in this issue...

To view the iNews archives, click here.

(advertisements)

December 2006 

 


To all ISTA members and friends, best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and for a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous 2007. Our sincere thanks for your support and friendship, which makes our progress possible.

The headquarters office will close for a few days in observance of the holidays. We will be closed December 25 and 26 (Monday and Tuesday), and again on January 1 and 2 (Monday and Tuesday). There also may be somewhat limited staff and hours at other times, but if you send an e-mail or leave a phone message we’ll respond as quickly as possible.

                                                                                                                                Back to top


Han Xueshan Becomes First Non-U.S. CPLP Professional
Han Xueshan of China Packaging Research & Test Center has achieved highest status in ISTA’s Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional program, the first person outside the U.S. to do so.
 
 
   

Mr. Han, Senior Engineer and Deputy Director of CPRTC, sped through the program in record time. He took the Technician exam in October during the ISTA-China conference in Tianjin, did the Technologist level on-line in November, and then submitted his résumé and qualified as a Professional in early December.
 
 


The Professional résumé covers a number of categories, including education, employment, industry participation and support, honors and awards, etc. Significant emphasis is also placed on contributions to the field through speaking, writing, and teaching. Mr. Han’s career in packaging has been outstanding in all respects.

Mr. Han received his B.S. degree from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 1991, and started work for CPRTC as a Test Engineer responsible for equipment maintenance and calibration. In 2000 he became Senior Engineer and Director of the lab, and in 2005 was named Deputy Director for all of CPRTC. His project participation has included conditioning room development; shock and vibration analysis systems; package designs for appliances, electronics, telecommunications, and computers; package cushioning research; and field data measurement. His work on a water spray testing facility and development of a gas transmission tester earned him two Technological Progress Awards from the China National Packaging Corporation. He has also participated in the preparation of several national standards, including those for Packaging Terms, Random Vibration Test Methods, and Plastic Pallets among others.

Mr. Han has had extensive training in the application and operation of all types of packaging laboratory equipment, and is also an expert in quality management. He is certified as an Internal Quality Auditor, and for Quality Supervision and Inspection. He is a member of ASTM International and the China Association for Quality Inspection.

Mr. Han has attended and presented at a number of international forums in China organized by the China National Packaging Corporation. He also spoke at the 2005 and 2006 ISTA-China conferences, has attended several Pack Expos in Chicago, and this year was at Dimensions.06. He has published articles in China Packaging News and elsewhere. He has been a guest lecturer at Northeast Forestry University, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, and Lanzhou Jiaotong University, and currently holds the title of Director of Packaging, Technological Instructive Committee, Printing Engineering Department, at the Tianjin Vocational University.

ISTA is very pleased to recognize Han Xueshan as the first international CPLP-Professional. Congratulations!

For information on the CPLP program, Click Here.
                                                                                                                                Back to top 


Procedure 3A Editorial Improvements for 2007
Procedure 3A, the general simulation test for Parcel Delivery System Shipment, will be improved and clarified for 2007. These editorial changes will be incorporated in the on-line and printed versions effective early 2007, and will be published in the 2007 Resource Book.
  

The changes are as follows:
     • Page 7, Equipment Required Additional: a statement will be added specifying that dunnage
       packages which are ballasted to meet the weight requirements must have internal voids filled
       to prevent movement of the ballast.
     • Page 7, Equipment Required Additional, Dunnage Packages: approximate sizes will be given
       for the overnight envelope, #5 padded mailer, and #6 padded mailer.
     • Page 8, Identification of Faces, Edges, and Corners: a note will be added that the most stable
       orientation may be different from the intended shipping orientation.
     • Page 14, Before You Begin Optional Vibration: add “torr” to metric units for barometric
       pressure. Some vacuum (altitude) chamber gages read in torr; a torr is the same as a
       millimeter of mercury (mm Hg).
     • Pages 16, 18, 19, and 20, Test Blocks 4, 5, 6, and 7: the required random vibration spectrum
       will be more prominently stated. Although the spectrum is always specified in one of the Steps,
       easier identification will be helpful.
     • Page 19, Test Block 6: the checkbox for “Small” will be changed to “do NOT test in bag”. This
       was an error in the 2006 version of 3A (the 2004 and 2005 versions were correct). These types
       of packages are NOT in bags during Pick-Up and Delivery.
     • Page 20, Test Block 7: the checkbox for “Small” will be changed to “do NOT test in bag”. The
       test is conducted with Face 6 down, but a bag doesn’t have a face 6. Obviously this test was
       intended to be conducted with the packaged-product NOT in a bag.
     • Page 21, Test Block 8: the “Small (in a bag)” orientation descriptions will be changed to
       correspond with the mailbag identification on page 8.

