Choosing a transport packaging solution should not be based only on appearance, material or price.
Before a new packaging design is approved for regular shipments, manufacturers and exporters should evaluate whether it can perform under the actual conditions it will experience during packing, storage, handling and transportation.
Depending on the application, this may involve:
– Product-fit evaluation
– Compression testing
– Bending testing
– Strapping testing
– Static load assessment
– Forklift handling trials
– Stacking evaluation
– Moisture-condition review
– Trial shipments
– Post-delivery inspection
Eltete Malaysia states that compression, bending and strapping testing can be provided in-house when required. Its quality-control capabilities also include tensile strength, moisture content, thickness, angularity and GSM testing for relevant paper-based packaging products.
The important point is that not every packaging application requires exactly the same tests.
The evaluation should reflect the product, packaging configuration and real logistics process.
Quick Answer: How Should Transport Packaging Be Tested?
Before approving new transport packaging, evaluate whether it can:
– Support the product weight
– Maintain its structure under compression
– Resist bending where required
– Handle the pressure created by strapping
– Protect vulnerable product areas
– Work with the required forklift or handling equipment
– Remain stable during stacking or storage
– Perform under expected environmental conditions
– Survive the actual transportation process
The final test programme should be selected according to the individual packaging application.
Why Is Transport Packaging Testing Important?
A packaging design may look strong while sitting empty but behave differently after it is:
– Fully loaded
– Stacked
– Lifted
– Strapped
– Stored
– Moved by forklift
– Loaded into a container
– Transported over a long distance
For that reason, evaluating the complete packaging configuration is more useful than looking at an individual component alone.
Eltete’s existing guidance recommends associating test results with the exact product, load arrangement, packaging configuration, handling method and environmental conditions used during evaluation.
1. Product-Fit Evaluation
Testing should begin before any laboratory-style strength test.
First determine whether the packaging actually fits and supports the product correctly.
A packaging trial can examine:
– Product dimensions
– Contact points
– Support areas
– Clearance
– Sensitive surfaces
– Product movement
– Loading process
– Unloading process
– Forklift access
Eltete describes sample and prototype evaluation as part of developing application-specific transport packaging, including checking fit, support, clearance, movement and handling access.
Why It Matters
Even strong packaging may perform poorly if:
The product can move inside it
Weight is concentrated in the wrong area
Protective profiles do not contact the correct surfaces
Forklift access is restricted
There is too much internal clearance
The packaging should therefore be designed around the actual product rather than only around an external box dimension.
2. Compression Testing
Compression testing evaluates how a packaging material or structure responds when compressive force is applied.
This can be particularly relevant when packaging must support:
– Heavy products
– Stacked loads
– Warehouse storage
– Palletised cartons
– Structural packaging components
Eltete lists compression testing among its in-house testing capabilities for paper-based transport packaging.
What Can Affect Compression Performance?
Performance can depend on:
– Packaging design
– Material specification
– Product weight
– Load distribution
– Support points
– Packaging dimensions
– Storage conditions
– Environmental conditions
A compression-test result should therefore be associated with the specific tested configuration rather than treated as a universal value for every application.
3. Bending Testing
Some packaging components must resist bending rather than only vertical compression.
This can become important for:
– Paper pallet components
– Pallet runners
– Long profiles
– Boards spanning unsupported areas
– Heavy products
– Racking applications
Eltete identifies bending testing as another in-house capability that may be provided when required.
Why Bending Matters
Consider a packaging component that is fully supported on a warehouse floor.
Its behaviour may change when part of that structure becomes unsupported during:
– Forklift lifting
– Rack storage
– Conveyor movement
– Product handling
Bending performance can therefore be an important consideration for packaging that must bridge support points.
4. Strapping Testing
Strapping is commonly used to secure products or complete pallet loads.
However, the strap itself creates pressure.
High strap tension may create concentrated forces around:
– Product corners
– Carton edges
– Pallet edges
– Protective boards
– Packaging panels
Eltete states that it can provide strapping testing when required and uses products such as Edgeboard and protective profiles to create protected contact areas around strapping applications.
What Should Be Checked?
A strapping evaluation can consider:
– Strap position
– Strap tension
– Edge protection
– Packaging deformation
– Product contact
– Movement after securing
The objective is not simply to make the strap tighter.
It is to secure the load without damaging the packaging or the product.
5. Static Load Evaluation
If a pallet or load platform will support heavy products, its performance while stationary may need to be evaluated.
Static loading normally represents a condition where the loaded packaging remains supported and stationary.
However, a static test alone does not represent every condition that occurs during transportation.
The packaging may later experience:
– Forklift lifting
– Movement
– Racking
– Stacking
– Vibration
– Repeated handling
For this reason, a static-load result should not automatically be treated as the operating capacity for every logistics condition.
6. Forklift Handling Trials
A packaging solution must work with the equipment used in the real warehouse.
Forklift trials can help evaluate:
– Fork entry
– Pallet accessibility
– Runner positioning
– Load balance
– Movement
– Lifting
– Turning
– Placement
– Unloading
Eltete recommends that handling equipment at both origin and destination be considered when developing the transport packaging configuration.
This is particularly important when changing:
– Pallet design
– Pallet dimensions
– Fork-entry direction
– Load platform
– Handling method
A packaging solution that performs well during storage must still be practical for the people and equipment handling it.
7. Stacking Evaluation
Some products may remain stacked for significant periods during:
– Warehouse storage
– Container loading
– Distribution
– Temporary storage
A stacking evaluation should consider the complete loaded unit.
Questions may include:
Can the lower packaging support the load above it?
