 |
| Packaging Testing |
Packaging plays a crucial role in protecting products during transportation and
storage. However, without proper testing, packaging may fail to provide the
necessary protection. Packaging testing ensures packages can withstand the
rigors of the supply chain.
Durability Testing
How durable is the packaging? To answer this question, packages undergo various
durability tests that simulate real-world conditions. Drop tests, vibration
tests, and compression tests are common.
Drop Tests
In drop Packaging
Testing, packages are dropped from specified heights onto hard surfaces
like concrete. This tests how well packaging can withstand the impacts of being
dropped, tossed, or mishandled during shipping. The height the package can
withstand without damage indicates its durability.
Vibration Tests
Vibration tests subject packages to vibrations that mimic those experienced in
trucks, trains, and shipping containers. Varying frequency and amplitude
vibrations test how well packages can handle rough rides. Any damage observed
helps identify weaknesses in the packaging design or construction.
Compression Tests
Compression tests slowly apply pressure to the top of a packaged product to
determine the amount of force packaging can bear before buckling or failure.
This indicates how much weight can safely be stacked on top of the package
during storage and transit.
Container Evaluation
How well does the container protect the product? Container testing assesses
things like container strength, seal integrity, and ability to withstand
opening/closing stresses.
Strength Testing
Tests like burst, puncture, and vibration tests determine a container's
strength limits. They help ensure the container doesn't rupture under normal
stresses. Special tests may check creasing or cutting from opening/closing as
well.
Seal Integrity Tests
Leak tests use methods like water submersion or pressure differential testing
to check for defects in seals, seams, or container material that could
compromise watertightness or airtightness over time. Evaluation of seal
strength also verifies the seal holds firmly.
Closure Evaluation
Closure testing subjects lids, caps, and other closures to repeated open/close
cycles to check for loosening, wear, or failure that could compromise sealing
over the product's shelf life. Special tests exert forces in pivot or hinge
areas.
Environmental Simulation
How will changing environmental conditions impact the packaging over time?
Packages undergo temperature, humidity, pressure, and gas conditioning to
represent real-world environments.
climate and temperature cycling tests subject packages to alternating high and
low temperatures to test tolerance to temperature fluctuations during shipping
and storage. Temperature shock tests involve abrupt temperature changes for
shorter time periods.
Humidity conditioning exposes packages to high-humidity environments to check
for material weaknesses, coating failures, or other issues caused by moisture
absorption.
Pressure testing uses high-altitude or compressed gas chambers to simulate
high-altitude shipping environments and check for failures at lower air
pressures.
Gas conditioning places packages in chambers filled with industrial gases like
nitrous oxide to check material compatibility and permeability. Any observed
damage helps identify weaknesses.
Usability Testing
Finally, usability testing evaluates factors like ease of opening, disposal
considerations, and whether packaging meets economic and sustainable
objectives. Aspects like:
- Openability: Is the packaging intuitive to open without tools?
- Recyclability: Can all materials be readily recycled?
- Minimal Materials: Is excess materials minimized per sustainable objectives?
By comprehensively testing packaging durability, container integrity,
environmental tolerance, and usability, companies can ensure packages are fit
for purpose and sufficiently protect products throughout complex global supply
chains. Thorough testing validates packaging investment and helps reduce costs
from product damage and quality issues. Overall, packaging testing delivers
assurance and peace of mind that boxes and containers can withstand real-world
shipping conditions.
Get More Insights On This Topic: Packaging Testing