Shipment damage can result from a combination of packaging performance, product vulnerability and the hazards encountered throughout the supply chain. Smithers supports clients worldwide with investigations that can combine real-world field data and observation with controlled laboratory testing to identify likely causes and evaluate potential solutions.
Field-based investigations can include:
- Observation of real-world shipment and handling conditions
- Damage assessment and quantification
- Supply chain and process mapping
Our specialists work with both consumer packaged goods and industrial products, including machinery, electronics and equipment. Damage can lead to product loss, leakage, reduced on-shelf availability, returns and additional supply chain costs.
Common damage failure models
Breakage and fatigue failure
When vibration and shock events occur during shipment and handling, components, materials and bonds are subjected to stress. If the physical hazards encountered in the supply chain are greater than the performance threshold of the package or product then failure will result. Even for more durable materials, the repetitive nature of road and air journeys (vibration) can cause wear, puncture, rupture or fatigue.Products at risk: Glass, metal and even plastic packaging.
Find out more about vibration and shock field data measurement.
Abrasion/print scuff and decoration damage
Surface damage occurs as a result of repetitive vibration from direct pack to pack contact during road or air shipment. Damage normally occurs to a printed surface, but in severe instances, abrasion or scuffing can result in punctures and leakage. ‘Pin-holing’ most commonly occurs during roll cage mixed load conditions in retailer distribution system.Products at risk: Product packaging with exposed labels and thin-walled metal beverage containers.
Leakage
Both vibration and impacts are known to cause leakage. Leakage from one container often causes contamination to other products being distributed so the implications can be significant. Package testing can help evaluate leakage risk or investigate a known leakage problem.Products at risk: Bottles and flexible packs.
Find out more about our package testing capabilities.
Accidental actuation
The more complex and innovative the dispensing component or closure for certain products, the higher the scope for leakage while under vibration conditions or as a result of increased point-loading during storage or distribution. Premature actuation is the dispensing of the product accidentally during distribution - this can be dangerous if the product is hazardous.Products at risk: Cleaning products, chemicals, medical and healthcare products.
Find out more about our vibration testing and post-test integrity testing for medical packaging.
Stress cracking
This is failure of a pack (break down of the packaging material structure) from non-compatibility between the packaging material and the substance within the pack (normally a liquid). Environmental stress cracking normally occurs from long term storage combined with compressive conditions.
Products at risk: Packaging subjected to long-term stacked storage.
Find out more about our compression testing.
From investigation to damage prevention
Once the causes of damage have been identified, Smithers can help evaluate packaging or process changes and develop performance tests and specifications to reduce the risk of similar problems affecting future packaged products.
Where appropriate, programmes can combine field investigation with our wider Distribution Testing capabilities to reproduce relevant shipment hazards and evaluate packaging performance under controlled laboratory conditions.
Talk to an expert about shipment damage
Talk to our specialists about the damage you are experiencing, where it occurs in the supply chain and how an investigation or testing programme could help identify and address the cause.
Download a brochure for more information:
- Instrument Design and Fabrication
- Pack and Machine Interaction
- Packaging Design for Fragile Goods
- Packaging Lightweighting and Cost Avoidance
- Packaging Materials Selection
- Packaging Structure Identification
- Packaging Supply Chain Audits
- Packaging Taints and Contaminants | Taint Testing
- Product Characterisation and Verification Testing
- Safety of Recycled Packaging
- Shipment Damage Prevention
