The Science Behind Vibration Testing for Resilient Packaging

Every year, billions of packages travel across the globe, delivering everything from essential medications to the very latest tech gadgets. Still, a significant percentage of these packages suffer damage during transit, leading to costly returns, replacements, and ultimately, dissatisfied customers. And while this hit on businesses is significant both in refunds and reputation, many companies assume there is very little they can do to prevent this.

But there is a solution that can help minimize this risk of damage and protect valuable business. The answer lies in the science of vibration testing.

In this guide, we explore vibration testing, understanding how it works and its importance in the packaging industry. By knowing more about vibration testing, you will be better equipped to select and purchase quality packaging products for your business.

Looking for packaging that is already quality-assured? Consider Crownhill Packaging, a SupplyOne Canada Company, as your leading supplier of packaging products and service across North America.

What is Vibration Testing?

Let’s first define what we mean by vibration testing.

Vibration testing is a packaging quality assurance assessment that simulates the stresses packages endure during transportation. By subjecting packaging to controlled vibrations, companies can identify potential weaknesses and improve their designs to better protect their products. This scientific approach ensures that packaging can withstand real-world transportation conditions, ultimately safeguarding the contents from damage. Given how much packaging passes through transportation, vibration testing is a crucial quality assurance process that quality packaging manufacturers and suppliers take seriously.

The Importance of Vibration Testing in Packaging

Transportation poses numerous challenges for packaged goods. Whether traveling by truck, train, or airplane, packages are exposed to continuous vibrations that can compromise their integrity. Vibration testing helps mitigate these risks by replicating the transportation environment in a controlled setting. By doing so, it ensures that packaging solutions are robust enough to handle the rigors of transit, reducing the likelihood of product damage.

Types of Vibration Testing

When testing a packaging and its contents in a vibrating environment, there are several distinct types of tests used. These are:

• Frequency Testing: Assessing how different vibration frequencies affect the package.
• Amplitude Testing: Measuring the impact of vibration intensity.
• Duration Testing: Evaluating the effects of prolonged vibration exposure.

These tests help create a comprehensive profile of how the package responds to various stressors, providing valuable data for analysis and improvement.

In some cases, a package may successfully pass one or two of these tests, but struggle with another aspect. For example, a cardboard box may be able to withstand significant and random vibrations, but not be able to last long enough to mimic true transportation. In this case, the package will need to be redesigned so it can successfully pass these tests.

How Vibration Testing Works

Having explored the main types of testing, let’s take a look at how a typical vibration test works:

Step 1: Test Setup

The first step in vibration testing involves setting up the test specimen—usually the packaging and the product—on a vibration testing table. These tables can simulate various vibration scenarios that mimic real-world transportation environments.

Step 2: Instrumentation

Before beginning the test, the packaging is outfitted with sensors and gauges that measure acceleration, frequency, displacement, and other relevant metrics. These instruments are critical for capturing data that will inform the effectiveness of the packaging design.

Step 3: Baseline Measurement

Often, a baseline test is conducted without any external vibrations to record the natural state of the package and its contents. This step helps in understanding the inherent structural properties of the packaging.

Step 4: Testing

Once the equipment is in place and the baseline measurements taken, the actual vibration testing is then conducted. These tests are often conducted in different phases, each designed to simulate different transportation scenarios:

• Random Vibration Testing: This simulates a variety of random, unpredictable vibrations that a package might encounter during shipping.
• Sine Vibration Testing: In this phase, the package undergoes sinusoidal (smooth, repetitive oscillation) vibrations, which are typical of transportation via motor engines or rotating machinery.
• Mixed-Mode Testing: Some advanced tests involve a combination of random and sine vibrations to replicate complex transportation environments.

Step 5: Data Collection

Throughout the testing process, the sensors record the package’s response to the vibrations. This data is monitored in real-time and later analyzed in depth.

Step 6: Data Analysis & Reporting

After the tests are complete, the collected data is analyzed to assess the performance and quality of the packaging. The analysis looks at how well the packaging maintained its integrity during the tests and how protected its contents are. In many cases, these results are then compiled into a detailed report that provides insights into potential improvements or certifications if the packaging meets industry standards.

Step 7: Reiterative Testing (Optional)

If the initial test results indicate weaknesses, modifications are made to the packaging design, and the tests will need to be repeated. Like many product design and manufacturing processes, this iterative approach continues until the packaging meets the required safety and durability standards.

Benefits of Vibration Testing for Packaging Solutions

Vibration testing offers numerous benefits, making it an essential practice for any company concerned with product safety and customer satisfaction:

• Reliability and Durability: Packaging that passes vibration testing is proven to be more reliable and durable, reducing the risk of product damage.
• Cost Savings: By preventing damage, companies save on costs associated with returns, replacements, and repairs.
• Customer Satisfaction: Ensuring products arrive intact boosts customer satisfaction and loyalty, fostering long-term relationships.

Vibration testing does not have to be completed in-house, however. Many packaging suppliers and manufacturers will be able to assist with the testing stage, helping businesses save time and money, while keeping excellent levels of quality assurance.

Purchase Quality-Assured Packaging from Crownhill Packaging

While all business owners want to deliver quality for their buyers, it is often not feasible nor realistic to test your own packaging in-house. This is especially true for smaller businesses or those with an ever-expanding product range, where needing to stop and test your packaging could severely slow down your business operations.

Fortunately, by working with a trusted packaging supplier like Crownhill Packaging, a SupplyOne Canada Company, you can get quality-assured and industry-compliant packaging products. This includes essential products such as custom packaging and environmentally-friendly packaging, as well as cutting-edge packaging services like on-demand packaging.

To learn more about how we can help your business, reach out to our friendly team today. We look forward to hearing from you!