A strapping machine for securing a piece of metal strap in a loop around one or more objects, the strapping machine comprising: - a strapping unit provided with: ▪ a welding device for forming a welded joint between a first strap section at a leading end of a piece of metal strap arranged in a loop around one or more objects to be strapped and an overlapping second strap section at a trailing end of said strap piece to thereby secure this strap piece in a loop around said one or more objects, and ▪ a support member for supporting said overlapping first and second strap sections (7a, 7b) during the formation of the welded joint; and - a feeding device for feeding the strap through the strapping unit, in a loop around an object receiving space configured for receiving one or more objects to be strapped and then back into the strapping unit and subsequently retracting the strap to draw it tightly around one or more objects received in the object receiving space; characterized in: - that a recess is provided in an upper support surface on the support member; - that the strapping unit comprises a pressing element, which has a shape adapted to the shape of the recess in the support member so as to allow the pressing element to be received in this recess; and - that the strapping unit comprises an actuating device which is configured to move the pressing element and the support member in relation to each other between a first mutual position, in which the pressing element is positioned at a distance from the recess in the support member, and a second mutual position, in which the pressing element is received in said recess, wherein the pressing element and the support member are configured to form a permanent bulge on the first strap section at a position between the leading end of said strap piece and said welded joint by a press forming action between the pressing element and the support member when the pressing element and the support member are moved in relation to each other by the actuating device from said first mutual position to said second mutual position with a part of the first strap section received in the space between the pressing element and the support member. - a strapping unit provided with: ▪ a welding device for forming a welded joint between a first strap section at a leading end of a piece of metal strap arranged in a loop around one or more objects to be strapped and an overlapping second strap section at a trailing end of said strap piece to thereby secure this strap piece in a loop around said one or more objects, and ▪ a support member for supporting said overlapping first and second strap sections (7a, 7b) during the formation of the welded joint; and ▪ a welding device for forming a welded joint between a first strap section at a leading end of a piece of metal strap arranged in a loop around one or more objects to be strapped and an overlapping second strap section at a trailing end of said strap piece to thereby secure this strap piece in a loop around said one or more objects, and ▪ a support member for supporting said overlapping first and second strap sections (7a, 7b) during the formation of the welded joint; and - a feeding device for feeding the strap through the strapping unit, in a loop around an object receiving space configured for receiving one or more objects to be strapped and then back into the strapping unit and subsequently retracting the strap to draw it tightly around one or more objects received in the object receiving space; - that a recess is provided in an upper support surface on the support member; - that the strapping unit comprises a pressing element, which has a shape adapted to the shape of the recess in the support member so as to allow the pressing element to be received in this recess; and - that the strapping unit comprises an actuating device which is configured to move the pressing element and the support member in relation to each other between a first mutual position, in which the pressing element is positioned at a distance from the recess in the support member, and a second mutual position, in which the pressing element is received in said recess, wherein the pressing element and the support member are configured to form a permanent bulge on the first strap section at a position between the leading end of said strap piece and said welded joint by a press forming action between the pressing element and the support member when the pressing element and the support member are moved in relation to each other by the actuating device from said first mutual position to said second mutual position with a part of the first strap section received in the space between the pressing element and the support member.