Banding clips, seals and buckles: how each part secures the strap

There are three main parts to close a strap: a seal for PP strap, a clip for steel strap, and a wire buckle for textile or composite strap. The seal is crimped with a tool, the clip is crimped with a sealer, and the buckle locks in place under the strap’s tension. Each part is designed for a particular strap type and width.

When the tool itself creates the joint, no extra part is needed. Battery powered and pneumatic tools for PET and PP strap weld the joint by friction. Sealless steel tools like BO-51, A3, and A4 interlock the steel strap, so you do not need banding clips or seals.

Each of these three parts is made for a specific strap type and cannot be used with other types.

Seals and clips are both crimped around the two overlapping ends of the strap. The tool or sealer presses the metal tightly to lock the strap. In contrast, a wire buckle is not crimped. You thread the strap through the buckle and use a tensioner to pull it tight. The tension in the strap keeps the buckle locked.

It is essential that every part matches the strap width. If you use a seal or clip that is too wide, it will not grip and the joint may slip under load. If the part is too narrow, it will not close. For example, a 16 mm steel clip will not hold a 19 mm steel strap. Always check the strap width before loading the tool, especially when switching between products or sizes during a shift.

With textile strap, you have the option to tie a knot instead of using a buckle, but composite strap always requires a buckle for the joint.

When making a crimped joint with a seal or clip, the two strap ends must overlap inside the part and lie flat and straight. If one end is twisted or misaligned, the seal or clip will not close properly and the joint may slip under load.

Metal seals for PP strap: sizes and tools

Metal seals for PP strap are made from galvanized steel and are available in 13 mm for PP strap 12–13 mm and 16 mm for PP strap 15–16 mm. Each box contains 1,000 metal strapping clips. The seal is crimped using the manual PPST-13/16 tool. For plastic strapping with battery powered or pneumatic tools, no seal is needed since these tools weld the joint.

Always match the seal size to the width of your PP strap. These seals are only for PP strap; tools that weld PET and PP strap by friction do not require seals.

The manual PPST-13/16 tool is used to tension the PP strap, crimp the seal, and cut the strap in one operation. This tool does not need electricity or compressed air, making it suitable for locations without utilities.

You use one seal for each joint you make. For example, if you strap a pallet with four straps, you will need four seals. Plan your orders by counting seals the same way you count straps. PP strap and battery powered or pneumatic tools for PET and PP strap are available under plastic strapping.

With the PPST-13/16 tool, place the seal on the strap before tensioning. Start by clamping the strap end under the press-strap handle, run the strap around the load and into the tensioning spindle, and place a seal on the overlap. Tension the strap, then press the grip handle to crimp the seal and cut the strap in one step.

These metal seals are not suitable for steel strap, which requires the steel clips in this category.

Product table: strapping clips, seals and buckles

The table below lists the four products in this category. It shows the strap type, available sizes, quantity per box, and the tool used to close each part.

To use the table, first identify your strap type: PP, steel, textile, or composite. Next, check your strap width, as each part is made for a specific width. Then, find the matching part and see which tool is needed to close it. The number of pieces per box varies by part and width, so order based on the number of joints you make, not just by the box. For example, if you use 19 mm composite strap, look for the wire buckle for 19 mm and the correct tensioner.

Strapping clips for steel strap: manual and pneumatic

Clips for steel strap are available as manual steel clips in 16 x 40 mm and pneumatic steel clips in 16 x 40, 19 x 57, 25 x 57, and 32 x 57 mm. Manual steel clips are packed 1,000 per box. Pneumatic steel clips are also packed 1,000 per box, except for the 32 x 57 mm size, which comes in boxes of 800. All metal strapping clips are single-use and are removed with the strap.

The AIR Metal tool for metal strapping uses a clip to make its joint. Sealless steel tools like the BO-51, A3, and A4 interlock the strap ends and do not require any strapping clips.

Manual steel clips measure 16 x 40 mm and are designed for 16 mm wide metal strap. These are used with a manual tensioner and a sealer that crimps the clip around the two overlapping strap ends.

