Executive summary This 17 s clip shows a sheet bundle strapping station on a chain-driven roller conveyor. A yellow strapping head comes down onto the top of a flat stack of silver-grey sheet, a yellow strap track arches round the conveyor, and the banded stack then runs on along the rollers. The footage carries no FHOPE marking, so we describe it as an example and give the data of our equivalent solution, our hydraulic steel strapping head (strap tension 7,000–18,000 N). We also show how to work out bundle weight and strap use before you size the machine.
Table of Contents
- What the clip shows
- Why the head comes down onto the stack
- Our equivalent solution: strap head data
- Bundle weight and strap use
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the clip shows
The clip is filmed in portrait and runs about 17 s.
| Part | What you see |
|---|---|
| Strapping head | A yellow head on vertical guide columns, with a press plate at its foot |
| Strap track | A yellow track arching round the conveyor, so the strap can pass under and over the stack |
| Stack | A flat stack of silver-grey sheet with a straight, square edge |
| Conveyor | Powered rollers with chain drive under the stack |
| Cycle | The head comes down onto the top sheet, a band is laid across the stack, the head lifts, and the stack moves on |
The strap material and seal type are too small to read in this clip, and there is no nameplate or panel figure in view, so the data below is from our own equivalent machine.
Why the head comes down onto the stack
- Flat stack under tension. The press plate holds the top sheets down, so the band does not lift or bow the sheet edges as it is tensioned.
- Square edges. Holding the stack still while the band is tightened keeps the sheets aligned, so the bundle stays square for lifting.
- Fixed band position. The head sets the band at the same point on every stack, so the bands line up with lifting and storage supports.
- Thin sheet. Thin sheet bends more easily under the band, so the hold-down matters most on thin stock.
Our equivalent solution: strap head data
Our equivalent for sheet and plate bundles uses our hydraulic steel strapping head. Our published data:
| Item | Published value |
|---|---|
| Strap material | Cold-rolled low-carbon steel, blued and waxed |
| Strap thickness | 0.8 mm or 1.0 mm |
| Seal width | 25 mm or 32 mm |
| Strap tension | 7,000–18,000 N |
| Feed and take-up | 2–3 m/s |
| Tension speed | 6 m/min |
| Hydraulic pressure | 100 bar (work pressure 80–90 bar) |
| Seal magazine | About 180 seals |
| Band positions | Set to the bundle length |
The machine is customised, so the arch size, conveyor and number of bands follow your sheet and bundle sizes.
Bundle weight and strap use
Start from the bundle weight, because it sets the tension and the number of bands. Steel has a density of about 7.85 t/m³.
Worked example (illustrative). A bundle 2,500 mm long, 1,250 mm wide and 150 mm high has a volume of 2.5 × 1.25 × 0.15 = 0.469 m³, so it weighs about 0.469 × 7.85 = 3.7 t. One band round it needs about 2 × (1,250 + 150) = 2,800 mm of strap, plus the seal overlap. With 4 bands the bundle uses about 11.2 m of strap.
Selection checklist
- Sheet thickness, width and length range.
- Bundle height and weight.
- Bands per bundle and their positions.
- Steel or plastic strap, and the strap size you buy today.
- Edge protectors under the band, if your sheet is coated or polished.
- Bundles per hour.
- Conveyor link to the cut-to-length line and the lifting area, and any turning step such as a steel sheet upender for 180-degree turning.
Safety
The head comes down onto the stack and the band is tensioned up to 18,000 N. We guard the head and conveyor zone to the risk assessment, so nobody reaches under the press plate or into the strap path while the machine runs. Hydraulic work is done with the system stopped and pressure released.
For CE markets we apply ISO 12100 for the risk assessment and EN 415-10 for general packaging-machine requirements.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Why does the head press on the stack? A: The press plate holds the sheets flat and still, so the band tightens without bowing the top sheets.
Q: What strapping machine do you supply for sheet bundles? A: A sheet bundle strapping station built round our hydraulic steel strapping head, with the arch and conveyor sized to your bundles.
Q: How tight is the band on your equivalent? A: Strap tension is set within 7,000–18,000 N.
Q: What strap does your equivalent use? A: Cold-rolled low-carbon steel strap, 0.8 mm or 1.0 mm thick, with 25 mm or 32 mm seals.
Q: How do I estimate bundle weight? A: Length × width × height in metres × 7.85 t/m³; a 2,500 × 1,250 × 150 mm bundle weighs about 3.7 t.
Q: How much strap does a bundle use? A: About 2 × (W + H) per band plus the seal overlap; 4 bands on a 1,250 × 150 mm section use about 11.2 m.
Q: What hydraulic pressure does the strapping head use? A: The system is rated at 100 bar, with a work pressure of 80–90 bar.
Q: How fast are strap feed and tensioning? A: Feed and take-up run at 2–3 m/s, and tensioning at 6 m/min.
Q: Which standards apply? A: For CE markets, ISO 12100 and EN 415-10.
Next step
We size a sheet bundle strapping machine in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with sheet and bundle sizes, weight, bands per bundle and bundles per hour, to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours with the arch size and strap data.
- Book a site survey so we confirm the floor space and conveyor links.
Related reading
- Steel Sheet Strapping Machine: Banding Plate Stacks with Steel Strap on a Roller Conveyor
- Steel Sheet Packing Line for Cut-to-Length Plates
- Steel Sheet 180-Degree Turning and Upending Process
- Steel strapping machine data
Sources
- Clip (example footage, no FHOPE marking): the video on YouTube
- Steel strap, seal, tension, speed and hydraulic data: Steel strapping machine data
- Bundle weight and strap use: our worked arithmetic (steel density about 7.85 t/m³)
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010; EN 415-10:2014
- Proposal timing: approved house CTA (proposal within 48 hours)
Last reviewed: 2026-10-09
