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This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Hi,

ISTA 3A is the standard to use for single parcel deliveries.

It is more rigorous than if product is shipped on a pallet.

You can purchase the protocol by visiting ISTA.org.

OL

------------------------------
Oksana Lapierre CPP
Senior Packaging Optimization Consultant
Canadian Tire Corp
Toronto ON
416-480-9780 (x28734)
------------------------------

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hi Oksana, Thank you so much for your response. However, we only use ASTM and not ISTA for our testing. 

Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2024 13:17
From: Oksana Lapierre
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

Hi,

ISTA 3A is the standard to use for single parcel deliveries.

It is more rigorous than if product is shipped on a pallet.

You can purchase the protocol by visiting ISTA.org.

OL

------------------------------
Oksana Lapierre CPP
Senior Packaging Optimization Consultant
Canadian Tire Corp
Toronto ON
416-480-9780 (x28734)
------------------------------

Use ASTM D7386. Single parcel distribution is harsher from the shock standpoint. 

The challenge during unitized distribution is mainly compression on the boxes. Of course for some production vibration can be an issue too but parcel vibration tends to be harsher and the parcel testing still included the truck vibration. 

The other issue during unitized distribution is stability but ASTM D4169 is not a great way to catch those issues. You need to use the EUMOS 40509 standard for it or do a test using stability tester that can create long duration shocks events.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions. 

------------------------------
Laszlo Horvath
Assistant Professor of Practice
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg VA
(540) 231-7673
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2024 08:54
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hi Oksana, Thank you so much for your response. However, we only use ASTM and not ISTA for our testing. 

Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2024 13:17
From: Oksana Lapierre
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

Hi,

ISTA 3A is the standard to use for single parcel deliveries.

It is more rigorous than if product is shipped on a pallet.

You can purchase the protocol by visiting ISTA.org.

OL

------------------------------
Oksana Lapierre CPP
Senior Packaging Optimization Consultant
Canadian Tire Corp
Toronto ON
416-480-9780 (x28734)

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hi Laszlo, That actually makes a lot of sense. I will look into EUMOS 40509 standard as I have never heard of it before. Thank you! 

Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2024 10:28
From: Laszlo Horvath
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

Use ASTM D7386. Single parcel distribution is harsher from the shock standpoint. 

The challenge during unitized distribution is mainly compression on the boxes. Of course for some production vibration can be an issue too but parcel vibration tends to be harsher and the parcel testing still included the truck vibration. 

The other issue during unitized distribution is stability but ASTM D4169 is not a great way to catch those issues. You need to use the EUMOS 40509 standard for it or do a test using stability tester that can create long duration shocks events.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions. 

------------------------------
Laszlo Horvath
Assistant Professor of Practice
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg VA
(540) 231-7673
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2024 08:54
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hi Oksana, Thank you so much for your response. However, we only use ASTM and not ISTA for our testing. 

Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2024 13:17
From: Oksana Lapierre
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

Hi,

ISTA 3A is the standard to use for single parcel deliveries.

It is more rigorous than if product is shipped on a pallet.

You can purchase the protocol by visiting ISTA.org.

OL

------------------------------
Oksana Lapierre CPP
Senior Packaging Optimization Consultant
Canadian Tire Corp
Toronto ON
416-480-9780 (x28734)

Good Morning,

All modes of packaging should be tested that your product will be going through if they have not been tested yet.  When changing the packaging components that will have the most protection for your medical devices and/or it will potentially create more of a slack between all the packaging components than your currently tested packaging you use, you'll want to test and verify in all the modes that you are using, especially the single parcels.  You may have to update package protection for single parcels.  Read through the ASTM's to understand the TM and if it is testing what you need.  If you need more detailed help, this could be a quick consult or you can farm out the design and testing.  Your damage complaints, returns, refunds on faulty equipment will also give you some history on performance of the packaging to date before you make design changes.  Is your pallet broken down somewhere in Supply Chain?  Those cases if shipped separate and single should also go through the pallet and single ship testing as it sees both through its supply chain to get to the customer.  If you need a consult please reach out.

------------------------------
Katie Ireland
Sr. Packaging Engineer SME
CRB group
Kansas City MO
(816) 955-2994
------------------------------

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hi Katie,  design changes are big part of my job here at my company, and your response is helpful to me in navigating those changes. I appreciate your input! Thank you so much! 

Original Message:
Sent: 01-19-2024 11:43
From: Katie Ireland
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

Good Morning,

All modes of packaging should be tested that your product will be going through if they have not been tested yet.  When changing the packaging components that will have the most protection for your medical devices and/or it will potentially create more of a slack between all the packaging components than your currently tested packaging you use, you'll want to test and verify in all the modes that you are using, especially the single parcels.  You may have to update package protection for single parcels.  Read through the ASTM's to understand the TM and if it is testing what you need.  If you need more detailed help, this could be a quick consult or you can farm out the design and testing.  Your damage complaints, returns, refunds on faulty equipment will also give you some history on performance of the packaging to date before you make design changes.  Is your pallet broken down somewhere in Supply Chain?  Those cases if shipped separate and single should also go through the pallet and single ship testing as it sees both through its supply chain to get to the customer.  If you need a consult please reach out.

------------------------------
Katie Ireland
Sr. Packaging Engineer SME
CRB group
Kansas City MO
(816) 955-2994
------------------------------

Single-parcel shipments is worst-case, as others have mentioned. In addition to compression issues for palletized shipments, there can be carton cosmetic damage issues such as stretch-wrap or pallet banding marks, or carton-to-carton rubbing which can damage graphics which is one reason that both modes should be evaluated. Hope this helps!

Jeff Waldeck

------------------------------
Jeffrey Waldeck
residential customer
Horseshoe Bend ID
12087611059
------------------------------

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hi Jeff, very helpful. Great point regarding the potential of damage to graphics during transit. Thank you so much!

Original Message:
Sent: 01-19-2024 15:11
From: Jeffrey Waldeck
Subject: Question regarding use of ASTM test standard

Single-parcel shipments is worst-case, as others have mentioned. In addition to compression issues for palletized shipments, there can be carton cosmetic damage issues such as stretch-wrap or pallet banding marks, or carton-to-carton rubbing which can damage graphics which is one reason that both modes should be evaluated. Hope this helps!

Jeff Waldeck

------------------------------
Jeffrey Waldeck
residential customer
Horseshoe Bend ID
12087611059
------------------------------