Pneumatic steel clips come in 16 x 40, 19 x 57, 25 x 57, and 32 x 57 mm sizes, matching metal strap widths of 16, 19, 25, and 32 mm. These clips are made from high-strength carbon steel to handle the force of a pneumatic tensioner.

The AIR Metal is a pneumatic tool for metal strap in widths from 19 to 32 mm.

Metal strap and the tools for it are listed under metal strapping, not in this category.

There are two types of 16 x 40 mm clips: one for manual banding and one for pneumatic banding. Manual steel clips are not made for powered tools, while pneumatic steel clips are built for the higher sealing force of pneumatic tools. Be sure to order the clip made for your sealer.

To make a joint with manual steel clips, wrap the strap around the load and thread it through the manual tensioner to apply tension. Place the clip over the overlapping strap ends. The manual sealer crimps the clip, and the strap is cut using the tool’s cutter or a separate cutter. For a pneumatic tensioner and sealer for 19, 25, or 32 mm metal strap, thread the strap through the clip, around the load, and back through the clip, bending the end back about 50 mm. The pneumatic tensioner pulls the strap tight, the sealer is set on the clip to form the joint, and then it is tilted up to cut the strap. Pneumatic clips fit most pneumatic steel tools for the same strap width, and manual clips fit standard manual sealers for 16 mm metal strap.

Wire Buckles for Textile and Composite Strap

Wire buckles are used with textile and composite (cord) strap in widths of 16, 19, 25, or 32 mm. The wire diameter is 3.5 mm for 16 mm strap, 4.0 mm for 19 mm, and 5.0 mm for 25 mm. Packs include 1000 buckles for 16 and 19 mm, 500 for 25 mm, and 250 for 32 mm.

The strap is threaded through the buckle and tensioned with a manual tensioner for textile and composite strap. The buckle locks under tension, so no crimping or sealing is needed. Manual tensioners are available for 13–19 mm, 19–25 mm, and up to 50 mm strap. Wire buckles are suitable for cord strapping.

The buckles are made from galvanized steel wire.

Composite (cord) strap, textile strap, and the manual tensioners are listed under cord strapping, not in this category.

The tensioner you use depends on the buckle width: 16 mm buckles are used with the 13–19 mm manual tensioner, while 19 mm buckles can be used with either the 13–19 mm or 19–25 mm tensioner. For wider straps, 25 mm buckles go with the 19–25 mm tensioner or the one for strap up to 50 mm, and 32 mm buckles are used with the tensioner for strap up to 50 mm. The battery tensioner for strap 16–40 mm, found under cord strapping, works with all four buckle widths.

There is no 13 mm buckle, even though cord strap is available in a 13 mm width. If you plan to use 13 mm cord strap, decide how you will close the joint before ordering.

The buckle must be placed on the strap in the correct orientation before tensioning, as its grip depends on how it is positioned. When tensioning, stop once the buckle has closed on the strap from both sides. Applying more tension after this can strip the strap. The cord strapping kit under pallet strapping kits includes 1000 buckles for 16 mm strap, a manual tensioner for 13–19 mm, and two coils of 16 mm cord strap.

Why the Joint Is Important

The joint made by strapping seals, clips, or buckles holds the tension applied by the tool. If the seal or clip is crimped on a loose strap, the joint will slip and not secure the load, no matter how well it is crimped.

Each part must match the strap width. If the part does not match, it will not hold: too wide and it will not grip, too narrow and it will not close. A crimped joint is checked visually: the notches should be even on both sides of the seal or clip. Worn sealer jaws leave shallow notches and a joint that can open under load.

Check the notches on the first joint of every shift. Replace worn jaws before continuing.

The placement of the joint on the load affects how well it holds. Always place the seal, clip, or buckle on a flat surface of the load, not over a corner. If a part is bent over an edge, it will not sit square on the strap and the joint will be weaker.

For buckle joints, a visual check is just as important as for crimped joints. The strap must lie flat in the buckle, and the buckle should be closed and sit square on the strap. If the buckle has turned sideways, the strap can slip through under load.

At the start of each shift, after making the first strapped load, pull the strap by hand next to the joint. The seal, clip, or buckle should not move on the strap. If the joint moves, check the tool settings, the part size, and how the joint was made before continuing with more loads.

