Automatic Lumber Bundle Strapping Packing Line

Executive summary A lumber or board bundle has to be square and tight before it is strapped, or the straps loosen as soon as it is lifted. Our line centres the bundle on rollers, presses it with an orange beam and straps it with a gantry of heads in one stop. In our video the gantry carries four heads across the beam. The number of heads, strap positions and bundle range are set per project.

Table of Contents

What the video shows

A large board bundle, covered in clear film, sits on the roller conveyor under our orange and white gantry. The gantry carries four strapping heads across its beam. Guides centre the bundle, the beam comes down onto it, and the heads strap it. Later in the clip a timber bundle travels through the same station. The press head lowers onto its top, and the strapped bundle carries on down the line.

The strapping sequence

  1. Infeed. The bundle travels in on the roller conveyor.
  2. Centre. Side guides push it to the middle of the line.
  3. Press. The press beam comes down on the top and squeezes the stack.
  4. Strap. The heads place, tension, seal and cut the straps.
  5. Release. The beam lifts and the bundle leaves.

The roller conveyor is split under the gantry, so the strap path can pass under the bundle at each head.

Pressing before strapping is what keeps a timber bundle tight. Timber stacks have small gaps between pieces, and the press closes them before the strap goes on.

Planning strap positions

Straps usually go in from each end and are then spaced evenly along the bundle. Illustrative example for a 4,000 mm bundle with straps 300 mm from each end:

Item Value
Bundle length 4,000 mm
End distance, each end 300 mm
Length between end straps 3,400 mm
Straps 4
Spacing between straps about 1,133 mm

With four heads on the gantry, all four straps go on in one stop. A longer bundle needing more straps can be indexed forward between strapping steps.

Fixed heads or indexing

Layout How it works Suits
Several fixed heads on one gantry All straps in one stop One main bundle length
One head, bundle indexed Bundle moves on between straps Many different lengths
Heads movable along the beam Positions set per product Mixed lengths at high output

The more heads on the gantry, the shorter the cycle. One head is cheaper but needs a stop for each strap.

Controls and safety

The gantry, press beam and heads move over the conveyor. In the video, yellow guardrails run along the line. Keep people out of the station while the beam is down.

The standards that apply depend on the destination market. For CE markets, ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method and EN 415-10 sets general requirements for packaging machines.

Selection checklist for a lumber strapping line

  • Bundle length, width and height, smallest to largest.
  • Bundle weight.
  • Number of straps and their positions.
  • Strap material: PET or steel.
  • Bundles per hour.
  • Film cover before strapping, or straps only.

Engineering FAQ

Q: Why press the bundle before strapping? A: Pressing closes the gaps between pieces, so the straps stay tight when the bundle is lifted.

Q: How many strapping heads are needed? A: Our video shows four on one gantry. More heads mean fewer stops per bundle.

Q: Where should the straps go? A: Usually a set distance from each end and evenly spaced. Our 4,000 mm example puts four straps about 1,133 mm apart.

Q: Can one line handle several bundle lengths? A: Yes, by indexing the bundle between straps or by moving heads along the beam.

Q: Is the bundle film-covered first? A: It can be. The panel in our video arrives covered in clear film before strapping.

Next step

We plan your lumber strapping line in three steps:

  1. Submit your layout drawing with bundle sizes, strap positions and output to info@fhopepack.com.
  2. Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with the gantry layout and cycle plan.
  3. Book a site survey to check the conveyor line and floor space.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-10-04

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