Choosing the right strapping machine for your application significantly improves performance and productivity. With such a wide range of choices, it can be a daunting task. To help, we’ve highlighted some of the main features to look for when considering a strapping system.
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Semi-Automatic Machines
Semi-Automatics are good solutions when strapping is a preferred process for low volume bundling of loose material and carton closing. Operator involvement involves looping a strap end around the product, inserting it into the sealer, and tripping a switch that causes the sealer to tension, cut and seal the strap. Cycle time is several seconds plus product handling time. Economics favor this equipment for occasional needs. More continuous strapping requirements call for a more automatic solution.
Operator Cycled Automatic or Walk-up Machines
Basic automatic or walk-up units add a strap feed track to the design, limiting operator participation in the strapping cycle to placing the package on the table and hitting a switch or tripping a sensor that activates the strap cycle. The strapping cycle takes a second, more or less, depending on track and package size, plus package handling time. While walk up installations may be capable of processing up to 10 packages per minute, such a steady pace argues for a higher level of automation.
EAM-Mosca offers three walk-up, bottom sealing machines, the ROM-Fusion, ROMP-6 SoniXs, and ROMC6 SoniXs:
A low-cost but highly reliable strapper for lighter-duty applications. Track size range goes up to 1250mm (49”) wide x 600mm (23.6”) high. It uses a heat seal and PP strapping.
Applications for the ROM-Fusion include:
A High-performance walk-up machine series with the SoniXs sealer that is used in Mosca’s top-of-the-line automated bundling systems. The seal position is 12 inches from the vertical track on the sealer side, which means that it is centered in the track for the 600mm wide model and offset for larger track openings. Track widths go up to 1650mm (65”) and heights to 1250mm (49”). Cycles may be initiated by the operator using a pushbutton, footswitch, or optionally by pushing the package past a sensor.
Applications are too many to list, but include:
Because the ROMP6 uses the same sealer as fully automatic Mosca bundlers, it is the best choice for off-line applications in plants using automated Mosca products. It takes advantage of common parts and operator/maintenance training requirements in the plant while maintaining uniformly high performance in all strapping operations.
A special walk-up bottom seal strapper that offers a centered seal on all sizes and larger track widths, up to 2800 mm (110”) with heights to 1000mm (39”) depending on the model. Applications include:
The ROMC6 is commonly used to strap flat and panel type products that are conveyed horizontally. Operators apply or prep packaging and feed the product through the strapper, positioning it and cycling the machine to put the desired number of straps in the proper location.
Fully Automatic Bundling Equipment
EAM-Mosca offers three series of fully automatic bottom seal bundling models:
Both models have a ROMP6 chassis with an automatic belt (B) or roller (R) conveyor and appropriate controls. Rollers are the preferred conveyor design for heavy or abrasive packages. The seal position is 12” from the dispenser side vertical track, centered on the 600mm wide models, offset on wider models. The ROMP6R-VA SoniXs is a stainless steel and corrosion-resistant machine made for cold, high moisture environments, mainly beef, pork, poultry, and seafood packing plants.
Fully automatic models are typically integrated with automatic conveyors and controls to place straps in quantity and location selected algorithmically or via operator input during run setup. Applications Include:
ROMP6B SoniXs
ROMP6-R SoniXs
The TR6 also offers the choice of belt (TR6B) or roller (TR6R) conveyor. Standard track sizes range from 500mm wide x 400mm high to 1000mm wide x 800mm high. Seal position is in the center of the table. It has a heavier duty and more flexible chassis than the ROMP6 automated models and its PRO option enables remote access to the strapping program. Successful applications include:
Specialty TR6 Bundlers
EAM-Mosca offers two specialty high-speed bundlers for specific requirements:
Built for high-speed strapping of zip sorted magazines and other bound product. It is capable of single strapping up to 55 bundles per minute by maintaining 6-sided control of incoming bundles. The standard configuration handles bundles from 5”w x 7”l to 10”x 13” with a tabloid adaptation available. Bundle height range is from .25” to 8.5”. It can be paired with other equipment to create a two machine high speed cross strapping system if required.
