Besser Lithibar has been building strapping stations for concrete products for over 20 years. In partnerships with most of the popular strapping equipment manufacturers, Lithibar supports producers with value added packaging options.

End users are requesting that concrete masonry units be protected when arriving on the job-site. Strapping allows producers to satisfy masonry contractors through improved convenience and safety. The producer also benefits with additional promotional opportunities.

The advantages of strapping cubes of concrete products are well documented and include:

• Safe transportation and job-site handling.
  
• Reduced product shifting and chipping related problems.
  
• Potential to eliminate wood pallets and the related disposal expenses.

Various forms of strapping and packaging add value and improve marketability of concrete products.

Most cubes of finished concrete products have edge lock protective strips which are added automatically during the process. Edge locks protect the exposed edges of a cube and act as a tie strip for the completed cube, usually eliminating the need for horizontal banding. An added benefit is that edge locks can be imprinted for easy brand identification.

Cubes of concrete products can also be protected with poly cover sheets. The sheets are applied automatically during the process, similar to the application of edge locks. These cube covers offer protection from rain and snow, reducing the problems that occur from moisture penetration during outside storage. Just like edge locks, these sheets can be printed with a company logo and other identification information.

Steel strap is the traditional choice for a banding material. However, disposal of the steel banding can be complicated and pose safety hazards.

Taking a cue from clay brick producers who have successfully used polypropylene for years, this product is gaining popularity in the concrete products industry.

Polypropylene offers advantages in two areas: excellent product memory and the simple disposal of used poly banding. As the concrete products are transported to the yard and onto trucks, the cubes have a tendency to settle. Space between the units shrinks or grows as the units shift. Polypropylene banding absorbs this movement, keeping the cube tight. It also has the ability to move with a shrinking cube, keeping job-sites more organized.

Stretch Wrapping

Stretch wrapping cubes of concrete products is gaining acceptance. Stretch wrapping can serve as a protective layer around the cube, supplementing banding. Stretch wrapping has the ability to prevent cubes of finished product from shifting during transport. This product often eliminates the need for a pallet and can be done in place of banding, with products that are on a wood pallet.

The advantages of good banding are increased customer satisfaction, ease of transport and easy job-site handling for the masonry contractor. Contact your Besser sales representative to discuss which strapping option is best for your plant.