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Strapping Seals: The Ultimate Guide to Ensuring Maximum Joint Integrity

Views: 0     Author: sunny yu     Publish Time: 2025-07-22      Origin: Site

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Introduction

Let’s talk about something small but absolutely mighty in the world of strapping things together: Steel Seals.

Think about it. You spend time and money bundling up pallets of goods, securing massive steel coils, or locking down valuable machinery for shipping. You use strong steel strapping, tension it perfectly... but what stops it all from just unraveling the second it hits a bump or gets jostled? That tiny, often overlooked hero: the Steel Seal.

At Juhong Packing Materials, we live and breathe load security. As a leading manufacturer of PET Strapping and Steel Strapping, we know that top-quality seals are your ultimate trusted partner.

Expert Quote: "A strapping system is only as strong as its joint." As the Lead Drafter of China National Standard GB/T 39040-2020, Juhong Packing defines the critical factors that determine the integrity and safety of your strapping seals.

Juhong Steel Seals


What is Steel Seal?

Steel seals also known as metal seals,Strapping Seals.are metal fasteners precision-stamped from high strength steel,Their primary function is to securely clamp and interlock the two overlapping ends of strapping material.Unlike traditional rubber or plastic seals, steel seals are designed to withstand higher pressures, temperatures, and corrosive environments, maintaining their integrity over time. They act as barrier components, preventing leaks and contamination in essential machinery.

Key features of steel seals include:

  • High tensile strength

  • Resistance to corrosion and rust

  • Excellent mechanical stability

  • The ability to operate in harsh environments

Why Metal? The Material Advantage

Steel seals are predominantly made from:

  • Carbon Steel: Offers excellent strength and durability for most applications. Often galvanized or coated for corrosion resistance.

  • Stainless Steel: Essential for highly corrosive environments (chemical industry, marine applications, food processing) or where hygiene is critical. Grades like 304 or 316 are common.

  • Aluminum: Used for lighter-duty applications where corrosion resistance is needed but extreme tensile strength is less critical. Lighter weight can be an advantage.

Steel, being both hard and flexible when properly manufactured, makes an ideal material for a wide variety of sealing needs.

What is Strapping Seal Integrity? (The 75% Rule)

In industrial packaging, "integrity" is measured by Joint Efficiency. It is the most critical technical metric for any banding clip or metal strap fastener.

  • The Global Standard: According to GB/T 39040-2020, ASTM D3953 (US), and EN 13246 (Europe), a professional-grade joint must achieve a Joint Efficiency of ≥ 75% of the strapping's minimum breaking strength.

  • Why 75%? This benchmark ensures that the joint can withstand the dynamic forces of maritime transit and rail vibrations without slipping or snapping.



Types of Steel Seals

It is mainly divided into ordinary Steel Seals, which are generally used for manual packaging and are suitable for plastic strapping and steel strapping. Magazine seal are generally used for Fully automatic steel strapping machine and special seals.

Ordinary Steel Seals

Serrated Seals、Push-type Seals、Snap-on Seals、Open-flange Seals、Thread-on Seals

type of steel seals

type of steel seals 2

Special Steel Seals

Coated Seals:

Galvanized, painted, or polymer-coated for enhanced corrosion resistance in harsh environments (chemical plants, outdoor storage, marine transport).

surface of steel seals

Magazine Seals

These are specially designed to work with the full automatic packing machinehevare mainyusedin nonferrous metaandferrous meta onine automaticpacking under high temperature.

juhong magazine sealsMagazine seal(1)

Custom Steel Seals

Pre-Printed / Embossed Seals:Feature company logos, identification numbers, barcodes, or safety messages for branding, traceability, or compliance purposes.

Steel Seals with logo(1)


Professional Classification: Overlap vs. Magazine Seals

Choosing the right strapping seal depends entirely on your application and tools.

Overlap Seals (Push-On Seals) for Irregular Loads

Designed for high-performance applications, these are the "lasso" experts. The strap is threaded through the pusher seal before tensioning, making them the best choice for round or irregular shaped packages like steel coils, pipes, and coiled rods.

Magazine Seals (Stack Seals) for High-Speed Automation

hese seals are precision-stacked for use in seal-feed combination tools and power strapping machines. Juhong’s magazine seals are engineered with strict dimensional tolerances to prevent tool jamming—a common bottleneck in automatic packaging lines.


Benefits of Using Steel Seals

Steel seals offer unmatched benefits that make them indispensable in many industries:

  • Durability: Resisting wear, tear, and impact, steel seals last longer than many alternatives.

