Our package testing customers experience lower operating expenses because package testing results in fewer damaged goods and product returns. Compadre is driving the industry to “Rethink the Box” by setting new standards for the speed and cost-effectiveness of package testing services.

Compadre’s ISTA certified laboratory provides end-to-end transit testing, including ISTA and ASTM testing, at the best total cost. We bring our passion for Mission Critical – Fast™ to our package testing services, delivering comprehensive tests in time-sensitive situations. Our team of engineers and certified technicians will help you determine testing criteria, execute the testing and deliver comprehensive test reporting and documentation.

Our package testing services include accelerated aging testing, warehouse stacking, transit testing, shock testing, environmental testing, vibration testing and more. Compadre’s team of engineers and technicians will help you to determine testing (pass/fail) criteria, complete the testing and deliver comprehensive test reporting and documentation.

Most common packaging testing performed by Compadre: (Click on the titles to see the details)

• ISTA Procedure 1A, 1G
• •    Packaged products weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or less
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Fixed (1A) or random displacement (1G) vibration
  • Shock testing

• ISTA Procedure 2A
• •    Packaged products weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or less
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Atmospheric conditioning
  • Compression Testing
  • Fixed or random displacement vibration
  • Shock Testing

• ISTA Procedure 3A
• •    Packaged products for parcel delivery system shipments weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or less
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Atmospheric conditioning
  • Shock Testing
  • Random displacement vibration
  • Shock Testing (rotational edge, full rotational flat, and hazard impact)

• ISTA Procedure 3E
• •    Unitized loads of same product
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Atmospheric conditioning
  • Shock testing (incline impact)
  • Shock testing (rotational edge)
  • Compression testing
  • Random displacement vibration
  • Shock testing (rotational edge)

• ISTA Procedure 3H
• •    Unitized loads of same product
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Atmospheric conditioning
  • Shock Testing (horizontal impact)
  • Shock testing (rotational flat, rotational edge)
  • Random displacement vibration
  • Shock Testing (horizontal impact)
  • Shock testing (rotational flat, rotational edge)

• ISTA Project 3J
• ASTM D-4169
• •    Standard practice for performance testing of shipping containers and systems
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Shock Testing
  • Compression Testing
  • Fixed or random displacement vibration
  • Shock Testing

• ASTM D4728 & ASTM D3580
• •    Standard test methods for vibration testing
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • ASTM D4728 – Random vibration test
  • ASTM D3580 – Resonance search using sinusoidal vibration

• Medical Packaging Testing
• •    The ISO 11607-01 standard is a guidance document for validating packaging for terminally sterilized medical devices.
  

  • Shelf Life Real-time Aging Test
  • ASTM D774 Mullen Burst Test

  Testing capabilities coming soon:

  • ASTM 2096 - Gross Leak Test
  • ASTM F88 - Peel Test
  • ASTM F1929 - Dye Penetration Test
  • ASTM F1980 - Accelerated Aging Test
  • Shelf Life - Real Time Aging Test

• Corrugated Mullen Burst Test
• •    Uses a rubber diaphragm that is pressurized until it fully ruptures a clamped piece of corrugated or solid fibreboard
  •    The resulting value is documented in pounds per square inch (psi)
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Minimum 5 corrugated carton samples
  • Reference TAPPI T810 Bursting Strength of Corrugated and Solid Fiberboard

• Corrugated Edge Crush Test
• •    Measures stacking strength of corrugated cardboard or fiberboard
  

  • Amount of force needed to crush cardboard standing on edge
  • The resulting value is documented in pounds per square inch (psi)
  • Reference TAPPI T811 Compressive Strength of Corrugated Fiberboard

Compadre's Packaging Test Services, located in Austin, Texas, is the largest independent ISTA certified test laboratory in the Southwest. Our team has over 75 combined years of packaging design and testing experience. Our ISTA certified lab provides package test services, including ISTA testing, ASTM D4169 and D4728, and other ASTM Testing. View our Package Testing Chart to learn more about Package Testing: when each test should be used, what type of information each test provides, definitions of testing terms and more!

Atmospheric Conditioning (Accelerated Aging)

Temperature and humidity conditioning is recommended to simulate transport, warehouse environments and shelf life. Accelerated aging qualification testing allows for the shelf life of a product to be rapidly determined without having to wait for the actual shelf life expiration.

Compression Testing (Warehouse Stacking)

Package compression testing verifies the stacking strength of packaging materials. Force weight is determined by a load formula and tested on a compression tester or constant load weight tester. These tests guide the selection of packaging material and help avoid crushed boxes and pallet stacking failures.

Vibration Testing (Transit Testing)

Package vibration testing simulates vibration frequencies to which packaged products are subjected during carrier shipments. Random and fixed vibration testing can simulate real world shipping environments and help assure safe, intact delivery of your products.

Impact Handling (Shock Testing)

Impact handling testing simulates shocks to packaged product from material handling during shipment. Shock testing also helps determine the fragility and structural integrity of packaging designs.

Incline Impact Testing

Incline shock testing simulates horizontal impacts from material handling during shipment, such as severe interactions between packaged product and container walls. Testing accurately simulates impacts that occur during truck turns or sudden stops, as well as air and rail systems when the load slams into a solid barrier.

The Packaging Testing Equipment in Compadre's Austin, Texas Package Testing Lab includes:

• Lansmont Vibration System
• Lansmont Shock, Hoist Free Fall Drop, Incline Impact
• LAB Validator Compression Tester & Constant Level Compression System
• Environmental Chambers by Thermotron and Tenney

Case Summary:

Global Food Retailer

The engineering consultants for a global food retailer needed transit testing on redesigned packaging for an ice cream product that would be shipped to US troops in Middle East. They needed certification that the product could be transported at –29 C and at an aircraft altitude of over 35,000 feet. The product was manufactured in Canada and there were significant limitations in getting the ice cream quickly through US customs for the testing samples. Compadre arranged for the shipping of the empty packaging and came up with a different way to simulate the product. All testing was completed and our customer was able to move forward with successfully supplying the ice cream product to our troops.

Case Summary:

Manufacturer of HVAC Systems

The engineering team of one of the largest manufactures of HVAC systems initially contacted Compadre on a Thursday afternoon with a problem. Vibration testing on a new design had to be completed by the close of business on Friday or the company would not be able to go into planned production on Saturday morning. Compadre received the product Friday morning and all required testing, with reports, were completed by the afternoon. Our customer was able to commence production on time.