Strapping machines using plastic strapping are used in many applications where quick and firm bundling of product are required. Polyester and polypropylene are the most common materials used.

The machines are offered in 3 modes of operation. Manual machines (or "table top" or "off line") and semi automatic machines are used in many packing applications where a variety of packages and bundled material are strapped on the same machine. Automatic or "in line" machines are readily available often with no or minor modifications for a specific application.

In all cases, a plastic strap 5 to 10 mm wide is fed around the product, pulled tight by a friction drive motor, and the ends of the tape are held together while being heated and fused together.