How to Make the Project 3B Corner Impact Hazard Box
ISTA’s recently-released performance test, Project 3B “Packaged-Products for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Shipment”, includes a concentrated corner impact element. This requires a 3 lb. hazard box with a reinforced corner. Here’s how to build that box.

The test is required for non-rigid containers where the outer package may offer insufficient protection from concentrated low-level impacts, such as stretch- or shrink-wrap, thin-flute corrugated board, paper wraps, etc. It consists of dropping or swinging (as a pendulum) the hazard box onto the package being tested.

From Project 3B:

As can be seen, detailed construction of the box is not specified in 3B, but Rich Thomas of Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has built and used a design which is practical and seems to work well.

Rich fabricated the box from 6 ea. 0.75 inch thick pieces of red oak and 1 ea. 0.25 inch thick piece of poplar, each cut to 4.75 inches square. The pieces were laminated together to form a 4.75 inch cube, using glue and Spax® construction screws (available at hardware and building-supply stores). The reinforcing ball impact corner is a Penn-Elcom® C1340Z, purchased online by clicking here. Total weight of the laminated box, including the pendulum eyes, was slightly more than required, so lightening holes were drilled as shown to bring it down to precisely 3 lbs.

Thanks, Rich, for the good work and for sharing your expertise and knowledge! Contact Bill Kipp at ISTA (bkipp@ista.org) if you need further information.

Upcoming ISTA Educational Events
Take advantage of the power of knowledge! We are offering several educational events this fall to help you stay current with relevant industry issues and keep up-to-date on the newest innovations and best practices in transport packaging. ISTA events offer unique opportunities for you to collaborate and connect with your peers and global experts. We are leaders in representing, educating and promoting the transport packaging industry and we invite you to learn more about our educational events and to explore the many reasons why you should register today!

The 2009 ISTA China Packaging Symposium will be hosted by ISTA, ISTA-China and the Transportation Committee of the China Packaging Federation – (TCCPF) and presented by the Testing Laboratory of China Packaging Research & Test Centre – CPRTC. A balance of speakers from China, Asia, the U.S., and Europe will ensure a global perspective, offering presentations on international packaging technology, packaging design, packaged-product testing, the distribution environment, global supply chains, sustainability, packaging materials, and more. Complete program details.

ISTA’s Field Data Workshop II will be held at the James B. Henry Center for Executive Development on the Michigan State University Campus in East Lansing, Michigan. The workshop will review important information from the first Field Data Workshop for newcomers and will then address the basic ISTA techniques for analyzing data and translating it into meaningful testing profiles. Attendance at the first Field Data Workshop is not a prerequisite for attending this second of a series of workshops. Utilizing guest speaker case studies, ISTA requirements and guideline presentations you will gain further insight into package shock/impact, drop and vibration field data analysis and summation techniques that would effectively contribute to ISTA’s “Data Depot” and to the development and enhancement of ISTA Test Procedures. Complete program details.

ISTA and ITENE invite you to attend ISTA’s European Packaging Symposium to be held in Valencia, Spain. This will be the first Symposium by ISTA to be held in Europe and will bring together packaging experts from all around the world. It is expected to be the largest European Symposium of Packaging and Distribution. The Symposium will be held at facilities of ITENE in Valencia. Optimizing packaging for the supply chain and understanding the demands of the distribution environment will be presented along with real case studies. Real cases will be presented from companies like: Procter & Gamble, DTI, Smurfit Kappa, Hewlett Packard, Tetra Pak, Sealed Air, PIRA, Innventia AB, Michigan State University, ISTA, ITENE and others. Complete program details.

Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities
ISTA educational events offer excellent opportunities for your company to present your products or services to your customers—one-on-one during dedicated exhibition times and through pre-event and onsite promotions. Explore the options within each events website and secure your spot today!

CPLP Workshops
Several times a year ISTA offers in-person CPLP workshops for those who prefer to attend a workshop rather than become CPLP through the self-study format. We are currently offering workshops in Queretaro, Mexico, Shenzhen, China and in East Lansing, Michigan. Check out the dates below.

So how does this work? Workshop participants are sent the CPLP Lesson and Study materials in advance, as well as an ISTA Resource Book and instructions. The classes then include presentation of the material by a qualified instructor, discussion, and Q&A, followed by administration of the exam. Anyone may participate in the workshops, but only ISTA members, or employees of ISTA-member companies, may take the exams to become CPLP-Certified. Successful applicants receive a certificate and lapel pin, have their names published in the ISTA Views newsletter and on the ISTA website, and may use the "CPLP" designation in their professional titles.

To learn more about each of these workshops select a location below to go directly to the website.

Visit the ISTA website to learn more about the CPLP Program and ISTA membership opportunities.

Data Analysis of the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain via Parcel Delivery
Project to Begin
ISTA anticipates that the first stage of data analysis of the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain via Parcel Delivery Project with be completed by the end of this August. Drs. Jean-Pierre Emond and William Pelletier of the University of Florida will produce new hot and cold temperature profiles from the data collected in July of 2008 and this past January. The process will then start defining each of some 150 specific lanes of transport for use by individual pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. ISTA will also begin the process of incorporating the new profiles into ISTA 7B – Thermal Controlled Transport Packaging for Parcel Delivery Shipment.

ISTA and the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Interest Group (PCCIG) have been working together to develop preshipment packaged-product performance tests based upon the temperature ranges found in the parcel delivery distribution environment in the US. Exclusive sponsorship opportunities for interested partners and companies to become Program Sponsors for this important project are still available. Click here to learn more about the benefits of becoming a sponsor.

Chester J. Mackson Executive Office
In the March issue of i-News we published information regarding the high level office space that the MSU School of Packaging is creating in honor of the late Dr. Chester Mackson. This private office will house important visitors such as speakers, dignitaries, and other individuals working with program development and implementation and will be fully equipped with the latest computer hardware and software. Donations have already been generously contributed or pledged to begin the renovation but they are still in need of additional funds to make this office dedicated to Chet a reality.

Chet Mackson, former Director of the MSU School of Packaging, died May 21, 2008 at the age of 88. He was Director of the School from 1977 - 1986 during one of the School’s most expansive, and successful periods.

To contribute to the development of the Chester J. Mackson Executive Office, please send a check payable to Michigan State University, to the attention of Bruce Harte, Michigan State University, 141 Packaging Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1223.

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