JANUARY 2004

Combined Vibration and Altitude Test Being Added to Project 3A

The combination of vibration and low atmospheric pressure can cause problems for airtight containers, even for those which have successfully passed separate vibration and differential pressure tests. This is the conclusion of Dr. Paul Singh’s Dimensions.02 presentation “Effects of High Altitude on Package Integrity” and subsequent work.

Since ISTA Project 3A (see last month’s iNews) is a new general simulation test for packaged-products shipped through an air or ground parcel delivery system, it’s logical that such a combined test should be included in 3A as an option. With encouragement from the FAA, this work has been underway for some time and will be posted on the Technical Committee section of the ISTA Discussion Forum for your review and comment within the next few weeks. Contact Meredith Young at ISTA headquarters if you’d like access to this section of the Forum.

ISTA Project 3B Being Planned

Just as Project 3A is a comprehensive test protocol for parcel delivery system shipments, Project 3B is planned as a comprehensive test for shipments by LTL motor freight.

The idea is for 3B to incorporate the latest information regarding shock (equivalent drop heights and other impacts), random vibration spectra, top loads, atmospheric conditions, etc. for “standard” and “odd-shaped” packaged-products. Anyone interested in working on this project, or having data/information on the LTL environment, is encouraged to contact Ed Church at ISTA headquarters.

Information Needed – How Do Plastic Packages Perform Under Load?

When plastic packages are compressed (as when they’re carrying all or part of the load in warehousing and storage), how does their strength vary with time and temperature? Corrugated box strength vs. time and humidity is well documented, but data on plastic packages doesn’t seem to be as readily available. ISTA would like to have such data for use in its testing protocols – particularly the upcoming Project 4AB, where even fairly complicated relationships could be incorporated into the program. If you have information or experience in this area, please contact Bill Kipp at ISTA.

ISTA and IoPP are currently providing links to an important new survey of the product-manufacturing packaging community. The PkgIT Survey is aimed at providing the packaging community with a window into the rapidly changing technology landscape within which it functions. That change is often not driven by the needs of packaging departments. Getting at the complexity of this scenario and trying to discover common threads is what this survey is about. Packaging is a horizontal discipline, and packaging professionals can learn from each other across sectors.

So please take the survey. The more participation in the survey, the more useful the data will be to all of us. The survey takes about 15 minutes. Every participant will receive the summarized results and the accompanying study after they are presented at the Dimensions04 conference in April.

If you have many members in your packaging group or many divisions around your company with packaging groups, get them all to take the survey. Companies that request it will receive a detailed, confidential report of their own company's responses. This can be useful for understanding the varying needs and priorities around the extended enterprise. To request this option, or for any other information, please contact the PkgIT Survey Team at survey@gpkg.com.

Parcel Forum Presentation Booklet Available

At the Parcel Shipping & Distribution Forum in Chicago last October, attendees at the ISTA session were given color printouts of our Powerpoint slides. A limited quantity of these booklets is available.

ISTA’s presentation was titled “Limiting In-Transit Damage: The Do’s and Don’ts of Packaging”, and explained the many aspects of ISTA testing and how it relates to transport packaging, as well as detail on the application and benefits of ISTA education and certification services. The printout booklets are 63 pages, full-color, and spiral-bound. A limited number are available at $40 each, contact Lisa Sabala at ISTA headquarters if you’d like one.

Register NOW to Get Early-Bird Discount

Register for Dimensions.04 by January 30th and save roughly 10 percent off the Conference Rate. Additional attendees from the same company earn a further $100 discount. Click Here for complete information.

Be Sure to Complete Your ENTIRE Registration Form

Be certain to indicate, on your Dimensions registration form, which of the special events and sessions you and your guests would like to attend. Don’t be disappointed at the last minute!

All registered Dimensions attendees are invited to the Welcome Reception and Exhibitors Reception at no extra charge, but any guests must be signed up and pay an additional fee. The Cold Chain Workshop and Lab Council Meeting are free. “It’s a Family Thing” is free but we must know how many people, particularly children, will attend. The CPLP Workshop requires registration and payment of an additional fee. And, as usual, sign-ups for golf are particularly limited. All of these are on the registration form – please fill it out carefully! Click Here to register.

Speaker on Electronic Product Code Added to Dimensions.04 Program

Field trials are now getting underway for an emerging technology that may potentially revolutionize the supply chain. Hear about EPC at Dimensions.

Bud Babcock, Manager of Logistics Packaging and Product ID for Procter & Gamble, is a recent addition to the Dimensions program to present this fascinating and important subject. As Chairman of the EAN*UCC Physical Technical Requirements Group, which governs global standards for Product ID and Bar Coding, Bud is a leading proponent of EPC. Learn what trading partners need to do to ensure successful launch and execution, and what testing is required to ensure that EPC tags can survive the rigors of transit.

Dimensions Cold Chain Technology Workshop

If you’re concerned with the distribution of temperature-sensitive shipments, don’t miss this workshop! To be held Wednesday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to noon (prior to the official start of the Dimensions program), the Cold Chain Management and Distribution Workshop will be chaired by Larry Gordon of Cold Chain Technologies. Rich Hollander of Pfizer will present findings of the USP Package, Storage, and Distribution Expert Committee; Jeff Seeley of Merck will speak about recent progress of the PDA Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Discussion Group; and David Nelson of FedEx will review his company’s experience with monitoring ambient temperatures of small parcel shipments.

There's no additional charge for Dimensions registrants to attend this workshop, but please register (there’s a box on the registration form) so that everyone can be accommodated.

Dimensions Sponsorships Still Available

In addition to supporting Dimensions, ISTA, and IoPP, your company can enjoy recognition and tangible benefits by becoming a Dimensions.04 Sponsor. Four levels are available.

For complete details, Click Here.  All sponsors will receive recognition on the ISTA, IoPP, and Dimensions websites, a listing and notice in the ISTA and IoPP newsletters (read by over 6000 members), as well as signs and announcements during the four-day forum. In addition, Gold Sponsors will receive one free Exhibitor space, while Platinum Sponsors will receive an Exhibitor space and a free conference registration!

Packaging World Joins Dimensions as Media Partner    

Packaging World, with a circulation to nearly 100,000 packaging professionals spread across all package-using industries, has become the exclusive Media Partner for Dimensions.04.

Packaging World will be instrumental in promoting the Forum’s program and events through its print publication, e-newsletters and website. Ed Church and Ed Landon, ISTA and IoPP’s Executive Directors agree, “We are very pleased with the relationship because the people who read this leading publication are the very people who will be attending, presenting and even exhibiting at Dimensions.04”. Visit the Packaging World website, or come meet their representatives at Dimensions.