In today’s global supply chain, the pallet remains the most common unit for shipping and storage. Whether in e-commerce warehouses, food factories, or container freight for export, almost every step depends on pallets to ensure stability and mobility. And to make pallets truly ready for transport, pallet strapping is indispensable.
For years, many companies have relied on manual pallet strapping as a seemingly low-cost option. It requires no special equipment—just workers and strapping materials. But as warehouse volumes grow and shipping speeds accelerate, the limitations of manual strapping become painfully clear. Efficiency drops, consistency suffers, and the hidden costs add up—ranging from worker injuries to customer complaints, product damage, and even delivery delays.
This is why the ergonomic strapping machine is gaining traction. SelectPack’s ELEPHANT mobile strapping machine not only increases efficiency but also addresses the root causes of workplace injuries, turning a once-overlooked step into a true competitive advantage in your supply chain.
Why Ergonomics Matters in Pallet Strapping?
Some managers may ask, “Isn’t pallet strapping just manual labor? Why bring ergonomics into it?” The reality is that the physical toll and long-term health risks of manual strapping are far higher than they seem.
According to the latest data, the private sector experienced 976,090 musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) cases involving Days Away, Restricted, or Transfer (DART) in 2021–2022—half a million of those resulted in days away from work. Overexertion and repetitive motions (think bending, squatting, pulling) remain the leading causes.
To put that in context: warehouse injury rates are rising fast. In New York State, injuries surged from 8.8 injuries per 100 workers in 2022 to 11.5 per 100 in 2023—an alarming 30% jump.
Ignoring ergonomics isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s risky and costly. Treating a single MSD injury can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $85,000, and when you account for productivity losses and turnover, the real cost multiplies quickly.
From the worker’s point of view, manually strapping pallets hundreds of times a day feels like being ground down—not just physically, but mentally. That kind of strain gradually chips away at morale and workplace culture. By contrast, when companies introduce smarter, ergonomic tools, workers feel safer and more valued—boosting motivation and overall productivity.
That’s why ELEPHANT was created—to change pallet strapping from a painful, risky chore into a safe, efficient, and sustainable part of the workflow.
Key Features of the ELEPHANT Ergo Strap Machine
ELEPHANT is more than a typical pallet strapping machine. It is an ergonomic strapping solution engineered for modern warehouses and production environments. Every design detail addresses the weaknesses of manual strapping, boosting both efficiency and worker well-being.
- FeedLance Automatic Strap Feeding Automatically guides the strap through the pallet base—workers no longer need to crouch or crawl underneath. This eliminates hundreds of bending motions each day, easing stress on the back and spine.
- Strap Lifter Brings the strap end up to working height automatically, saving workers from repeated squatting. Over time, this reduces strain on knees and joints.
- Tool-lift System The battery-powered sealing tool is mounted on a lift mechanism, so workers don’t need to hold its weight. Sealing becomes smoother, minimizing strain on arms and wrists.
- Strap Compatibility ELEPHANT supports both PP and PET straps (12–16 mm wide, 0.6–1.3 mm thick). It is available in two models to fit either 200 mm core (180 mm height) or 406 mm core (150 mm height) rolls. Customers simply choose the version that matches their existing materials, avoiding unnecessary changes.
- Tall Pallet Handling Can strap pallets up to 3 meters (≈10 feet) high, making it suitable for timber, construction materials, and other bulky goods.
- Fast Cycle Time Manual strapping can take over 2-5 minutes per pallet. ELEPHANT completes the job in about 40 seconds—more than a 50% time savings, critical during peak season.
- Long Battery Life Equipped with a 33V battery pack, it supports 500–600 strapping cycles per charge, keeping operations uninterrupted during long shifts.
- Mobile and Flexible As a mobile pallet strapper, it moves easily between workstations and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows without infrastructure changes.
- User-friendly Controls Simple rotary switches and joysticks make it intuitive. New staff can learn in minutes, reducing training overhead.
Ergo Strapping Machines vs. Manual Pallet Strapping
When managers evaluate new equipment, the first question is: “What’s different from what we’re doing now?”
Take a typical scenario: one pallet requires two straps.
- Manual strapping: Each strap requires at least two bends and one full walk around the pallet. That’s 4 bends and 2 walks per pallet. At 50 pallets per day, a worker completes 200 bends and 100 walks—over 300 repetitive motions daily. This is exhausting and significantly raises injury risk.
- ELEPHANT system: With automatic feeding and strap lifting, workers hardly bend or walk around pallets. Cycle time drops from 2 minutes to about 40 seconds, with consistent and secure tension.
Other differences include:
- Worker actions: Manual requires constant bending and pulling; ELEPHANT automates the process.
- Time: ≈2 minutes vs. ≈40 seconds.
- Consistency: Manual results vary by worker and fatigue; ELEPHANT pallet banding machine ensures stable, uniform strap tension.
- Adaptability: Manual struggles with tall pallets; ELEPHANT straps up to 3 m (10ft) high and supports common strap types.
Benefits of Using ELEPHANT Ergo Strapping Machine
You already know what the machine can do—so the real question becomes: why does it matter to your business? Here’s what warehouse managers and supply chain leaders consistently see when they switch to an ergonomic, automated strapping system like ELEPHANT:
- Reduced Injury Risk: By removing the need for repetitive bending and awkward positioning, ELEPHANT significantly lowers the risk of wrist, back, and joint injuries.
- Higher Employee Satisfaction and Retention: When strapping goes from exhausting to effortless, it’s not just about comfort—it’s about morale. Efficient, less physically demanding processes make workers feel valued, and that translates to better retention and a smoother operation.
- Increased Throughput: Automated systems streamline strapping so effectively that cycle times are halved or better. During peak shipping periods, that speed can make the difference between delays and on-time fulfillment.
- Lower Long-term Costs: It’s about more than just saving labor hours. Reliable, automated strapping cuts down on injuries, material damage, and product loss — slashing hidden costs over time.
- Stronger Customer Confidence: When every pallet arrives securely strapped, customer trust builds itself. Consistent load integrity helps avoid delivery damages and claims, benefiting both your reputation and your bottom line.
- Cross-industry Adaptability: Whether you’re in logistics, e-commerce, manufacturing, or even timber—ELEPHANT’s ergonomic and mobile design fits into your existing workflows with minimal disruption.
Why Choose SelectPack™
With over 16 years in the packaging industry, SelectPack™ serves customers across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. We understand both the physical strain faced by frontline workers and the efficiency and cost pressures of management.
ELEPHANT was built to address both sides: protecting workers while driving measurable gains in efficiency and reliability. It is not a “nice-to-have” gadget but a practical solution that solves real problems in pallet strapping.
Choosing ELEPHANT is not just investing in equipment—it is a long-term commitment to safer operations, healthier employees, and stronger business performance.
Want to see how the ELEPHANT semi automatic strapping machine could transform your pallet workflow? Reach out to us—you can discover how it speeds up operations, protects your team, and boosts your bottom line.
