IAPRI Working Group:
Distribution Packaging

Mission statement

Mission: To provide a forum for the exchanging views and ideas on distribution packaging research including:

• Identify those issues related to distribution packaging that are seen to be important, relevant to the broader distribution packaging community and need some attention.
• Tackle various aspects relating to distribution packaging that remain unresolved or in serious need of improvement.
• Promote the exchange of students and personnel across institutions.
• Work together to increase the likelihood of attracting research / development funding to assist us in our research

Chair

Vincent Rouillard, Victoria University, Australia

Actions and progress

May 2009 (Greenville, USA)—WG decided to focus on the vibration analysis and simulation issue. The WG discussed various approaches for comparing and evaluating a number of recently proposed laboratory simulation methods. One approach that received broad approval was to make the various methods available to selected laboratories for trial and evaluation using their own products. An information flyer to be distributed to the Distribution Packaging community is currently being prepared. It is planned that outcomes of progress and results will be presented at the 2010 IAPRI conference in China. The Distribution Packaging currently has 34 active members.

Online

mailto:vincent.Rouillard@vu.rdu.au

More information

The establishment of a working group (WG) for Distribution Packaging Research was first proposed by V. Rouillard of Victoria University, Australia, in October 2007. Response to the proposal was generally very positive and widespread. The inaugural meeting of the WG was during the 16th World Conference on Packaging in Bangkok, Thailand in 2008. Some important issues that were proposed during the inaugural meeting in Bangkok meeting were:

• Investigating best methods for collecting (measuring) distribution vibration data. (Leader: W. Kipp)
• Investigation best methods for characterising (analysing) distribution vibration data. (Leader: W. Kipp)
• Development of new methods for the laboratory simulation of distribution vibrations. (Leader: W. Kipp)
• Comparison of various shock & vibration simulation methods with field data. (Leader: G. Wood)
• Establishment of techniques for estimating drop height during distribution and handling. (Leader: W. Kipp)

During the 2009 meeting in Greenville, there was a strong view that, for the immediate future, the WG should focus exclusively on the vibration analysis and simulation issue as there is strong evidence that there exists great and pressing interest in the matter from both IAPRI members and the distribution packaging community at large. Although the current method for simulating distribution vibrations, which has served the packaging community well over the past 25 years, is effective for many situations, there are a number of proposed alternatives that may be useful for achieving greater levels of package optimisation and associated cost deduction. The WG discussed various approaches for comparing and evaluating he recently proposed methods:

• The split PSD method (Joneson)
• The constructed probability spectra method (Root)
• The kurtosis correction method (Vibration Research)
• The statistical vibration synthesis (nonstationary / non-Gaussian) method (Rouillard & Sek)

One approach that received broad approval was to make the various methods available to selected laboratories for trial and evaluation using their own products. It was also suggested that the vibrations from a typical trip be (continuously) measured so that field to lab comparisons using a variety of methods and products could be carried out. Field damage rates would be established by replicating the recorded time signal while laboratory damage rates would be established by simulating the vibrations using any of the proposed simulation methods. The main advantage of this technique is that the field damage rates can be estimated with some degree of statistical soundness by simply repeating the replication test.

The meeting concluded with most members expressing strong interest in participating and assisting on this evaluation programme. Outcomes of progress and results will be presented at the 2010 IAPRI conference in China. An information flyer to be distributed to the Distribution Packaging community is currently being prepared.