Single Loop, Double Loop or Annealed Wire: Which Baling Wire Works Best in Your Process?

Technical guidance for recycling plants, retail chains, distribution centres and industrial operations across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Choosing baling wire seems straightforward: you have a baler, so you need wire.
But in practice, the type of baling wire you use determines how much tension a bale can handle, how stable it remains during handling and transport, and whether your process runs without interruptions.

Many operational problems in recycling, retail and logistics don’t arise from the baler itself — they come from the combination of material behaviour, baler settings and wire selection.

In this guide, we clearly explain when to use:

• Single loop bale ties

• Double loop bale ties

• Annealed (black) wire

… and which type of baling wire provides stability, safety and process continuity in your facility.

Single Loop Bale Ties — for cardboard, film and variable bale sizes

Single loop bale ties have one fixed loop and are closed manually by the operator. This wire type is widely used in vertical balers found in retail stores, distribution centres and smaller recycling locations across the UK and mainland Europe.

When should you use single loop bale ties?

Single loop is the best choice when:

• you bale cardboard, paper, film or soft plastics

• bale sizes vary across shifts or locations

• operators set the tension manually

• you work with vertical cardboard balers

• you need clean, corrosion-resistant wire (galvanised)

• simplicity, speed and user-friendliness matter

The galvanised finish keeps the wire clean and smooth — ideal for retail and DC environments where ease of handling is important.

Risks when using the wrong wire

• loose or inconsistent knot tension

• deformed bales during internal transport

• slower operation due to stiff or oversized wire

Single loop is not suitable for materials with high rebound, such as tyres, rubber, foam or fibrous materials.

Double Loop Bale Ties — for expanding materials and high-tension bales

Double loop bale ties have a closed loop at both ends. Operators hook the loops together during compaction. When the baler opens and the material expands, the wire automatically tightens.

This makes double loop the safest and most reliable choice for expanding or springy materials.

When should you use double loop bale ties?

Double loop is the right solution for:

• foam, rubber, tyres, textiles and fibres

• bales that expand strongly once pressure is released

• vertical balers with a fixed bale size

• applications requiring maximum tension and stability

Double loop ties are manufactured to precise lengths and tolerances (e.g. ±0.05 mm), ensuring predictable closing behaviour.

Coating options: which one do you need?

• Galvanised: smooth and corrosion-resistant

• Phosphated: rougher surface for extra grip under rebound

• Copper-coated: used for specific machinery or friction-sensitive processes

Risks of using the wrong wire

• loops slipping when material expands

• knots shifting due to incorrect surface finish

• wire breakage caused by insufficient tensile strength

For expanding materials, double loop is virtually always the required solution.

Annealed Wire — for automatic balers and high-volume processing

Annealed wire (black wire) is heated after drawing, making it exceptionally flexible. The oiled finish ensures smooth feeding in automatic knotting systems, preventing jams and stoppages.

Annealed wire is widely used in:

• automatic horizontal balers

• high-volume cardboard and paper operations

• large distribution centres

• industrial processing lines

• recycling plants with continuous throughput

When should you use annealed wire?

Annealed wire is the ideal choice for:

• automatic horizontal or vertical balers

• high-volume production runs (8–16 hours)

• cardboard, paper, film and light plastic streams

• any process where uptime is critical

It is supplied in coils, stands, rosettes or Brehmer rings, depending on the baler requirements.

Risks when using the wrong wire

• wire breakage from insufficient tensile strength

• feeding issues due to incorrect coating

• irregular knot quality

• avoidable stoppages in automated systems

Annealed wire is not suitable for heavy rebound materials such as foam, tyres or rubber.
In those cases, double loop remains the correct choice.

Common mistakes when choosing baling wire

• using too thick wire for materials with minimal rebound

• using double loop for variable bale sizes → inefficient

• using annealed wire for expanding materials → breakage

• choosing the wrong coating, causing knot slippage

• ignoring operator handling → flexibility matters

Choosing the right wire prevents stoppages, re-baling, damaged bales and safety risks.

The Reliability of Metalwire

Across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, companies rely on Metalwire for stable, predictable baling performance.

We at Metalwire provide:

• large physical stock in the Netherlands for fast EU distribution

• consistent quality through batch testing

• technical advice based on your baler, materials and throughput

• secure supply through our own production and diversified sourcing

You get wire that fits, performs and is ready to use. Every day. In every bale.

Not sure which baling wire fits your baler?

Tell us what you bale and how your process runs. We’ll recommend the wire that gives you technical certainty.