Drop tester equipment: features, models and functionality

Drop testing is crucial in evaluating a package’s resilience when subjected to the everyday jolts and bumps it may encounter throughout its journey in the transportation and distribution network. For this reason, having proficient drop tester equipment is essential to accurately assess packaging durability and make necessary improvements.

When it comes to shipping and distribution, ensuring the safety and integrity of products is paramount. Drop testing is a method used to mimic the real-world challenges that packages face during their journey through the supply chain, subjecting them to impacts that simulate the rough handling and occasional mishaps that can occur during transportation.

Drop test equipment: the procedure

This procedure holds great importance in ensuring the safe and secure transportation of products to customers. Consequently, drop test systems aid companies in saving costs and upholding their positive brand image by facilitating the design of packaging that preserves the inherent quality of products during transit.

At the heart of drop testing is the drop test equipment, a specialized piece of machine designed to create freefall and sudden impact conditions. This equipment precisely drops packages from various heights and angles, subjecting them to controlled impacts. The objective is to repeat this process until any potential packaging fault or vulnerability is exposed.

There are plenty of options in the market like Lansmont Corporation or Labequipment. However, at Safe Load Testing Technologies we guarantee each drop tester produced undergoes rigorous factory testing to guarantee compliance with flatness-of-drop requirements, surpassing industry standards. Our range of solutions encompasses diverse configurations, features, and handling capabilities, making them suitable for shipments of all sizes and shapes.

Drop machines allows us to understand how vertical and rotational impacts can affect the integrity of packaging and products

Drop test equipment: why is important to conduct drop testing?

Drop testing replicates the conditions packages might encounter during their journey through the supply chain, subjecting them to realistic impacts. This is achieved by precisely controlling the drop height, thereby regulating the impact velocity, which directly relates to the impact energy.

Confirming the reliability of your product packaging through drop testing guarantees the security and preservation of your items during transportation. When your products can endure the rigors of distribution, it results in cost savings, reduced losses, and heightened customer satisfaction.

Drop test equipment: benefits of package drop testing

Analyzing how effective a packaging system is in safeguarding products.

Identifying the most effective packaging options.

Offering guidance to reduce or address risks.

Promoting the development of eco-friendly and improved packaging and product designs.

Avoiding harm to products, reducing losses, and ensuring the quality of deliverable goods.

Evaluating adherence to regulations set by the industry, government, or the company.

Key Parameters in Drop Testing

Drop test procedures are meticulously designed, and they typically focus on specifying three crucial parameters:

Drop Height: Different test standards provide guidelines for a range of drop heights. The choice of drop height depends on various factors, including the size and weight of the test item and the simulated transport environment. Larger and heavier items may require higher drop heights to simulate the force of impact they might experience during transit.

Test Item Orientation: When testing cargo, it’s essential to consider different orientations. By dropping packages in various positions, such as flat, on their edges, or corners, you can better evaluate the areas where impact may affect the product. This comprehensive approach helps identify vulnerabilities that might not be apparent in a single drop test orientation.

Number of Drops: Typically, a package will be subjected to multiple drops during testing. These drops occur in different orientations and are based on the intent of the reference test standard. The repetition of drops ensures that the packaging can withstand repeated shocks and impacts, providing a more realistic assessment of its durability.

Navigating Drop Testing Standards for Product Safety and Compliance

The methods and procedures for conducting drop tests can vary significantly, depending on the applicable standard or regulation. These organizations encompass:

ISTA, which offers a comprehensive set of test procedures known as the “1, 2, 3, and 4 Series” to assess packaging performance during distribution.
ASTM, with its ASTM D10 on Packaging, which provides guidance on a wide range of packaging tests, including drop testing, and includes specifications for drop heights and orientations.
ISO, which has established global standards relating to packaging and drop testing, such as ISO 2248, offering methodologies for conducting drop tests with packaged freight.
Shipping and courier companies like FedEx, have their internal packaging and testing standards tailored to their specific shipping and handling procedures.
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) CFR Title 49 HazMat regulations, are particularly crucial for organizations involved in the transportation of hazardous materials, outlining specific testing requirements, including drop testing, to assess the durability of hazardous materials packaging.