04 Sep 2017 08:00 (London Time)

Independent performance validation and peace of mind

DS Smith rigorously tests and validates all the products it designs, ensuring they meet the relevant standards and are able to withstand the challenges of the supply cycle. This performance validation offers peace of mind to automotive customers as components are often shipped around the world, being exposed to all sorts of stresses and varying climates, and remaining in warehouses for anything up to 10 years. There are three stages to the performance validation process:

Unique computer modelling programme

We have developed an innovative computer modelling programme which simulates the supply cycle and measures the potential performance of different materials. We know that having this sort of insight is crucial for our customers. The computer programme considers the pressures the pack might undergo and calculates the best material or board grade to meet the specification. It is able, for example, to predict how much loading a pack can endure before damage or delamination occurs.

Real-life testing

Before any packaging solution goes into production we subject it to a battery of tests to ensure its performance meets our high standards. This could be climatic, drop, burst, puncture, compression, stacking strength, moisture or vibration, as well as horizontal or vertical impact tests.

Independent verification

Knowing how important it is for our customers to be able to guarantee the safe arrival of parts, we go a step further and provide external validation of our packaging. We have established a Central Laboratory (one of only three in the UK) where customers can receive a report confirming that packs have been independently tested and meet the packaging criteria outlined by the UN.

This UN Certification is vital as there are strict laws about how certain items can be transported through the post, by sea and air to prevent the spread of dangerous or hazardous goods in the event of an incident. Within the automotive sector, this often affects the way we transport batteries and air bags in particular. It can be challenging for customers to keep on top of all these regulations but with DS Smith, they can have total confidence that we have UN Certification on all packs.

We work extremely closely with our customers to understand their exact criteria. Depending on where your packaging is going and what it needs to achieve we have the right test to ensure it is up to standard. The unique computer modelling programme, the raft of tests that we put our packaging through and the Central Laboratory provides comprehensive reassurance to customers and means we can absolutely guarantee that our packaging will not let you down.

— Peter Foot, Marketing & Innovation Director