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All interested parties are welcome to join in the ongoing revisions to D3953, Specification for Strapping, Flat Steels and Seals. The standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D10.25 on Palletizing and Unitizing of Loads, part of ASTM International Committee D10 on Packaging.

According to its scope, D3953 covers flat steel strapping and seals intended for use in closing, reinforcing, bundling articles for shipment, unitizing, palletizing and bracing for carloading, truckloading, lifting and lashing. "Most people have dealt with the material covered by D3953 without knowing it," says Anthony Mariano, Independent Metal Strap Co. Inc., and a D10 member.

"As one of the first modern materials used for unitizing and bundling, oiled steel strapping is well-known to packaging users, but since the last full review of D3953, there have been many changes in technology, especially in closure methods," says Peter Catlos, chairman of D10.25. These technological changes will be addressed in ongoing revisions.

Catlos notes that waxed steel strapping is widely used in the lumber, metals and paper industries. The standard is used to specify strapping products for purchase, in package design and in design of load securement techniques for over-the-road, rail and maritime transport of goods. Section 13 of D3953 includes several test methods for steel strapping.

Every person who has ever worked with galvanized steel strapping knows that this can be a potentially dangerous product. When talking to potential customers I hear many stories from people who have been injured by steel banding. Either caused by loose hanging pieces of cut metal strapping or when applying and the steel snapped unexpectedly. 

Companies take many safety precautions to protect their employees. Safety glasses, helmets, shoes are part of most workers Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and still many companies provide their staff with "razor blades" to secure their products. Of course there are always people that deny the risks of steel banding but fact is that people getting cut is very high on the list of job related accidents.

Cordstrap already recognized this risk over 50 years ago and invented a safe alternative for steel banding. The latest generation of Cordstrap strapping is a composite strap made of high tenacity polyester yarns embedded in a PP coating. The Cordstrap strapping products are an extremely strong alternative for steel banding. Due to the unique buckle joint Cordstrap's overall system strength will be higher compared with steel banding.

Most of all, Cordstrap strapping systems are safe for your products, safe for your employees and safe for your customers. In Australia Cargo Restraint Systems offers a wide range of Cordstrap systems. We always welcome the opportunity to take a closer look at your applications and provide you with a safe solution. Just contact us and it will be our pleasure to assist you.