Straps bundles in the direction of travel (rather than across the bundle) at speeds of up to 30 per minute, enabling cross strapping without bundle rotation. It automatically straps bundles from pamphlet to tabloid size from ½” to 14” high.
The TRC6-Sonixs is a fully automated strapping machine with powered roller conveyor. It is built in track widths from 1250mm to 2600mm. It’s main application is fully automatic high speed strapping of bundles of knocked down corrugated boxes as they are produced on Flexo Folder Gluer lines. The TRC6-SQ4A series is a special squaring bundler model that is the North American market leader in corrugated bundle strapping. Single machine installations can strap up to 24 bundles per minute and dual machine tandem models up to 36 single strap bundles per minute. Other active applications for the various size TRC6 SoniXs models include:
Side Seal Machines
The machines mentioned above are all bottom sealers. Side seal models can provide advantages when strapping tall products and when products are transported along the side rail of a conveyor so that packages will naturally be positioned against the sealer face, assuring a tight strap. They may be operator cycled or automated but are usually conveyor fed in either case. They can accommodate lower conveyor heights than table machines, as low as 12 inches. A minimum package height of about 6 inches is required in order to achieve a good seal and consistent strap tension. A special narrow seal option is available when low-height products are common.
EAM-Mosca offers a line of side seal products called ROMS6 SoniXs. Track sizes range from 650mm wide x 600mm high to 1650mm wide x 1800mm high with the Mosca closed track system. Larger sizes are available with a spring gate track system, as is a sealer head that indexes to meet the side of the package where product position varies or is not aligned with the conveyor edge.
The 650mm x 600mm size is available in stainless steel for cold/moist environments common in protein packing.
Common applications of the ROMS6 SoniXs series include:
Specialty Bundling Machines:
Pallet And Shipping Unit Strapping Systems
EAM-Mosca manufactures 3 machine configurations that provide flexible load securement for many pallet and non-pallet shipping units. All models utilize the high tension Mosca SoniXs unitizer strapping head with high tension capability to 450 lbs. and multiple options to meet specific application needs:
A bottom seal machine with center seal and spring gate track system in widths from 1750 to 2200mm wide and 650-2900mm high. Minimum conveyor height is 12’. It fits neatly into conveyor lines and is a good solution to secure non-palletized shipping units that are conveyed down the center of the conveyor line and where minimum load height can be less than 12”. It can be operator cycled or automated. Typical applications include:
A fixed-position side seal strapper with a fixed track. It is effective for strapping loads that are in a consistent position relative to the conveyor side rail. The head can be positioned up to 14” inboard of the rail. Minimum load height is about 12”. The UHS2-Sonixs can be inclined as much as 20 degrees to accommodate vertical easel style assembly common in door/window assembly/packing operations. Current UHS2 applications include:
A side seal strapper with indexing strapping head and pallet lance options. USI offers the options of strapping under the load, through a pallet void or both depending on automatic detection of a void. The indexing head advances up to 18” to accommodate varying load position on the conveyor. Minimum practical load height is about 18”. Minimum conveyor height is 12”. Common applications are strapping:
Fully automatic horizontal strapping machine
Note that EAM-Mosca designs and builds complete systems, including material handling equipment and controls or will work with users and integrators that build individual machines into broader based systems.
The EAM-Mosca System Approach
We are a machine-based system supplier that offers a portfolio of standard and specialized machine and strap systems to targeted markets with an emphasis on high performance and automation. We provide factory trained technical service and spare parts to help customers keep their systems running at top efficiency for many years. Purchase of an EAM-Mosca machine, strapping, service and parts assures the user of single-source, performance-focused support for the life of the system. We believe that our approach offers customers the highest performance and lowest total cost possible in the markets that we choose to serve. Our intention is to be the industry leader in high performance strapping sales, offering innovative technology, application driven design and practical solutions.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Mastek sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Glossary Of Plastic Strapping Terms
Bulk load: A multi-item product grouping, typically in stacks or layers that is held together by strapping alone, rather than a box, crate or similar restraint
Bundler: A strapping machine typically used to strap individual items or small bundles of products into a secure package.
