During the last few years, special attention has been placed on the safety conditions of the goods during transport. As we have mentioned in previous articles, the number of shipping test standards, rules and regulations that need to be complied with to guarantee product safety during the distribution cycle have been ever increasing. This is why it is paramount for any company intending to export its products to previously subject its packaging to a cargo transport simulation test.
What is a transport simulation test?
An inadequately palletized cargo may imply a risk to the people in charge of its handling, as well as for the transport and the safety of the products being transported. Cargo transport simulation tests are laboratory reproductions of the risks that products and packages are subjected to during the distribution cycle, and as a result, can be used to evaluate packages and cargo units with the purpose of optimizing their design as much as possible to prevent damages and deterioration.
The following are the main purposes of the cargo transport simulation tests:
- Reducing material and supply chain costs
- Ensuring compliance with legal aspects and applicable regulations
- Guaranteeing sustainability, waste prevention, recyclability and reutilization
- Ensuring that the product’s protection is not compromised
In order to accomplish this, verification and evaluation tests are performed in relation to the properties – both physical and mechanical – and behavior of the materials during the distribution cycle. In addition, product transport simulation tests also help in detecting issues such as too little packaging (under packaging) or, on the contrary, too much packaging (over packaging).
In the case of under packaging, the goods are more exposed, which means that they may suffer more damages due to handling, storage or transport. In this regard, besides the fact that companies may be losing money due to shrinkage, it also presents a bad image to the company/end customer receiving the product. Furthermore, it implies a significant risk, since the transportation of improperly packaged and secured freight is dangerous since 25% of truck accidents are the result of an improperly secured load and poor load stability.
Conversely, in the case of over packaging, companies excessively protect their goods for their safe delivery, which incurs in cost overruns and the generation of more waste, which negatively impacts the environment.
“Cargo transport simulation tests are laboratory reproductions of the risks that products and packages are subjected to during the distribution cycle”
Why a company should perform a transport test of its products
Companies that do not perform this type of test may be losing money due to shrinkage and improper packaging, as well as due to the time they dedicate to packaging and transporting the cargo. Which is why it is advisable for companies that plan to transport their products to previously subject them to this type of test. The reasons are many:
- Ensuring that the product is not damaged upon arrival to its destination
- Reducing packaging costs (over packaging or under packaging)
- Reducing the generation of waste (Directive 94/62/EC)
- Contributing to the reduction of road fatalities (Directive 2014/47/EU)
The companies that should perform transport tests over their products are many, but just to mention a few, sectors such as food & beverage, automotive and chemistry are some of the most affected in this regard.
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Through the shipping tests and package testing, companies and laboratories are capable of analyzing what happens to goods during transport. As a result, technicians can qualify the cargo with the purpose of reducing costs by optimizing the product + packaging system. The benefits obtained by optimizing this system are:
- Reduction of materials used
- Time optimization
- Logistic efficiency
- Brand image improvement
- Adaptation to the distribution environment
“Through the shipping tests, companies and laboratories are capable of analyzing what happens to goods during transport”
How a transport simulation test is performed
In order to perform a transport test and optimizing both the packaging system and the product, it is necessary to keep in mind the following:
- Knowing the product
- Analyzing the distribution cycle
- Creating a testing protocol based on what was found in the distribution cycle
This will allow for the recreation of the protocol in a testing laboratory. Based on the specifications, the required packaging will be designed and verified through the cargo transport simulation test.
At Safe Load all of our machines are designed to perform transport simulation tests and have a great advantage, since they can be personalized and tailored to the needs of each customer. All of our solutions are characterized by their cutting-edge technology, as well as by their novel design and intuitive use. Safe Load machines comply with safety standards to guarantee the CE marking, as well as the ISTA, ASTM, ISO, EN and EUMOS standards.
Two renowned multi-national companies – one from Germany and another from Malaysia – within the stretch film sector have already added transport simulation laboratories equipped with Safe Load machines to their companies with optimal results. Want to joint them? Get in touch with us and we will help you select the machine that better suits your needs.
At Safe Load all of our machines are designed to perform transport simulation tests and have a great advantage, since they can be personalized and tailored to the needs of each customer.
You can also download for free our ebook Calculate the ROI of investing in packaging testing machines and learn how much you can save with your own transport simulation equipment.