a system for multipackaging at least three adjacent rows of containers with a resilient plastics - material multipackaging strip in a continuous procedure . the strip comprises a plurality of elongated bands of at least three in number transversely of the strip , and each band is capable of encircling one of the containers when properly stretched and projected over a container . the bands of the strip are so formed that stretching of all of the bands into shapes substantially complementary to the containers occurs when merely the side marginal edges of the strip are stretched apart . the machine and method comprises an endless series of single pairs of jaws or force applying means which successively enter the apertures of the side bands of the strip , and transversely stretch all of the bands across the strip into shapes substantially complementary to the container shapes . the machine receives at least three adjacent rows of containers continuously therethrough . as the containers are moving through the machine , the machine moves the jaws and the stretched strip carried thereon into cooperation with the containers to apply the bands of the strip about the containers to multipackage the containers .