Project
4AB Access Free to All Members
Project
4AB, the web-based Enhanced Simulation test plan generator, is available
FREE to all ISTA members during 2007. Non-members may contact ISTA
members to have them demonstrate the program and/or produce a 4AB
Test Plan.
Program access is through the “Member
Login” section of the ISTA website. Once logged in with
your username and password, you’ll see the “ISTA Project
4AB Test Planner” link, which then takes you to the Planner.
A
Project 4AB test plan closely ties the lab tests and sequence to
a user-defined pattern of distribution, and draws upon a broad range
of current and quantitative information on distribution environment
hazards to configure each test element. Click
Here for recently-updated background and details. This information
now includes an overview of the program, with screen shots and explanations
of an example distribution sequence, how data is entered, and excerpts
from the resulting test plan.
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2007
Resource Book in the Mail Soon
The ISTA
Resource Book for 2007 is currently at the printer, and should be
in the mail the first week of February to ISTA members that have
paid their annual dues. Included this year is a self-running CD,
with all the printed information in electronic form.
Updated annually, the Resource Book is a must-have reference for
ISTA, and for transport package
testing information in general. The book (and CD) includes:
• Up-to-date versions of all
twenty-two ISTA testing protocols
• “Guidelines for Selecting
and Using ISTA Test Procedures
and Projects”, including
not only specific guidance, but also
information about packaged-product
testing in general
• An updated directory of ISTA
Certified Testing Laboratories
worldwide, with enhanced listings
for easier reading and use
• Information about the ISTA
organization, programs, membership,
and benefits
• Advertisements and information
from leading companies in the
packaging industry.
Only ISTA members with paid 2007 dues will receive the 2007 Resource
Book and/or CD. Member delegates can visit the “Member
Login” section of the ISTA website and click on “Pay
Dues” at the right to check dues status – and make payment
if required. E-mail any questions to Meredith
Dougherty.
Extra Resource Books for members, or copies for non-members, may
be purchased from the “ISTA E-Market” at the upper-right
corner of this page.
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Top-Load
Apparatus for Procedure 3A
Last
month’s iNews carried an article about the top-load apparatus
for Procedure 3A. In response, we received some useful suggestions
about how to conveniently implement the requirements.
Patrick
McDavid and staff at the UPS lab in Addison, IL are probably the
most experienced at conducting 3A tests, since they run literally
thousands (!) per year. Patrick says they use an apparatus that
is essentially the one shown in the Procedure (left). The container
is a corrugated tray with a wood load spreader in the bottom, loaded
with appropriate weights and void fill, and stretch-wrapped to the
test specimen. For weights, they use lead shot in heavy canvas bags,
packaged in 25 pound increments (the increments required by 3A).
They save the trays and have about 100 currently, so in most instances
the technician simply has to find which size is proper for the item
to be tested.
Bill Vertner
of Xerox in Wilsonville, OR uses a similar approach (see photos).
He buys steel shot from Reloading Specialties, Inc. of Pine Island,
MN – they offer pre-packaged bags in a number of different
sizes and weights.
Chip
Stone of The Hershey Company in Hershey, PA suggested making a fixture
to carry and secure free-weights. This fixture could then be attached
to different wood load spreaders, each correctly sized for the item
to be tested. So the load spreaders would be the only custom-made
pieces for each sample.
Anyone else like to share ideas and experiences? E-mail Bill
Kipp at ISTA.
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Results
of the New Member Survey
ISTA recently
conducted a survey of members who joined in 2006. Our goal was to
find out how they learned of ISTA and how they perceived their membership
so far. We are very pleased with the results!
We heard from a total of 29 new members:
• 9 shippers (product manufacturers)
• 7 suppliers
• 1 carrier
• 6 third-party test labs
• 5 individuals
• 1 student
Of those responding, seventeen currently have a testing lab, three
were thinking of adding a lab in the future, and nine do not have
a lab or current plans for one. Fourteen of the respondents have
had testing done since joining ISTA, and four were planning to test
in the near future. Three of the new ISTA labs have submitted test
reports while the others plan to soon.
How did the new members find out about ISTA? We were surprised that
two-thirds learned of us through word-of-mouth, research into the
testing area, referrals by a lab or supplier, or from past experience.
Only one-third found us through our website and from trade shows.
Why did they join? 34% of the respondents joined ISTA to keep up-to-date
with our testing protocols. Another 28% joined to comply with carrier,
vendor or supplier requirements. The others joined for various reasons,
including taking advantage of our member benefits, participating
in our committees and technical activities, and as part of efforts
to solve damage problems within their companies.
70% of respondents felt their membership had already been beneficial,
while the other 30% (the most recently joined) felt they simply
hadn’t been members long enough to utilize the benefits. We
feel confident they’ll be pleased once they get more involved.
Many thanks to those who replied to our survey! The information
will help us to better understand and serve our membership in the
future.
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Editorial
Changes to Procedures 7A, 7D
Two 7-Series
Test Procedures received editorial changes before being published
for 2007. The changes are not technical, i.e. the test and test
results would be the same as before, but now the Procedures should
be easier to understand and implement.
In Procedure 7A, “Open Reusable Transport Containers…”,
it was specified to fill the container with potatoes for shock testing.
Although 7A was indeed developed and verified using potatoes, it
seemed more reasonable to broaden the requirement. The Procedure
has been revised to change “potatoes” to “simulated
product”.
In Procedure 7D, “Thermal Controlled Transport Packaging…”,
there were questions about the exact sequence of temperature conditions
when the optional drop and vibration test elements were included.
Explanations and wording in the Procedure have been changed to clearly
indicate the proper sequence: preconditioning, drop, first temperature
condition (now called cycle/ramp period), vibration, second temperature
condition, drop, remaining temperature conditions.
All test protocols published in the 2007 Resource Book (see article
above) are up-to-date as of the time of printing. Changes may occur
throughout the year, however, with new versions placed on the ISTA
website and notices posted at www.ista.org/Testing/ProcChanges.htm.
It’s always a good idea to check for a new Procedure version
before running any test. ISTA members can download Procedures anytime
and at no charge by going to the "Member
Login" page and choosing "Procedure Search".
Non-members can purchase Procedures in either electronic or printed
form from the “ISTA E-Market” at the upper-right corner
of this page.
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