May 2005 
 

Packaging Services Expo Report

Packaging Services Expo got off to a good start with its inaugural 2005 show and conference in Chicago May 10-12. ISTA was among the 100-plus exhibitors, and also produced one of the conference tracks.
                             
With its first-of-a-kind “services only” emphasis, the Expo was aimed at organizations looking for partners in contract packaging, design, fulfillment, testing, shipping, and related areas. ISTA was one of the supporting organizations (along with Packaging World magazine, IoPP, and the Contract Packaging Association), and our booth (above) promoted the Association along with the various capabilities and services offered by our members.

The ISTA conference track drew 64 registrants to hear an outstanding lineup of speakers. Our thanks to the following people who presented an interesting and varied program:
     • Rick Roberti of SGS U.S. Testing
     • Lejo Brana of Packaging Technology Center
     • Paul Singh of Michigan State University
     • Bob Fiedler of Adalis Corporation
     • Patricia Patrick of Pira International
     • Dick Sheehan of 3M
     • Eric Joneson of Lansmont Corporation
     • Pat Nolan of DDL, Inc.
     • Ed Church and Bill Kipp of ISTA

Plans are already underway for an expanded show and conference for next year. Watch for future announcements.
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Testing & Certification Council Meeting Held at PSE
Since a number of the Testing and Certification Council members were already attending Packaging Services Expo (see previous article), it was decided to hold a short meeting there to discuss Council activities.
                  
In attendance were Eric Joneson of Lansmont, Meredith Young and Bill Kipp of ISTA, Rich Thomas of Smurfit-Stone, Shawn Drager of Springs Window Fashions, Shawn's intern Leslie, Rick Roberti of SGS U.S. Testing, and Richard Nyce of Sauder Woodworking. Also attending by conference call were David Powers of Copeland Corporation, Manny Rosa of Pro-Pack Testing Lab, and Chad Thompson of UPS.

Procedure 3A Review Task Group
Meredith Young gave an update regarding the task group, which began work in early May. This was partially in response to last fall’s member survey, which encouraged a review of all Procedures, and also in response to recent comments that portions of 3A might be confusing or subject to misinterpretation. The approach is for various task members to develop written test plans based on specific package types and scenarios and their understanding of the Procedure. Then Meredith will put together a summary for further discussion and resolution. Chad pointed out that there are some technical changes to be made also, and these will be handled as well (separate from the task group duties).

A private Forum has been set up on the ISTA website; emails went out to all task group members on May 6 with details of the fictional packages, and test plans are due by May 27.

The task group presently has 15 members, but more participants are certainly welcome. If you are interested in helping, please contact Meredith Young.

Project 3B Update
Work on Project 3B has not begun in earnest yet, but the concept is for a testing protocol to simulate the LTL environment. A task group will be formed and we are actively seeking members who have experience with LTL shipping. Ideally there would be a variety of perspectives in the group from manufacturers, shippers, carriers, and testing lab personnel. Contact Meredith Young if you're interested in participating.

Bill Kipp suggested that Project 4AB, when completed, could be used to generate 3B by using a default Distribution Sequence. After discussion, it was decided that the development of 3B and 4AB could proceed in parallel.

ISO Packaging Vocabulary
The International Organization for Standardization is close to adopting a new standard, ISO 21067, on Packaging Vocabulary. The question of whether ISTA should use these definitions, some or all of them, was discussed. It was decided to post the document to the T&C Council Forum board on the ISTA website for comments. This has been done, and Council members are encouraged to provide their inputs.

Private Forum Boards for the Testing and Certification Council
Boards have been set up on the ISTA website for T&C Council business. Council members can access this information by clicking on “Discussion Forums” at the upper right corner of any ISTA web page, then selecting the appropriate board.
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Fast Start for CPLP On-Line Program
The on-line version of ISTA’s Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional program is up and running, with over 30 people presently enrolled. Now Technician and Technologist applicants can access the materials and take their exams using the Internet and a standard web browser.

This is the same tried-and-proven program that has been available in written form, with Lesson and Study modules and a printed exam. But now the on-line version streamlines this process, ensures that applicants are always using the latest material, adds more and better graphics, and is supplemented by a "Slideshow Review" which reinforces the major points. Overall, it's a richer and more compelling educational experience.

Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services helped to jump-start the new format by enrolling multiple people from eight different countries. The convenience of Internet access, instead of mailing and faxing printed materials, was especially attractive for their overseas applicants. At this point BVCPS has among the largest numbers of CPLPs for any single organization, and continues to expand and upgrade their ISTA-certified employees.

To sign up for the on-line CPLP program, Click Here to go to the ISTA website Members Only login screen, then choose “Register for CPLP Program” at the right side. Contact Lisa Sabala at ISTA headquarters if you have any questions or problems. If you wish, printed versions of the materials are still available.

Click Here for complete information on the CPLP program.                                          . 
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Report on CPLP Workshop at Poly Pack
Chad Thompson of UPS, ISTA’s VP of Testing and Certification, presented a Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional workshop in conjunction with Cal Poly’s “Poly Pack” event.

“Poly Pack” is California Polytechnic State University’s annual three-day packaging get-together for industry and education. On May 10th, the day before the event’s official start, Chad presented a CPLP Technician-level Workshop in one of the packaging classrooms. This was an ideal venue for west coast applicants, particularly for those who were attending Poly Pack anyway. Chad’s first experience as a Workshop instructor was quite positive, and he’ll undoubtedly be teaching more in the future.

Click Here for complete information on the CPLP program.
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Procedure Corrections Regarding Relative Humidity
A typographical error was recently brought to our attention which affects Procedures 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3C, 3E, 3F, 3H, 7A, 7B and 7C. One of the Relative Humidity figures is listed as 85%, when it should obviously be 50%.

In the “Before You Begin Atmospheric Conditioning” blocks in the referenced Procedures, the humidity for the “Controlled temperature” sequence should be 50% RH ± 5%. A corrected table is shown below, with the affected Condition highlighted and the correction in red:

  

The Procedures available to members through the ISTA Members Only section of the ISTA website have been corrected. If you use printed copies or Procedures from your Resource Book, it would be a good idea to write in this correction now.

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