Cómo elegir una flejadora (manual o automática)

A strapping machine is a packaging machine or tool that is used to secure the closure of a package or to compact a set of goods, among themselves or distributed by pallets, by adding strapping. It is an essential element in any warehouse. Also in a small e-commerce to face with solvency the preparation of orders, especially when there are seasonal peaks in demand; for example, during Black Friday or Christmas.

are you thinking of buying one or renewing the ones you already have? At RAJA® we want to help you choose your strapping machine so that it fits 100% to the needs of your business. What aspects should you pay attention to when making your purchase? Read on and you will see!

Advantages of using a strapping machine in your packaging and palletising processes

Using a strapping machine in your packaging processes has the following advantages:

• It reinforces the closure of the boxes, preventing them from opening due to sudden movements during transport.
• It consolidates the packages in the shipment, facilitating their handling from a logistical point of view: both in the departure and reception warehouses and inside lorries, ships, trains, etc.
• Provides stability, associating items to pallets and contributing to the correct lashing of loads for transport.
• Increases productivity, as it allows strapping at a higher speed.
• Reduces the effort required to complete the task, which results in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, especially rotator cuff injuries, one of the main causes of sick leave among warehouse workers.

Types of strapping machines

Within the strapping machines, we can distinguish between fixed and portable strapping machines:

• Fixed strapping machines are usually presented in table format, so it is necessary to move the goods to be strapped to the point where they are located; or to move the machine itself (which usually has wheels) to the desired area.
• Portable strapping machines are light, their size is adapted to the size of the hand, so that operators can move around the warehouse to strap in different spaces.

In addition to this subdivision, there is another classification scale for strapping machines, depending on whether or not they require electricity to operate: there are manual, semi-automatic and automatic strapping machines.

Manual strapping machines

Manual strapping machines are the ideal tool for sporadic strapping or strapping a few packages a day. Portable, easy to use and small in size, you can choose strapping tensioners for textile strapping or strapping machines for steel seals and polypropylene and polyester strapping. With them, the strapping is tensioned, sealed and cut by operating a lever.

If you are looking for an economical and lightweight solution, you should opt for a manual strapping machine. However, bear in mind that if the pace of packaging in your company grows and starts to go beyond a few dozen orders per day, the manual strapping machine will not be enough for you.

Automatic strapping machines

Automatic strapping machines allow strapping to be tensioned, sealed and cut effortlessly at the touch of a button, powered by electricity and, in the case of portable automatic strapping machines, by a fast-charging battery.

The STRAPEX portable automatic strapping machine, which you can buy online from the RAJA® website, helps complete up to 150 straps per hour, regulating the tension exerted by the strap for maximum protection without damaging fragile objects.

Semi-automatic strapping machines

Semi-automatic strapping machines combine manual tensioning with automatic sealing and cutting of the strap. This is the most widespread system among the table strapping machines, widely used for order picking when handling packages of variable volumes, although there are also portable semi-automatic strapping machines that achieve rates of 70 and even 120 straps per hour.

Table top strapping machines are ergonomically designed for strapping between 50 and 100 bundles per hour.

what factors to consider when choosing a strapping machine?

It’s time to make the decision… which strapping machine to choose? Answering these questions will help you make the best choice:

• are your strapping needs limited to a few packages a day and you don’t need to complete the task in record time? A manual strapping machine will suffice.
• is a high strapping speed a must, or does the job need to be completed across the entire warehouse? Try a portable automatic strapping machine.
• does your company ship heterogeneous products, with packaging of different shapes and sizes? The semi-automatic tabletop strapping machine will be your best ally.

Just as you carefully select your strapping machine… don’t forget the raw material to make it work! In this guide we give you the keys to choose the right strapping.

Adding a strapping machine is one more step on the way to automating your warehouse processes and packaging protocols. At RAJA® we have a wide range of packaging machines and systems that will make your life easier. Save time and money and gain efficiency with us!