Table of Contents

Document Change History

Document Scope & Audience

Document Scope

The different strapping options for a freight pallet and how to apply them. 

Document Audience

Employees and Customers that need clarity on how to strap shipments 

Prerequisites for Both Methods

• System needs to be packed in the box would be the original box the system arrived in or was provided by the manufacturer. This ensure the proper spacing from the outside of the box and the properly fitting  inserts to minimize system shift during shipment. 
  •  
  • Otherwise a Box that exceeds the dimensions of the system by 2 inches in every direction plus LOTS of internal packing to prevent the system from shifting will do if the rest of the packing instructions below are followed.
• The box above needs to be completely sealed and secured with tape. 
• A pallet that is bigger than the box being shipped.
• Lastly, in an ideal situation the system and box are stretch wrapped to the pallet before the straps below are applied.
  • This is important especially during the wet seasons to minimize water getting the shipment wet and potentially making its way to the system inside. 
  • It also acts as tamper evidence, should the plastic wrap be damaged we can investigate if anything unexpected occurred while the shipment was in transit. 

Poly Strapping

The ideal method is to use poly straps which are quite common in facilities that freight ship on a regular basis. If you do not have them already but have several systems, it may be worthwhile to invest in these 

Below are examples of the tools needed to accomplish this task, however, they can be allocated from other vendors, like Amazon, we by no means are suggesting they must be purchased through ULINE.

Tools Needed for Poly

1. Poly Straps
   1. The actual straps that will need to be fed through the pallet and over the system securing it to the pallet. THis ensure the shipment stays in the same configuration through shipment as it left your facility. 
2. Poly Strapping Tensioners
   1. Without this the straps above are useless as they need to have sufficient tension and cannot be tied, see the other components below for securing the straps after applying the tension.
   2. Proper tension will allow for the strap to act like a guitar string but not so much the box is being crushed. 
3. Poly Strapping Metal Seals
   
   1. These will be used in conjunction with the sealer below to fasten the straps.
4. Poly Strapping Sealer
   1. Used to crimp the seals above securing the cables to the shipment allowing for the tensioner to be released.
5. Medium Duty Edge Protectors
   1. Crucial to help prevent damage to the box, these need to be in place before too much tension is applied as they cannot be added afterwards.

Using the Poly Tools Above

(Example: image of strapped box (#2) to pallet (#1) Ideally plastic would also be wrapped over the top to act as a moisture barrier.) (UPDATED PICTURE NEEDED)

NOTE: If you do not have these supplies and do not expect to ship via freight in the future, please see the second option below, "Ratchet Strapping"

Ratchet Strapping

A secondary method that is available to customers that do not have palletization at their facility is to use ratchet straps with a pallet. This is often a great alternative as the required tools and materials are much less making it faster to implement and cheaper on the wallet.

Tools Needed for Ratchet

1. Ratchet Straps with Soft Loop Tie Downs
   1. The soft loops are very critical, as attaching the ratchet to the pallet via the metal hooks can work, although most of the time will destroy the pallet in shipping resulting in the entire package coming apart. The soft loops are wrapped around one plank on the pallet giving a loop for the metal hooks to be attached to.
   2. 
2. Endless Ratchet Straps
   1. The idea with this stap, is that much like the poly straps in the first option above. THey will be fed through the pallet meeting back up with the ratchet on top
   2. Endless Ratchet Example

Stickers

Lastly, The following stickers can help ensure the shipment arrives at the destination as it was intended. 

1. "Do not Break Down Skid" or "Do Not Move from Pallet/Must be Shipped Intact"
   1. Ensures the pallet that we attached to the shipment is not removed at any stage of the journey from point A to point B
2. "Do Not Stack"
   1. During transit we do not want anything, especially other pallets, being stacked on top of this pallet as it will cause more damage that will need to be addressed. 
3. "Do Not Break Stretch Wrap"
   1. If you were able to stretch wrap the shipment, this again makes it clear to not alter the shipment is any way.

Although these requests seem obvious, the shippers are in the business of getting items from one place to another and sometimes have been know to remove pallets to help condense loads allowing them to do their job quicker at the risk of potentially damaging the shipment.