PP: Polypropylene, an oil derived polymer plastic
PET: Polyethylene Terephthalate, commonly called polyester, a polymer fabricated from natural gas.
System Approach: EAM-Mosca strategy of supplying all elements, including machines, strap, service and parts needed to maintain the highest system performance over its operating life.
Telescoping carton: 2-piece box design where top slides over bottom, often secured with plastic straps.
Tension: Tensile force applied to a strap to tighten it on a given package
Unit load or Shipping unit: Multiple items tied together to form a single entity usually in preparation for transport.
Unitizer: A strapping machine that ties a multi-item grouping together into a single unit load
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If you are looking to install, upgrade or automate a strapping system, EAM-Mosca, the strapping industry technology leader and installer of over 35,000 systems across the Americas, can help. Working through the questions below can guide purchasers to make the best selection of system features for strapping a range of wood products including components like stakes, flooring, and molding as well as finished products like doors, windows, cabinets, and furniture.
Bottom or Side seal?
There are two common machine configurations used to strap wood products: bottom seal and side seal. Smaller bottom sealers from operator cycled to fully automated models are used for bundling and carton closing applications. Larger tabletop units are used to strap products like oversized windows and doors that are transported through the packing process horizontally. Finally, large, bottom seal shipping unit strapping systems are a practical solution for free-standing products whose edge location varies relative to the conveyor rail and for products with irregular sides that prevent proper strap tensioning by side-mounted strapping heads.
Side sealers are the better choice when products are conveyed along a conveyor rail with a side that is accessible to the vertically mounted strapping head. Some side seal models have indexing heads that can reach out 12-18 inches to contact the side of the product to assure tight straps. Side sealers have higher minimum load heights than horizontal machines. Their head position provides convenient access to cleaning and servicing.
Side sealers are the obvious choice for products like some windows and doors that are packed in a vertical position. EAM-Mosca’s UHS-2-SoniXs side sealer will tilt up to 20 degrees to fit smoothly into easel-style packing processes.
In all cases be sure to compare conveyor height, product size range, and product position on the conveyor to the capabilities of the models under consideration.
Pallet Considerations
If the product is not palletized or strapping through a pallet void is not required, a full track bottom or side seal unit will do the job. If strapping through a pallet is required, look for a side seal machine with a pallet lance. Models with the optional capability to strap through or under a pallet based on sensor readings are available. For reference, check out the EAM-Mosca USI SoniXs with an indexing, high-tension strapping head, through or under pallet strapping capability, and a variety of options to adapt it to meet specific application requirements.
Automation Requirements
Strapping systems are extremely versatile on the automation front. EAM-Mosca can outfit most of its models with a range of automation from an operator-activated footswitch or pushbutton control, and sensors that place a strap when tripped, to fully automatic operation that positions straps based on in-line size measurement or data imported from an upstream control system. Define your requirements including throughput rate and make sure the unit chosen can meet the spec.
Strap Choices
Choosing the right strap for the application has both economic and package security implications. The goal is to select the strap with the right strength and load control characteristics and be sure the chosen machine can operate reliably with that strap.
Polypropylene (PP) strap is an economical strapping that is commonly used in bundling and lighter-duty applications. Polyester (PET) strapping is slightly more expensive but resists elongation, maintains tension better than PP, runs cleaner and more reliably in strapping machines, and is made predominantly from recycled materials. PP is often sealed using a hot blade heat seal. Hot blades are not recommended for PET due to the harmful smoke given off during the process, so PET is sealed using a friction or ultra-sonic process. Mosca’s SoniXs ultra-sonic sealing system, available on models from bundlers to large systems, seals both PP and PET interchangeably, offering strap choice flexibility to Mosca customers.
Application Examples And Solutions
Here are a few application examples and solutions that may help clarify choices and decision-making:
By reviewing these application variables and solution examples, strapping system buyers in the wood products industries should be able to confidently specify a strapping machine configuration that is optimal for their operation. That leaves the assessment of quality, price, delivery and after-sales service still to be done, but it is the right first step.
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