  • Corrosion Resistance: Depending on the alloy, they withstand saltwater, acids, and other corrosive substances.

  • High-Temperature Tolerance: Steel can withstand extreme heat, making it suitable for engines and industrial machinery.

  • Reusability: Many steel seals can be removed and reused without losing their effectiveness.

If you’re seeking reliable sealing solutions that won’t let you down, JUHONG steel seals are often the best choice.


Verified Integrity: Inside the Juhong Testing Laboratory

We don't just claim quality; we prove it. Our in-house facility performs rigorous Tensile Strength Tests on every batch.

The Joint Break Test

Tensile strength test in Juhong laboratory verifying a strapping seal joint reaches the 75% efficiency requirement of GB/T 39040 and ASTM D3953.

By monitoring the exact point where the metal clip or strap fails, we ensure that our products provide a safety margin that exceeds international industrial mandates.

Dimensional Precision: Why Every Micron Counts

Apart from joint strength, thickness consistency is the backbone of strapping seal reliability. If a metal strap fastener is too thin, it loses its grip; if it’s too thick, it will cause expensive tool jamming in automatic machines.

Juhong lab engineer using a high-precision digital micrometer to measure strapping seal thickness, ensuring strict ±0.035mm tolerance compliance with GB/T 39040-2020 standards


Digital micrometer measuring the thickness of a steel strapping seal to ensure the ±0.035mm tolerance required by GB/T 39040-2020.


                                            Precision matters: Our quality control team uses calibrated instruments to verify that every strapping seal batch

                                                     maintains strict thickness consistency, preventing tool jamming and ensuring reliable joint integrity.

  • Our Testing Protocol: Our engineers use calibrated digital micrometers to perform random sampling throughout the production cycle.

  • The Juhong Standard: While many suppliers have loose tolerances, we adhere to the ±0.035mm thickness tolerance defined in the GB/T 39040 , ASTM D3953 (US), and EN 13246 (Europe) national standard we helped draft. This precision ensures that our magazine seals feed smoothly into your power strapping tools every single time.

What Are Steel Seals Used For? Applications Across Industries

Steel Strapping seals are versatile and It is widely used, mainly for plastic strapping (PP/PET), or used in conjunction with steel strapping.

Steel seals are the unsung heroes ensuring integrity wherever heavy-duty strapping is employed. Their applications are vast:

Securing the World of Logistics and Shipping

1. Pallet Unitization

  • Preventing boxes and goods from shifting or falling off pallets during forklift handling, trucking, and ocean transport. Interlock and crimp seals are prevalent

2. Container Securing

  • Locking steel strapping securing cargo inside shipping containers. Heavy-duty crimps or bolt seals are used. Crucially, high-security bolt seals are mandatory for sealing the actual doors of ISO shipping containers.

3. Dunnage & Bracing

• Securing dunnage bags, airbags, or wooden bracing used to immobilize cargo within trailers or containers. Crimp seals are typical.

And when it comes to sourcing top-tier steel seals,JUHONG provides trusted, high-quality products tailored to these demanding applications.

Dominating Construction and Building Materials

1. Lumber and Timber Bundling

  • Securing stacks of lumber, plywood, and other timber products for transport and storage. Heavy-duty crimp seals are standard.

2.Rebar and Structural Steel

3.Brick, Block, and Masonry

Heavy Industry and Manufacturing Backbone

1.Metal Coil Strapping

  • Critical for securing massive coils of steel, aluminum, and copper for transport and storage. Failure is catastrophic. Extra-heavy-duty crimp seals are essential, applied with powerful pneumatic or battery tools. Seals must withstand coil "spring back" forces.

2. Pipe and Tubing

  • Bundling lengths of pipe (steel, PVC, concrete) or tubing. Crimp seals are predominant, sized for the strapping gauge needed.

3. Machinery and Equipment

  • Securing large machines, industrial equipment, or components onto skids or within crates for shipping. Heavy-duty crimps or bolt seals provide security.

4. Paper and Pulp Rolls

• Securing large, heavy rolls of paper, newsprint, or cardboard. Heavy-duty crimp seals are standard.



How Steel Seals Are Made

The manufacturing process involves several precise steps:

  • Material Selection: Choosing the right alloy (stainless steel, carbon steel, etc.) based on application needs.

  • Manufacturing Techniques: Processes like stamping, machining, or casting shape the steel into the desired seal form.

  • Quality Assurance: Each seal undergoes rigorous testing for pressure resistance, dimensions, and material integrity.

