Package Testing

Located in Austin, Texas, Compadre's package testing center is one of the leading independent ISTA- and ATSM-certified testing centers in the North America, providing end-to-end transit testing at the best total cost.

We are passionate about providing accurate testing performed on properly calibrated, maintained and operated equipment. We bring to every project a passion, which we call Mission Critical – Fast™, delivering comprehensive tests in time-sensitive situations. In addition, Compadre is one of the first companies to be ISTA Project 3J and 6-Sams Club certified, tests now required by stores like Sam’s and Walmart.

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

We provide a wide variety of packaging tests, the most common packaging tests performed by Compadre include: (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 2F
• •    Individual packaged-products, including palletized loads weighing 200 lb (91 kg) or less with no skid or pallet attached and not part of a unitized load
  •    Basic Requirements:
  

  • Atmospheric conditioning
  • Random Vibration with a top load
  • Compression testing
  • Fixed displacement vibration
  • Shock testing (drop)

• 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

We also offer a number of online services including our Package Testing Chart, which provides information on when each test should be used, what type of information each test provides, and definitions of testing terms. In addition, you can visit our Online Package Testing Center to request a package test.

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.

Compadre is a registered packaging laboratory, meeting the requirement of the Commodity Classification Standards Board and has been certified by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA). As a CCSB registered and ISTA certified laboratory, Compadre has the capability of performing the required tests on various forms of packaging in relation to the Performance Packaging Requirements contained in Items 180 and 181 of the National Motor Freight Classification.