Since the packaging industry has to ensure that products are not damaged in transportation and storage, corrugated board packaging has to withstand the rigorous conditions stemming from global trade and logistics. Packaging must be both tough and robust, able to support heavy weight loads. Edge Crush Tester (ECT) has become an important tool for testing the strength of packaging, allowing assurance that corrugated boards and boxes can take stacked and transported loads.
ECT measures the capability of corrugated fiberboards to resist the crushing effect at the edges. It is the most important test in establishing the stacking strength of the boxes, and manufacturers are able to produce packing meeting the highest standard of performance.
We will be discussing in this blog the process and importance of edge crush testing, the reasons why Presto is the market leader in conducting an ECT, and its significant benefits for the packaging industry.
The edgewise compressive strength of corrugated fiberboard can be determined through a standard test method known as edge crush testing. This is one of the potential tests that will measure the amount of force before failure. This information will help us understand the stacking and handling performance of boxes made from corrugated materials.
The test procedure compresses the edge of a corrugated board between two platens up to its breaking point. From this test, manufacturers can deduce whether the material is appropriate for packaging goods, especially those to be transported in bulk or piled during storage.
Presto happens to be a name with which many material testing instruments are associated. The Edge Crush Testers by Presto has been a forerunner in terms of accuracy and ease of operation for over four decades now, undoubtedly much ahead of the competition, and in international standardization, whether it is ISO or ASTM.
We, at Presto, take pride in our cutting-edge technology and extensive research and customer support. Our ECT machines deliver test results reliably and make operation easy, which means you achieve accuracy in the shortest time possible, be it minutes, hours, or days- reasons why our products can be found in every testing lab around the world.
When it comes to edge crush testing, Presto is the one that stands head and shoulder above the rest in its deliverance of robust and efficient solutions that businesses can count on for their packaging.
Packaging has its role mainly in the protection of a product from production to the customer. However, throughout these processes, including transportation and storage, several forces come into play, such as compression, impact, and vibration forces.
Without going too technical, if the strength of packaging materials, especially the corrugated boxes used, is too weak, the damage to the products will surely happen.
Packaging strength has a direct effect on the quality of the product, customer satisfaction, and cost. Damaged products due to weak packaging incur not only financial loss but also damage to the brand's reputation. Also, oversized engineered packaging that takes more materials than necessary wastage ensues besides higher costs, so an attempt is required to strike a balance between cost-effectiveness and strength, and edge crush testing comes as a reliable measure for it.
This is particularly focused on the edges of the corrugated board, which are its weakest points where the highest compression stress occurs. Testing will ensure the boxes do not collapse when stacked and, therefore, serve as an essential quality check in the packaging industry.
In order to ensure that the packaging materials are reliable, these have to abide by adopted standards. Edge crush testing abides by internationally accepted testing standards, comprising those in ISO 3037 and ASTM D6414. Apart from the assurance of uniformity in testing methods across various platforms, results obtained from such tests tend to be comparable between different testing environments.
ISO 3037: This standard introduces guidelines for the edge crush test on corrugated boards. It states the dimensions of test specimens, compressive speed, and conditions that define board strength.
ASTM D6414: This standard describes the test method for measuring the edgewise compressive strength of a corrugated fiberboard. It will provide the reading as well as the methodology used in interpreting the result as well as proving the accurate testing equipment.
These guidelines can be followed by a business to certify packaging as reliable in delivering global performance expectations.
Edge Crush Testing provides an advantage for manufacturers and packaging designers by containing;
Edgewise crush testing is fundamental because it measures the material's ability to resist compressive forces, and this is what is necessary for the determination of the performance of boxes during stacking and shipping.
The utilization of ECT enables a manufacturer to make the best use of material usage in a manner in which packaging is made robust but not resource-dismantlingly exploited thus saving on costs.
Be it e-commerce, food & beverages, pharmaceutical, or electronic products packaged product packaging safety through edge crush testing is mandatory.
Working with Presto ensures your packaging products are tested with the latest available technology and according to international standards.
Contact us at +919210903903 or send an email to info@prestogroup.com.
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