This meticulous process ensures that every steel seal performs perfectly under the toughest conditions.


Choosing the Right Steel Seal for Your Need

Consider these factors meticulously:

  • Strapping Compatibility: Width? Thickness (gauge)? Tensile Strength? This is non-negotiable.

  • Required Security Level: Standard duty? Heavy duty? Tamper evidence? High security ?

  • Environmental Conditions: Exposure to moisture, chemicals, salt, extreme temperatures? (Dictates material: Galvanized, Stainless, Coated).

  • Regulatory Requirements: ISO  for Steel Seals? Industry-specific standards? Customer specifications?

  • OEM Needs:  Pre-printed logos?

If you’re uncertain, consulting with a specialist or supplier like JUHONG can help you make the right choice.


Triple Compliance: Why Standard Drafters are Better Partners

When you source metal strap seals, you are buying peace of mind. Juhong’s "Triple Compliance" strategy ensures your cargo is accepted in any global port:

  • GB/T 39040-2020: We wrote the rules for China's national strapping seal quality.

  • ASTM D3953: Fully compliant for North American heavy-duty industrial bundling.

  • EN 13246: Optimized for European tensional strapping requirements and maritime safety.


How Do You Use Steel Seals? A Step-by-Step Guide to Proper Application

Correct application is non-negotiable for achieving the required security. Using the right tools and technique is paramount.

1. For Ordinary Steel Seals:The commonly used ones are Serrated Seals、Push-type Seals

Manual Strapping Tool: For light-duty applications and low volume. Choose pliers exactly matched to the seal size. 

Pneumatic Strapping Tools: driven by electricity, automate tightening and sealing. They're faster and boost efficiency, ideal for large - scale operations like in logistics centers or factories. Choose based on your needs. If you have a small workload and a tight budget, a manual tool may be enough. But for frequent, heavy - duty work, a powered one is a better long - term investment, despite the higher cost.

2.For Magazine Steel Seals:come pre-loaded in cartridges/strips for rapid, automated application. Unlike loose seals, they eliminate manual handling—slashing application time by 30%+ while boosting safety on high-volume lines.


Conclusion: Securing Your Success with the Right Steel Seal

Steel seals are far more than just simple metal clips. They are the critical, final component in a secure bundling system, bearing the responsibility of maintaining tension and preventing catastrophic load failure.  their specific applications across logistics, construction, and heavy industry is essential. Crucially, mastering the correct application techniques using the proper tools is non-negotiable for safety and reliability.

As a leading Chinese manufacturer deeply invested in the science of secure bundling – producing high-quality PET StrappingSteel Strapping, and Steel Seals – we emphasize that load security is a system. The strap provides the strength, but the seal provides the guarantee. Choosing the right seal, applying it correctly, and adhering to best practices and standards like ISO ensures your loads arrive intact, protects your assets, safeguards personnel, and upholds your reputation. Don't let your security be the weakest link. Invest in the right steel seal solution.

steel seal system.pdf

Juhong Packing Materials' 2026 Brochure.pdf

FAQ

Q1: Why is Juhong's status as the Lead Drafter of GB/T 39040 important for buyers?

A: It means our factory is the benchmark for the entire industry. When you buy from the standard drafter, you get strapping seals with verified material hardness and joint efficiency that trading companies cannot guarantee.

Q2: Does ASTM D3953 require the same joint strength as Chinese standards?

A: Yes. Both ASTM D3953 and GB/T 39040-2020 require a minimum 75% Joint Efficiency. Juhong seals are engineered to meet both, making them a "universal" solution for global exporters.

Q3: Can I use overlap seals for flat pallets?

A: While you can, Snap-on (Open) seals are more efficient for flat surfaces. Overlap seals are specifically optimized for round objects like pipes or coils where a "lasso" loop is required for secure tensioning.

Q4: How does Juhong prevent rust on metal strap clips during sea freight?

A: We use high-grade galvanization and specialized painting treatments. Our seals are tested for 72+ hours in salt spray, ensuring the strapping seal integrity is not compromised by corrosion during long-distance maritime transit.

Q5: What is the benefit of "Magazine Seals" in high-volume factories?

A: Reliability. Our magazine seals are precision-stamped to ensure they don't jam in automatic tools. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs for heavy-duty industrial operations.


Ready to Upgrade Your Packaging Integrity?

Explore our full range of Overlap, Magazine, and Snap-on Seals designed for the most demanding industrial environments. All Juhong products are engineered to exceed ASTM D3953 and EN 13246 international standards.

Browse High-Performance Strapping Seals ]


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