Storing and Handling Strapping Seals, Clips, and Buckles

Strapping seals, clips, and buckles must be stored dry and indoors. Bare steel will rust, and a rusted clip is harder to crimp and can mark the goods. All steel clips are single use: once crimped, they are cut off with the strap and cannot be reused.

When cutting a tensioned metal strap, the strap can spring back and its edges are sharp. Always use a strap cutter, wear gloves and eye protection, and stand to the side. This applies to every tensioned metal strap, whether closed with a clip or sealless.

Keep the open box of parts at the strapping station during use, but close it between shifts. This keeps the parts clean and prevents dust or debris from getting into the box.

Keep each width of seal, clip, or buckle in its own labeled box at the strapping station. This prevents a 16 mm part from being used on 19 mm strap by mistake.

Before use, check each part for damage. A bent buckle or a deformed seal or clip should be set aside for scrap, not used in a joint.

Keep the PPST-13/16 and the manual tensioners for textile and composite strap clean, and oil their moving parts occasionally. Used steel clips and cut metal strap should be collected and sent for scrap metal recycling.

What Affects the Cost of Strapping Clips and Seals

The cost depends on the number of joints (one part per joint), the pack size, and the strap. If you use a tool that welds or interlocks the strap, such as a battery powered or pneumatic tool for PET and PP strap or a sealless steel tool, you do not need strapping seals, clips, or buckles. The price for each product is shown on its card.

The cost per joint is one seal, clip, or buckle. The pack size tells you how often you need to reorder: 1000, 800, 500, or 250 pieces, depending on the part and strap width.

Each product card has a Get offer button for a quote, for example if you want to order clips together with metal strap, and an Add to inquiry button that lets you collect several products into one request.

If you buy a pallet strapping kit with the PPST-13/16 tool, the kit includes its first metal seals, so you will buy your first box of seals later.

What to Check Before Ordering Strapping Clips

Before ordering strapping clips, check which strap you use: PP, metal, textile, or composite. The part must match the strap type and width.

Check which tool is used to close the joint. PP strapping clips are crimped with the manual PPST-13/16 tool. Manual steel banding clips require both a manual tensioner and a sealer. Pneumatic steel banding clips are designed for use with pneumatic tensioners and sealers like the AIR Metal. Buckles for textile and composite strapping are tightened using manual tensioners made for those materials.

Calculate how many joints you need by multiplying the number of straps per load by the number of loads you process each week.

Round up your order to full boxes based on your weekly consumption.

When you reorder, always match the strapping seal to the width of the PP strap you are using, not just the name of a kit. For example, a 12 mm strap requires a 13 mm seal, and a 15.5 mm strap needs a 16 mm seal, even if the strap was part of a pallet strapping kit.

Measure the width directly on a piece of the strap itself, not from an old box or from memory. The strap width determines which strapping clip or seal you need.

Also check the width range your tool supports. For example, a pneumatic tensioner and sealer for steel strapping in 19, 25, or 32 mm sizes uses 19 x 57, 25 x 57, or 32 x 57 mm banding clips, not the 16 x 40 mm size.

Questions about strapping clips

Which strapping clips are used with PP strap?

Use metal strapping clips in 13 mm for PP strapping 12–13 mm wide, and 16 mm clips for PP strapping 15–16 mm wide. Each box contains 1,000 clips, and they are crimped with the manual PPST-13/16 tool.

Do battery powered tools for PET or PP strap require strapping clips?

No, battery powered and pneumatic tools for PET and PP strapping weld the joint by friction. They do not use any strapping clips or seals.

Which banding clips are used with a pneumatic steel strapping tool?

Pneumatic steel banding clips are available in 16 x 40, 19 x 57, 25 x 57, and 32 x 57 mm sizes for steel strapping 16, 19, 25, and 32 mm wide. The clip must match the strap width. The AIR Metal pneumatic tool for steel strapping 19–32 mm uses these clips to make the joint.

How is composite strapping secured?

Composite strapping is secured with a wire buckle. The strap is threaded through the buckle and tensioned, and the buckle holds under the tension. No crimping is required.