Definition
A band of steel, polyester, or polypropylene used to secure products to a pallet or to bind palletized loads for stability during shipping. Strapping is applied with manual or automated tensioning tools and sealed with metal clips or heat welding. Steel straps provide the highest tension for heavy loads, while polyester and polypropylene are lighter and safer to handle. Proper strapping placement and tension are critical for maintaining unit load integrity.
Related Terms
Edge Board
A right-angle protective strip made from laminated paperboard or plastic, placed on the edges and corners of palletized loads to prevent strap damage and reinforce stacking strength. Edge boards (also called corner boards or angle boards) distribute the pressure from strapping or stretch wrap across a wider area, preventing the strapping from cutting into the product packaging. They also increase the compressive strength of a palletized unit load.
Pallet Wrap
A general term for materials used to secure and protect goods on a pallet during storage and transportation. The most common form is stretch wrap (stretch film), a highly stretchable plastic film that is wrapped around the loaded pallet to hold items in place. Other forms include shrink wrap, which is heated to form a tight seal, and pallet netting, which provides ventilation for products that need airflow. Proper pallet wrapping is essential for load stability and product protection.
Unit Load
A quantity of goods assembled and secured on a pallet to form a single handling unit for storage and transportation. The unit load concept is fundamental to modern logistics — by consolidating individual items into pallet-sized units, material handling efficiency is dramatically improved. A well-built unit load is stable, within weight limits for the pallet and handling equipment, and configured to maximize trailer or container space utilization.
Binder Bar
A metal or heavy-duty plastic bar used to clamp and secure loads on flatbed trailers during transportation. Binder bars work in conjunction with straps or chains to prevent palletized cargo from shifting during transit. In the pallet logistics chain, proper use of binder bars is essential for safe transport of stacked pallets and heavy unit loads on open trailers.
Explore More Pallet Industry Terms
Our glossary contains 165+ terms covering everything from pallet construction to compliance regulations and industry organizations.