{"id":14317,"date":"2026-07-03T05:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T05:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/videos\/?p=14317"},"modified":"2026-10-29T13:41:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T13:41:15","slug":"how-to-steel-pipe-bundle-strapping-with-timber-blocker-insert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/videos\/how-to-steel-pipe-bundle-strapping-with-timber-blocker-insert\/","title":{"rendered":"Steel Tube Bundle Strapping with Timber Blocks: Building Lifting Space into Every Bundle"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Executive summary<\/strong>\nA bundle of square steel tubes runs through our automatic strapping station, with timber blocks set at the strap positions. The strapping head in the arch clamps the bundle and bands it at one position. The conveyor advances and the next band goes on, so each strap holds the tubes and a timber block together. Below we explain why the blocks go in at strapping, the cycle, our strap data and how to size the band.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1337\" height=\"752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PAxQs1J7FOo\" title=\"How to Lower Labor Costs in Tube Production? Upgrade to Auto Strapping Machinery\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<h2 id=\"table-of-contents\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#video\">What the machine does<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#why-timber-blocks\">Why strap timber blocks into the bundle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#strap-data\">Strap and head data<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#band-length\">Band length with a block<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#selection-checklist\">Selection checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#safety\">Safety<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#engineering-faq\">Engineering FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#next-step\">Next step<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#related-reading\">Related reading<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sources\">Sources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"video\">What the machine does<\/h2>\n<p>The strapping cycle runs step by step:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Infeed.<\/strong> The square tube bundle advances on the conveyor and is centred; the timber block is already at the strap position, and the strap reel stands beside the arch.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clamp.<\/strong> The strapping head descends over the middle of the bundle and clamps it, stabilizing the tube matrix and the block before strap application.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strapping.<\/strong> The strap is fed round bundle and block, tensioned and sealed with a double-notch joint from the seal magazine; the conveyor then indexes forward and the next band goes on behind the first.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release.<\/strong> After the last band the head lifts and the bundle moves on to the outfeed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Machine sequencing, tension profiles, and fault diagnostics are managed through the floor-mounted industrial control cabinet featuring an integrated touch-panel HMI.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-timber-blocks\">Why strap timber blocks into the bundle<\/h2>\n<p>Square and rectangular hollow sections pack flat-on-flat. Without spacers there is no gap for forks or slings, and stacked bundles press tube on tube. Strapping a timber block in at each strap position fixes that at the source:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lifting space.<\/strong> The block raises the bundle so forklift forks or slings go under it without hitting the tubes or deforming the bottom walls.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stacking.<\/strong> Blocks carry the load of the bundle above, not the tube walls.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No loose dunnage.<\/strong> The block is held by the same steel band as the tubes, so it cannot vibrate loose or shift in transit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>One pass.<\/strong> Bundling, block placing and strapping happen at one station, with no extra handling. On a full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/videos\/steel-tube-bundle-packing-line\/\">steel tube bundle packing line<\/a> this station sits after bundle forming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"strap-data\">Strap and head data<\/h2>\n<p>Our heavy-duty steel tube bundle strapping machine operates to the following engineering specifications:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Item<\/th>\n<th>Published value<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Strap material<\/td>\n<td>Cold-rolled low-carbon steel, blued and waxed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Strap thickness<\/td>\n<td>0.8 mm or 1.0 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Seal width<\/td>\n<td>25 mm or 32 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Strap tension<\/td>\n<td>7,000\u201318,000 N<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Feed and take-up<\/td>\n<td>2\u20133 m\/s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Tension speed<\/td>\n<td>6 m\/min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hydraulic pressure<\/td>\n<td>100 bar (work pressure 80\u201390 bar)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Straps per bundle<\/td>\n<td>5 to 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The heavy-duty strapping head utilizes a mechanical magazine holding approximately 180 seals to deliver double-notched interlocking joints. The dedicated hydraulic power unit incorporates a water-cooled heat exchanger to preserve oil viscosity and clamping consistency across continuous multi-shift operations.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"band-length\">Band length with a block<\/h2>\n<p>For a square or rectangular bundle on a timber block, the band runs round the bundle and the block. Band length \u2248 2 \u00d7 (W + H + h), where W is bundle width, H bundle height and h block height.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Worked example (illustrative).<\/strong> A bundle 400 mm wide and 300 mm high on a 100 mm block: 2 \u00d7 (400 + 300 + 100) = 1,600 mm of strap per band, before the seal overlap. With 5 bands that is about 8 m of strap per bundle.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"selection-checklist\">Selection checklist<\/h2>\n<p>To configure an automatic strapping system tailored to your mill throughput, compile the following operational parameters:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tube cross-section dimensions (OD or square profile), wall thickness range, and finished cut lengths.