Manufacturing Today Issue - 233 Feb 2025 | Page 29

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Packaging

Many manufacturers make the mistake of thinking that ensuring products comply with mandatory tests set out in product standards is enough . However , as purchases are increasingly made via the internet , product packaging and its delivery through the distribution chain plays an important role in brand loyalty .

Two key drivers of brand loyalty , service and product quality , can both be beneficially influenced by testing . When cultivating brand loyalty , it is easy to focus on product quality and concentrate efforts on producing an exceptional product , but if the product is damaged in transit this quality may never be realized by the purchaser . However , for many products there are no specified environmental test requirements . Where environmental testing is specified , it often only addresses the operational environment . The threats of the distribution environment are not considered , which is often the most severe environment that the product will encounter .
Manufacturers must also avoid overuse of materials to address sustainability concerns . It is therefore vital to test packaging efficiency to ensure it can protect the product in the distribution supply chain whilst avoiding overpackaging . Testing ensures that more sustainable packaging options will withstand the same environmental pressures as traditional materials , making sustainability a functional part of the product ’ s lifecycle rather than a compromise .
Testing must consider the environments that the product will experience - from being packaged to its final delivery destination . For example , this could include :
■ Bulk transport
■ Machine handling
■ Vibration and shock during transportation ( road , rail , air , sea )
■ Transportation climatic environment ( temperature , humidity , pressure )
■ Storage ( temperature , humidity , pressure , compression )
■ Packages being dropped during handling
■ Repacking for final dispatch
manufacturing-today . com 29