Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strapping machine with a welding assembly including a counter-pressure plate and a heating element that cooperate to attach two overlapping portions of strap to each other to form a loop of strap around a load. The welding assembly includes various clamps and a leading-strap-end guide that clamp the strap at various points in time during a strapping cycle to prevent the strap from misaligning. After the loop of strap has been formed around the load and the load has been removed from the strapping machine, the welding assembly manipulates the leading end of the strap extending from the strap supply and clamps it via the clamps and the leading-strap-end guide to align the strap for the next strapping cycle.