Click Here for an overview of Procedure 3A. ISTA members may log in (upper right corner of this page), choose Procedure Search, and download the complete document. If you have questions, or for further information, contact Meredith Dougherty or Bill Kipp.
 
                                                                                                                                
Back to top


Top-Load Apparatus for Procedure 3A – Innovative Ideas?
Some vibration tests in Procedure 3A must be conducted with a top load on the packaged-product. The top-load apparatus requirements are clearly stated, but in some situations can require a fair amount of work to implement. If YOU have an innovative approach, we’d like to know about it.

The top-load requirements are on page 12 of the Procedure. Essentially they are:
     • A container with a rigid load-spreader in the bottom,
     • With bottom face dimensions not smaller than those of the
       package face to be tested (3-axis testing is required), but
       not more than 1 inch (25 mm) larger,
     • Weighted to the required top load,
     • With void fill to keep the weights from moving within
       the apparatus,
     • Some means of keeping the top load on the specimen and
       preventing bouncing.
                                                                                                       Top Load illustration from 3A 
 

If test items are always the same size, or if there are only a few sizes, the job of custom-making several top load apparatus configurations (and weights) is reasonable. But for contract labs or situations involving a large variety of package sizes, the amount of work multiplies rapidly.

Do YOU have good approach to meeting the requirements and minimizing the work? If you do and would like to share, please send us brief descriptions and photos – we’ll publicize the information and give you credit. Send to Bill Kipp at ISTA, or just call him at (650-355-7211) and tell him about your method.  

                                                                                                                                                                          Back to top


First Ever ISTA Member in Jordan!
Mirsalcom Transport & Delivery Services recently joined ISTA, becoming the first ever (and our one and only) member in Jordan. CEO and Founder Dr. Emad Adnan Mustafa Al-Ftyiah is already very active with ISTA and packaging in general. 
 
                          

               From left: Ed Church, Meredith Dougherty, Dr. Eman Adnan, Bill Kipp in the ISTA Booth at Pack Expo 
 

Shortly after joining ISTA, Dr. Emad participated in the CPLP Workshop (where he became a CPLP-Technician) and Conference in Tianjin, China. The next month he attended Pack Expo in Chicago (see photo). We’re now looking forward to seeing him at Dimensions.07 in Florida!

Mirsalcom Transport is located in Amman, Jordan and is a unique courier and e-payment service provider to satisfy needs of the local Jordanian market. They specialize in the delivery of pharmaceuticals, perishables, temperature-sensitive items, grocery and food items, electronics, and urgent documents. Packaging expertise and testing will support the safe transport of goods.

Visit the Mirsalcom website for further information.

                                                                                                                                
Back to top 


Dimensions.07 Brochure in Mail, On Website

The complete Dimensions.07 brochure has been mailed and you should be receiving it soon. It’s also available immediately as a .pdf file from the Dimensions website.
                   
Dimensions is the best-attended educational forum on transport packaging in the world. The program includes a balance of technical information, case studies, and practical applications which offers value to both the newcomer and the seasoned professional. And Dimensions’ special events, networking, and business opportunities combine to make it a “must-attend” event.

The new brochure includes:
     • General information
     • An overview (“Forum At A Glance”)
     • Details of the special events
          > CPLP workshop
          > Golf
          > Welcome reception
          > Meetings and other presentations
     • Thanks to the forum sponsors
     • Abstracts of each presentation
     • Speaker biographies
     • Hotel information
     • How to get discounted park tickets
     • Transportation
     • A registration form 
 
You can register on-line at the Dimensions website, by mail to ISTA at 1400 Abbott Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-1900, by fax to 517-333-3813, or by phone to 517-333-3437. If your organization has year-end funds, the time to register is NOW! And don’t forget the Early Bird registration discount, which applies through January 27.

Plan now to attend!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Back to top