Muller LCS
The Packaging Test
How to Reduce Risk and Optimize Performance
with Packaging Lab Testing
Neil Weisensel, Brand and Marketing Director, Muller
The way we transport products from point A to point B has changed dramatically over
the years. We’ve gone from domestic railcar and trucks to worldwide air and sea
shipping. While this evolution has been critical to our global economy, each stage has
presented new challenges for safely securing products in transit. Since 1948, the
International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) has led the industry in developing test
protocols to ensure products survive the risky and hazardous global distribution
market.1 Whether by land, air or sea, these tests allow manufacturers to predict and
adjust their load containment practices to “manage risk while optimizing the supply
chain.”2
As a leading manufacturer of equipment and material load containment solutions,
Muller understands all too well the importance of properly securing palletized units in
transit. As part of the Signode Industrial Group (SIG), Muller frequently solves customer
load containment challenges in the SIG Application Development and Research
Laboratory (commonly referred to as the “SIG Packaging Lab”). The state-of-the-art
laboratory is equipped with ISTA certified simulation equipment designed to reproduce
the forces that products experience in transit.
Since “One good test is worth a thousand expert opinions!3” we’ve broken down the
testing process and procedures available to help manufacturers make informed
decisions for current and future packaging practices.
1 https://vimeo.com/istavideo - Introduction to ISTA Video
2 https://vimeo.com/istavideo - Introduction to ISTA Video
3 https://youtu.be/eIq4tw2ceso - Signode General Applications Video
Benefits and Timeline
As the quote above alludes, testing palletized units can save considerable time and
money. Today’s laboratory testing procedures allow manufacturers to replicate real-life
scenarios in a shorter timeframe. For example, a cross country journey on a truck can be
replicated in a few hours on a random vibration table (explained further below). In
addition, further savings can be added to the bottom line. Testing eliminates fuel,
personnel and equipment needed to perform the actual journey and proactively isolates
and helps solve perceived challenges.
Understanding these benefits is the first step to greater unit containment. So when is
the right time to put your packaging method to the test? The simple answer is anytime:
after product damage, during package redesigns, to meet customer demands, prior to
product launch or to proactively test your packaging design. Ideally its best to test as
early as possible and it’s recommended to do so during the packaging design phase.
There are a number of ways to approach testing. Three distinct approaches and services
are:
1. Customer Application Review: Conducted onsite, an evaluation of current
packaging methods followed by a comprehensive report of analyses and
recommendations. Whether looking to upgrade a packaging system with new
products or looking to identify further savings, this 1-3 day review can help.
2. Field Engineering: Services are performed onsite. It can include developing a
new package or providing support through an existing project. The package can
also be followed through the entire supply chain environment.
3. Packaging Laboratory Testing: Products are tested in a controlled environment
on various ISTA certified equipment to ensure the packaging solution can
withstand various harsh handling and shipping conditions.
Of the services listed, the most common is the laboratory testing because it is effective
and efficient. It also helps prove that recommended unit containment solutions will
work in the real-world. For more complex or early stage products, field testing is highly
recommended. According to our laboratory packaging engineers, on average 40 hours
of engineering work is required to properly test a unit. Timelines can vary based on the
product conditions and testing parameters.
Testing Solutions
So what tests are available? From vibration tables to environmental chambers, there are
a number of solutions available to ensure products arrive in their intended condition.
The most popular test at the SIG Packaging Lab is the Random Vibration Simulation
machine which reproduces vertical vibration that packaged products experience during
shipping and handling. As mentioned earlier, the random vibration equipment can
simulate long distance travel at a fraction of the time and cost without risk. For
example, a 30 day rail car trip can be simulated on the random vibration table in just
several hours. The key element to the machines success is a portable shock and
vibration recorder equipped with a time and date stamp. The recorder collects
transportation-specific data which can be replicated later on the random vibration table.
In conjunction with a separate GPS system, the exact location of product impact, shock
or vibration can also be determined. For products transported via ship or railcar, a
Rotary Motion Vibration machine is best used to simulate its unique transportation
conditions.
There are also shocks and impacts that typically occur during truck shipments and rail
car coupling. An Incline Impact Machine can simulate rail car coupling and truck shocks
for packaged products.
Before a palletized unit is placed on a truck or railcar it’s most likely being transported
throughout the warehouse and storage yard via forklift trucks or other equipment. A
Rough Handling Test can be used to recreate shock and vibration during handling.
In other instances, testing the environmental conditions of the product throughout the
supply chain is most critical. This is especially true for refrigerated and frozen foods,
produce and dairy applications. Whether the requirement is to test hot or cold
temperatures, A Conditioning Chamber can duplicate conditions from -20 F through
+100F.
When looking to test how unitized products perform when stacked or subjected to
stacking weight, a Compression Test apparatus is used. This test is especially important
for customers who stack settling or shrinking type units in warehouses or big box stores.
In order to condition the unit for warehousing, compression strapping is recommended.
A compression test can generate forces up to 20,000 lbs.
Other common tests include a Drop Test, to illustrate product performance when less
than a 150 pound packaged product is literally dropped.
The Future
There will always be a need to transport goods from a manufacturer to a destination. As
transportation evolves and new products are developed, testing will endure to be an
effective and efficient way for ensuring properly secured packaged products as its
benefits are felt throughout the supply chain. In the meantime, places like the SIG
Application Development and Research Laboratory will continue to help manufactures
Random Vibration Table Environmental Chamber
Incline Impact Unit Rough Handling Test
discover more sustainable solutions for their ever-growing product protection and load
containment needs.
For Muller and SIG, the future will be greater collaboration with customers to meet their
unique requirements. The laboratory is readily awaiting challenges in the marketplace
and will soon expand to feature all the company’s solutions in one showroom.
To learn more, visit: http://www.signode.com/evaluation-testing/ or contact Muller
directly via email: [email protected], or by phone: 1-800-OCTOPUS (1-800-628-6787).
www.mullerlcs.com