Does the load remain aligned?
Are cartons being crushed?
Are Edgeboards or other structural components performing correctly?
Does the load remain stable over time?
Eltete includes stacking evaluation among the possible methods for assessing complete transport packaging configurations.
8. Moisture-Condition Evaluation
Paper-based transport packaging should also be assessed according to the environmental conditions in which it will be used.
Factors may include:
– Warehouse humidity
– Transport duration
– Container conditions
– Condensation exposure
– Destination climate
– Storage conditions
Eltete includes moisture-content testing among its quality-control capabilities and advises that environmental conditions be considered when selecting and evaluating packaging.
The objective is not to assume that every shipment will experience the same environment.
Instead, the packaging should be evaluated according to the expected conditions of the actual supply chain.
9. Trial Shipment
Laboratory or in-house testing can provide valuable information, but an actual shipment can reveal issues that may not appear during an individual component test.
A trial shipment can help evaluate what happens during:
Packing → Storage → Loading → Transportation → Unloading → Destination handling
Eltete includes trial shipments among the evaluation methods that may be appropriate before a new packaging configuration is fully implemented.
What Should Be Checked After Delivery?
Inspect:
– Product condition
– Packaging deformation
– Corner damage
– Load movement
– Pallet condition
– Strap condition
– Protective components
– Signs of excessive moisture
– Handling damage
Documenting the results can help determine whether changes are required before regular implementation.
Test the Complete Packaging System — Not Only One Component
Transport packaging rarely consists of only one product.
A complete palletised shipment may include:
– Paper Pallet
– Slip Sheet
– PallRun®
– EdgeRunner®
– Edgeboard
– Honeycomb Board
– Protective profiles
– Strapping
– Stretch film
– Dunnage Bags
– Other packaging components
Eltete’s Transport Packaging Solutions approach combines different components according to the product and application.
Testing one component separately may therefore provide only part of the answer.
Where appropriate, the complete packaging configuration should be evaluated together.
What Information Should Be Recorded During Testing?
Good packaging validation should document what was actually tested.
Record information such as:
– Product
– Product description
– Product dimensions
– Product weight
– Quantity
– Load distribution
– Packaging
– Pallet dimensions
– Packaging materials
– Board specifications
– Protective profiles
– Strap type
– Strap position
– Complete arrangement
– Handling
– Forklift type
– Fork-entry direction
– Handling process
– Number of movements
– Storage
– Storage duration
– Stacking configuration
– Rack configuration
– Environmental conditions
– Transport
– Transport method
– Destination
– Journey duration
– Number of handling points
This is important because changing one part of the configuration may change the result.
Eltete similarly advises that testing results should be tied to the exact product, load arrangement, packaging configuration, handling method and environmental conditions evaluated.
Questions to Ask Before Approving New Transport Packaging
Before giving final approval, procurement, logistics and quality teams should ask:
– Has the packaging been evaluated with the actual product?
– Can it support the required load?
– Has weight distribution been considered?
– Does it work with our forklift?
– Does the destination use the same handling equipment?
– Will the load be stacked?
– Will it be stored in warehouse racks?
– Is strapping required?
– Are product corners adequately protected?
– What environmental conditions will it experience?
– Has the proposed configuration been tested?
– Should a trial shipment be completed?
– What should be inspected after delivery?
– Are measurable claims based on the exact approved configuration?
This makes packaging approval a structured decision rather than simply choosing a material and sending it into production.
What Tests Can Eltete Malaysia Provide?
Eltete Malaysia states that its quality-control capabilities include tests and measurements such as:
– Compression testing
– Bending testing
– Strapping testing
– Tensile-strength testing
– Moisture-content testing
– Thickness measurement
– Angularity measurement
– GSM testing
The applicable tests depend on the packaging product and application.
Eltete can also develop packaging around the customer’s product dimensions, weight, handling method, storage requirements and transport conditions rather than treating every shipment as an identical application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – Should transport packaging be tested before use?
A – For new or demanding applications, evaluating the proposed packaging before regular implementation can help determine whether it is suitable for the actual product, handling and transport conditions.
Q – What is compression testing in packaging?
A – Compression testing evaluates how a packaging material or structure responds to compressive force. The relevant configuration and conditions should be identified when interpreting the result.
Q – Why is bending testing important?
A – Bending testing may be relevant when packaging components must span unsupported areas or resist bending during handling, lifting or storage.
Q – Why should strapping be tested?
A – ZAStrapping creates concentrated pressure on the packaging. Testing can help evaluate whether the load can be secured without excessive deformation or damage around strap contact points.
Q – Is laboratory testing enough?
A – Not always. Depending on the application, handling trials, stacking evaluation and trial shipments may also provide useful information about actual transport performance.
Q – Does Eltete Malaysia provide packaging testing?
Eltete Malaysia states that it can provide compression, bending and strapping testing when required and lists additional quality-control capabilities including tensile strength, moisture content, thickness, angularity and GSM measurements.
Evaluate Packaging Before Making It Standard
Transport packaging needs to perform throughout the logistics process—not only when it leaves the packing station.
The appropriate validation process depends on:
Product + Load + Packaging Design + Handling + Storage + Environment + Transportation
Instead of asking only:
“Is this packaging strong enough?”
A better question is:
“Has this packaging been evaluated under conditions that represent how we will actually use it?”
Eltete Malaysia provides paper-based Transport Packaging Solutions and testing capabilities that can support the evaluation of packaging for specific products and logistics applications.
Contact Eltete Malaysia to discuss your transport packaging requirements and the appropriate evaluation for your application.
