Sausage Clips & Loops: How to Choose the Right Consumables for Your Clipper
Industrial-scale sausage production in Canada and the US is a very delicate process that requires attention to many details. List of these details is so extensive that we would not have enough time to list them all. Therefore, we will discuss specific consumables used in sausage production, namely clips and loops.
These are not just small details in the production process — they are two essential elements that ensure the sausage will have the correct shape when your customer sees it in the store. You can work with absolutely any brand of clipper manufacturer (of course, we would be happy if you have a clipper machine from Kompo North America, but our consumables work easily with other P and T brands), but the choice of the right consumables is entirely up to you.
In this article, we will tell you how to choose the right clips and loops without overpaying for them. It is not uncommon for the purchase and delivery of a single box of clip machines to cost 36 CAD, and you may not even know about the alternatives.
Compatibility is important: not all clips and loops are the same
Compatibility will always be an issue, and one of the problems faced by meat producers is the incompatibility of consumables.
Sausage clips come in different sizes and metal alloys, which means that without precise adjustment, changing clips can cause malfunctions. The machine may jam or the sausage will not seal properly, which is not what we want. It is therefore important to test the clips in advance and make adjustments if necessary.
During our 13 years in the Canadian and US markets, we have had cases where our clips or loops did not work as intended. This was mainly due to the need for minimal clip adjuster correction. Customers agreed, as our consumables are 30-40 percent cheaper than those offered by competitors in the market.
Of course, it should not be forgotten that every machine requires cleaning and technical maintenance. Cleaning after each work shift is mandatory, and technical maintenance at least once every six months will help your machine serve you for many years. We have customers who have been using our clippers for 10 years, and the total cost of spare parts and maintenance has been $400 Canadian dollars.
KOMPO North America Inc. offers clips and loops designed to meet or exceed OEM requirements, including all competitor loop formats, ensuring trouble-free operation even at high speeds. Whether you use semi-automatic or fully automatic double clipping machines, switching to KOMPO consumables means trouble-free integration with no mechanical adjustments or minimal intervention.
Cost and quality: finding the optimal balance
There is a belief among sausage manufacturers that clips and loops from well-known brands guarantee higher productivity. But the reality is more complex. Every manufacturer of sausage casings, such as ourselves, uses the same technologies and raw materials in production.
Especially now, in 2025, we at Kompo North America have updated our loop production line and now have the latest machines that allow us to make high-quality loops. We offer not only high-quality and compatible clips and loops, but also prices lower than our competitors.
Let's look at a case study.
There is a company in Canada that makes excellent sausage and sells it to retailers. It buys clips and loops from a well-known company in the US.
What makes up the price of clips per 1,000 pieces?
- Cost of the clips themselves - minimum 18 USD
- Shipping - at least $5 USD
- Customs duties and other fees - at least $3 USD
- Total price (minimum) - $26 USD
If we convert this at the current exchange rate, the sausage manufacturer spends almost $36 CAD to buy 1,000 clips.
Now let's look at the purchase price of the clips for the same manufacturer.
- Cost of the sausage clips themselves is at least $18 USD
- Additional charge for the price is $2 (yes, you have to pay extra for certain colours).
- Shipping is at least $5 USD
- Customs duties and other fees - minimum 3 USD
Total price (minimum) - 28 USD.
If we convert this at the current exchange rate, the sausage manufacturer spends almost 38.50 CAD to buy 1,000 clips, and this is based on the lowest estimates.
What does KOMPO North America Inc. offer?
It's simple.
- Price for clips is from 17 CAD (yes, Canadian dollars).
- No payment for customs duties, etc.
- Delivery within Canada is 2 CAD.
- Total: 19 CAD
With the same quality, would you choose to pay 26-28 USD or 19 CAD? The answer is obvious.
For those who want to buy clips in the US, the calculation will be approximately as follows.
- Clips/Loops - $13 usd
- Shipping - $5 usd
- Customs - $3 usd
The total cost for 1,000 sausage clips or loops will be $21 usd. Compare this with your current supplier.
Advantages of a local warehouse: why it is important to use suppliers from North America
One of KOMPO's key advantages is its permanent presence in the Canadian and US markets. This means:
- No delays in cross-border delivery
- No unexpected customs fees
- Fast delivery from a local warehouse
- Free samples for testing
In an industry where equipment downtime costs thousands of dollars per hour, having a reliable local supplier for consumables can be critical.
2025 Innovations in Clip and Loop Design
New developments in 2025 focus on stronger closures with less material waste, and loop elasticity that adapts to varying product diameters. KOMPO’s R&D team has introduced improvements that reduce clip misfires and allow more secure seals even with natural casings — especially useful in premium sausage production.