<\/li>\n<li>Tube bundle geometry (width, height), piece count per package, and maximum total bundle weight.<\/li>\n<li>Timber block cross-section (width \u00d7 height), length, and source supplier tolerances.<\/li>\n<li>Block placement methodology: manual positioning by the operator or integration with an automatic timber hopper-feeder.<\/li>\n<li>Required number of straps per bundle and target strap centerline pitch dimensions.<\/li>\n<li>Existing packaging consumables inventory: strap thickness (0.8 mm vs. 1.0 mm) and seal width (25 mm vs. 32 mm).<\/li>\n<li>Post-line handling protocol: crane rigging sling engagement, side-loading forklifts, and target vertical stacking heights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"safety\">Safety<\/h2>\n<p>The head clamps with force and the strap is tensioned up to 18,000 N. While the line runs, the strapping zone is closed off and timber blocks are placed only with the head parked. Hydraulic inspection and maintenance are carried out with the system stopped and pressure released.<\/p>\n<p>For CE-regulated installations, machine compliance is engineered against ISO 12100:2010 for risk assessment and risk reduction principles, and EN 415-10:2014 for safety requirements governing general packaging machinery.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"engineering-faq\">Engineering FAQ<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Q: Why put the timber block in at strapping?<\/strong>\nA: Encircling the tubes and the timber block within the same high-tension steel band forms a unified, rigid package. The bundle exits the finishing line with permanent forklift clearances and zero loose dunnage that could dislodge in transit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: Is the block inserted by the machine?<\/strong>\nA: In our standard equipment layout, the timber runner is placed onto the conveyor or bundle station prior to head closure. An automated multi-magazine timber block feeding and positioning unit can be integrated directly upstream; specify block dimensions during line planning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: How tight is the strap?<\/strong>\nA: The hydraulic strapping head adjusts steplessly across a tension envelope of 7,000\u201318,000 N. This allows operators to achieve maximum bundle compaction without collapsing thin-walled hollow sections or crushing soft dunnage lumber.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: How many bands go on a bundle?<\/strong>\nA: Standard steel mill packages typically receive 5 to 7 bands along their length, spaced evenly as the indexing conveyor steps the bundle through the arch.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: How long is each band?<\/strong>\nA: Net band perimeter equals approximately 2 \u00d7 (W + H + h). For a 400 \u00d7 300 mm bundle secured with a 100 mm timber block, each band measures roughly 1,600 mm before seal overlap.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: What strap and hydraulic supply does the head use?<\/strong>\nA: The head uses cold-rolled, low-carbon blued and waxed steel strap in 0.8 mm or 1.0 mm thicknesses, matched with 25 mm or 32 mm seals. The dedicated hydraulic system is rated for 100 bar, running at typical operating working pressures of 80\u201390 bar with integrated water cooling.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: Which standards apply?<\/strong>\nA: For CE compliance, our engineering adheres to ISO 12100 for holistic mechanical risk mitigation and EN 415-10 for packaging machine safety design.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"next-step\">Next step<\/h2>\n<p>We engineer and deliver integrated tube bundling and strapping stations through a structured three-step protocol:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Submit your layout drawing<\/strong> including tube profiles, bundle dimensions, timber block sizes, and required bands per bundle to <strong>info@fhopepack.com<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Receive a proposal within 48 hours<\/strong> complete with general arrangement layout drawings, cycle time analyses, and consumable specifications.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Book a site survey<\/strong> with our engineering team to verify floor loading capacities, conveyor centerline elevations, and safety perimeter boundaries.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"related-reading\">Related reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/videos\/automatic-steel-pipe-bundling-and-strapping-machine\/\">Steel Tube Bundle Strapping with a Travelling Head<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/videos\/automatic-steel-tube-bundling-and-strapping-machine-video\/\">Automatic Steel Tube Bundling and Strapping Solution<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/videos\/automatic-plasterboard-strapping-machine-with-timber-feeding-and-edge-protection\/\">Automatic Plasterboard Strapping Machine with Timber Feeding and Edge Protection<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/Steel-tube-strapping-machine\/steel-tube-bundle-strapping-machine.html\">Steel tube bundle strapping machine<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"sources\">Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Machine in action: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PAxQs1J7FOo\">the video on YouTube<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Strap, seal, tension, speed, hydraulic and bands-per-bundle data: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhopepack.com\/Steel-tube-strapping-machine\/steel-tube-bundle-strapping-machine.html\">Steel tube bundle strapping machine<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Band length: our worked geometry from the values above<\/li>\n<li>Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nen.nl\/en\/nen-en-415-10-2014-en-191845\">EN 415-10:2014<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Proposal timing: approved house CTA (proposal within 48 hours)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Last reviewed:<\/strong> 2026-10-29<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Executive summary A bundle of square steel tubes runs through our automatic strapping station, with timber blocks set at the strap positions. The strapping head in the arch clamps the bundle and bands it at [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":14320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Steel Tube Bundle Strapping with Timber Blocks","_seopress_titles_desc":"How our automatic strapping station bands square steel tube bundles with timber blocks built in, so every bundle leaves the line ready for forks or 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