electric banders are available for both steel and plastic banding. These tools utilize new generation batteries that yield adequate power and long intervals between charging.
Break Strength – the point at which a strap will fail when pulled from each end.
Circuit Board – various tension and seal options on battery powered banders rely on circuit boards to control their functions.
CFM – Cubic Feet per Minute – a measure of the volume of air supplied to a banding tool.
Clutch Plug – also known as bottom gripper, holds the bottom strap from moving while the feedwheel tensions the top strap.
Combination – this type bander tensions, seals and cuts the strap utilizing only one tool.
Coupler – a mechanical device that allows for easy connection of an air supply to a pneumatic strapping tool.
Cutting Knife – on steel and plastic banding tools, the cutter cuts the strap as the seal is made.
Double Notch – type of banding sealer that cuts two notches on each side of a metal seal.
Feedwheel – pulls the strap through the banding tool to apply the tension.
Friction Weld – type of seal on plastic banding which vibrates the top and bottom strap resulting in a welded seal.
Galvanized – a surface finish available on steel strap which deters rust.
Gripper – another term for clutch plug which holds the bottom strap on a banding tool.
High Tensile (HT) – type of steel banding which has been heat treated. High tensile strap is harder than regular duty and requires a more durable banding tool. HT banding is used in more demanding applications where it must withstand heavier loads and shock.
Joint – the area where the seal is made on steel banding or plastic banding. The seal is made to hold the tension that has been pulled by the feedwheel. The joint is the weakest point in the strap after it has been applied to the load. This joint can be made with a weld, a metal seal or a sealless die cut.
Joint Efficiency – this is a measure of the strength of the joint compared to the strength of the banding. It is normally referred to as a percentage. It is used to determine the point at which the band will fail. It is important to maintain a high joint efficiency in order to utilize the full strength of the banding.
Manual – steel or plastic banding tools which are operated by hand and gain their advantage mechanically.
Motor – pneumatic or electric motors power both steel and plastic banding tools.
Nylon – type of plastic strapping that can be elongated to the greatest percentage of the strap’s length. Nylon has the greatest percentage of memory.
Open Seal – metal seal for steel or plastic banding that is snapped into place after tensioning.
PET – polyester strapping is normally green but may be black. It is strong and can be elongated yielding some memory.
PPY – Polypropylene banding is used in lighter applications. It may be white, yellow or black. If stretched, it does not regain tension. It is commonly used for palletizing light loads but very useful in bundling and closing cartons.
Pneumatic – air-powered banding tools are available for both steel and plastic banding.
PSI – pounds per square inch- is a measure of air pressure supplied to a pneumatic strapping tool. Excessive or inadequate PSI can result in damage or poor strapping tool performance.
Push Seal – metal seal normally used in steel strapping joints. A push seal requires a specialized tool and allows for strapping of round and irregular packages.
Rack and Pinion – banding tool for steel which uses a push-type seal.
Regular Duty (RD) – type of steel banding used in more common banding applications. RD is less demanding on the banding tool.
Seal – often referred as a clip, binder, or red dog. This is a metal fastener used to seal or crimp to form a joint on steel or plastic banding.
Sealer – steel or plastic banding tool used to cut a joint or crimp a seal.
Sealing Jaws – parts of a strapping tool that cut the joints in a steel strap seal or crimp the seal on plastic banding.
Sealless – type of joint that does not require a metal seal to join the top and bottom strap together. Appropriate types may be used on steel or plastic banding. Steel banders punch a die cut to lock the banding. Sealless banders create a friction weld to lock the joint on plastic banding. This is the most efficient way to seal your banding.
Serrated Seal – metal seal with rows of teeth, on the inside of the seal, to grip the banding. Serrated seals can be used on all types of plastic banding. Often the grit on the inside of the banding seal will serve this same purpose.
Single Notch – type of banding sealer that cuts one notch on each side of a metal seal. Normally used on round or irregular loads with a small area for the seal.
Stainless Steel – steel banding made from a specialized type of steel. Typically it is expensive, strong, and rust free.
Super Regular Duty – A type of steel banding that approaches the performance of high tensile at a cost more comparable to regular duty banding.
Tensioner – banding tool that is used to tension steel or plastic banding.
Testing – performed on repaired banding tools utilizing a Sayers tension simulator to verify performance.
Windless – type of tensioner for steel or plastic banding that pulls tension by winding the strap around a peg. This strapping tool is capable of high tension values.