Compression

Compression educated and eager to solve your packaging concerns

Compression is an additional dynamic force that can be a nuisance to product, packaging, or packaged product. Like other dynamic forces, compression can be characterized in multiple forms. When constructing a product, compression needs to be accounted for.

Compression is typically caused by an unwanted force. Like shock, it can come from either kinetic or static means. Compression can be caused from outside forces such as apparatus or other product. An applicable everyday model of compression is making cookies. Generally, the cookie dough is formed into a ball. Next, a greater force is employed by a device (i.e. cookie cutter/press) or human hand permanently deforming the cookie into a semi-flat round shape.

When the cookie dough cannot hold the amount of force or pressure by the cookie press or hand, the dough instinctively wants to go in the direction where there is least resistance and is pushed outward. Compression occurs in packaged product as well which may cause harm. Compression can occur in single or multiple axes. Compression can be caused by a single force for a short duration, a single force for a long duration, or multiple forces for short and/or long durations. Compression does not discriminate by item size or quantity either.

Compression is another dynamic test to take into account for while developing a product. The product should undergo compression testing to make certain the product can survive!

Compression is an additional dynamic force that can be a nuisance to product, packaging, or packaged product. Like other dynamic forces, compression can be characterized in multiple forms. When constructing a product, compression needs to be accounted for.

Compression is typically caused by an unwanted force. Like shock, it can come from either kinetic or static means. Compression can be caused from outside forces such as apparatus or other product. An applicable everyday model of compression is making cookies. Generally, the cookie dough is formed into a ball. Next, a greater force is employed by a device (i.e. cookie cutter/press) or human hand permanently deforming the cookie into a semi-flat round shape.

When the cookie dough cannot hold the amount of force or pressure by the cookie press or hand, the dough instinctively wants to go in the direction where there is least resistance and is pushed outward. Compression occurs in packaged product as well which may cause harm. Compression can occur in single or multiple axes. Compression can be caused by a single force for a short duration, a single force for a long duration, or multiple forces for short and/or long durations. Compression does not discriminate by item size or quantity either.

Compression is another dynamic test to take into account for while developing a product. The product should undergo compression testing to make certain the product can survive!

Environmental

Environmental educated and eager to solve your packaging concerns

When it comes to product, packaging, or packaged product failure, the main dynamic focal point is a mechanical force of some sort. However; this is not is not always the culprit of the failure. A common dynamic not considered heavily is environmental conditions.

Environmental conditions are uncharacteristically an underlying cause of numerous issues. Many times environmental factors are not taken into consideration because they are not as obvious and may be hard to identify at times. A terrific example of dynamic environmental conditions is making a pizza. Often at a pizza establishment the pizza is made hot and placed in box until it is ready for pickup by either the customer or delivery driver. If the environment in the pizza establishment is not identified appropriately, the outcome of the pizza attributes may be affected causing undesirable characteristics.

A plethora of environmental conditions can cause the pizza to have an unfavorable outcome. These environmental conditions can change gradually or dramatically. Without the proper knowledge and identification of the issue, some firms may spend years on issue believing it is a possible mechanical issue yet it is a genuine environmental issue

Shock

Shock educated and eager to solve your packaging concerns

Packaging quality is a conundrum for most companies. Some companies perceive packaging as a commodity item and pay no attention to quality. Other companies value packaging as an essential part of the product and place packaging quality in the highest regards. This occurs because packaging is everywhere! Some companies’ standards of quality are composed of detailed programs while others have none.

Quality is an important part to any company and it should apply to packaging. Without striving for quality, the tone of company is set for lack of controls. Without any controls, companies have minimal influence in what is acceptable or what is not acceptable. For instance; if company A requires a container to place a product in for shipping, while company B may not require a specific type of container while others may specify a certain type. If there are complaints or issues about the type of container being used from customers, company B has no support where company A has a standard set in place and has influence.

Quality varies from company to company depending on value of product. The key importance of quality packaging is to ensure what is purchased, created, or specified is met. If packaging does not meet the quality standards it may lead to other issues within the company beyond packaging.

Packaging quality is a conundrum for most companies. Some companies perceive packaging as a commodity item and pay no attention to quality. Other companies value packaging as an essential part of the product and place packaging quality in the highest regards. This occurs because packaging is everywhere! Some companies’ standards of quality are composed of detailed programs while others have none.

Quality is an important part to any company and it should apply to packaging. Without striving for quality, the tone of company is set for lack of controls. Without any controls, companies have minimal influence in what is acceptable or what is not acceptable. For instance; if company A requires a container to place a product in for shipping, while company B may not require a specific type of container while others may specify a certain type. If there are complaints or issues about the type of container being used from customers, company B has no support where company A has a standard set in place and has influence.

Quality varies from company to company depending on value of product. The key importance of quality packaging is to ensure what is purchased, created, or specified is met. If packaging does not meet the quality standards it may lead to other issues within the company beyond packaging.

Vibration

Vibration educated and eager to solve your packaging concerns

Vibration is a dynamic force causing product, packaging, or packaged product failure. Vibration occurs in everyday shipping and handling and cannot be avoided. Some firms do not address the need for vibration protection and may lead to serious consequences.

Vibration is caused by a reaction to force. It can be brought about by a mechanical force. A simple example of vibration is someone hitting a metal pole. The pole may vibrate causing a sinusoidal wave with great amplitude. The pole continues to vibrate gradually until the amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal wave is dampened.

One more source of vibration can be a disturbance to a mechanical system via a load, displacement, velocity. A great example is composition of the road surface. If a truck goes over a paved road the resulting vibration to the truck’s platform and load (both spring mass systems) should react in a different way compared to a truck going over a dirt road. This is caused by natural frequencies or resonance. At some point during the trucks trip the platform of the truck will produce a frequency that excites the load it’s carrying and can cause it to “jump”. Furthermore; these vibrations can excite certain components of the load (have different natural frequencies or resonances). These vibrations may bring about product, package, or packaged product harm.

Vibration can be either in sine form or random. Sinusoidal vibration is singular frequencies being inputted into the mechanical system. Random vibration is multiple varying frequencies being inputted to the system simultaneously. Sinusoidal sweeps are a good method to find where mass systems’ natural frequencies or resonance occurs. Random vibration is a good indicator of what is occurring in a real life situation where multiple frequencies are being produced at once.

Vibration can take place in multiple directions at the same time. In general, there is usually one primary axis that causes the greatest resonance or frequency excitation. A large scale vibration incident is the Broughton Suspension Bridge. In 1831, the bridge collapse due to soldiers marching in step that excited the mechanical system, specifically the bolts holding the bridge to bend or break.

The Tacoma Narrow Bridge is thought to be the most recognized vibration incident caused by resonance. Resonance transpired causing torsional vibration however; it was due to winds (aerodynamics) not a mechanical resonance! Vibration is a key dynamic force to consider when developing packaged product.