Case study: Mecmesin's packaging tension test

11 Oct 2016
Mecmesin

Specification

Graphic Packaging International is a leading designer and manufacturer of food and beverage packaging. The company needed to perform integrity checks on beverage basket carriers and cardboard box packaging to optimise production line efficiency and maintain consistent standards of packaging quality.

Constructed from multiple pieces of card, which are glued together, the packaging is initially manufactured flat and opened out to accommodate the end product whilst moving along the production line. A tensile test could ascertain whether processes were optimised to enable the glue to set in time for the next stage of production to begin. It could also ensure the correct application of glue on the tabs, to minimise the risk of packages sticking together, preventing them from opening out when required.

Solution

This application required a bespoke solution to be designed and manufactured. Together with Graphic Packaging International, Mecmesin created a vacuum fixture, which mimicked the actions of the end-users application. The vacuum fixture uses suction to hold onto the flat packed basket carrier, which is clamped into position on the specially manufactured base plate. Using a MultiTest-x (semi-automatic) test system, the top of the basket carrier is raised at a speed of 500mm/min, opening out the packaging to a maximum load of
11N in order to determine its integrity. Prior to purchasing a Mecmesin test system, Graphic Packaging had performed this test by hand assessment only.
Since the introduction of the system, the company has been able to reduce recall costs by 40%.

System

MultiTest-1 test stand
100 N loadcell
Bespoke vacuum fixture

Supplied to: Graphic Packaging International

Files

Download file
CS68 Packaging Tension Test

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Top-load testing of plant-based PLA material bottles

To better evaluate the physical properties of their range of PLA bottles used for mineral water, BioPak Solutions turned to Mecmesin for help in testing their containers’ Top-Load Strength.

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Extreme sports waterproof bio-textile mechanical properties

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Edge Crush Test (ECT) of corrugated cardboard

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Wine can pop-and-tear opening force

Producers followed the wine drinker from the dinner party to the picnic. Packaging solutions have facilitated a move to wine ‘on the go’. The air-tight, light-proof, unbreakable aluminium drinks can has established itself as a viable container

Release torque testing of Champagne and sparkling wine corks

The Mecmesin CombiCork is a Quality tool that allows Korbel to test cork materials, ensuring they match with Korbel’s stringent quality standards. Testing removes subjectivity from the uncorking of champagne corks, troubleshooting our process or material variation, so our customers are able to have a consistent experience every time they open a bottle of the finest Korbel California Champagne

Adhesive test on capsulated cork stoppers

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Vial stopper needle penetrability residual seal force and torque testing

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PET Screen Protector Release Liner Peel Testing

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Lipstick shear force resistance

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Hand sanitiser dispenser pump testing

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Adhesion peel strength of COVID-19 tapes and stickers

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Peel strength of foam band on PPE face visors

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Edge Crush Test (ECT) of corrugated cardboard

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Vaccine delivery device and packaging testing

As COVID-19 has rapidly spread around the world, there is a concerted global effort to find a vaccine. Whether administered via an oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intranasal route, vaccines need to be administered via a medical device, and these must be tested to esnure they are safe and meet stringent standards and regulations

PET preforms - repurposing production for COVID-19 test kits

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Probiotic drink packaging testing

As demand for dietary supplements continues to surge, immune-boosting products, such as prebiotics and probiotics, are amongst the most popular. Getting these liquid probiotic products noticed by the consumer relies on eye-catching innovative packaging which must be easy-to-open and reseal whilst remaining economic to use for the beverage producer.

Testing Ventilator and Breathing Assistance Apparatus Components

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Face mask strength testing

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Pharmaceutical tablet crush and break strength

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Surgical rubber glove tensile strength testing

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Lipstick tube force and torque testing

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Mecmesin's materials testers

Testing the physical strength properties of materials, in accordance with international or in-house standards, is a key part of determining their characteristics to better understand the effects of process improvements. With this in mind, Mecmesin has designed a range of static-load Materials Testers powered by intuitive VectorPro MT software.

Top-load crush of plastic bottle with semi-automated test process

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Dispensing pump assembly testing

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Powdered drink container - Mecmesin's compressive strength & lid peel tests

An international supplier of a powdered hot-chocolate drink wanted to test several aspects of their packaging. The client was then able to use their Mecmesin universal tester for all four tests, with quick and easy exchange of fixtures, allowing rapid throughput of samples for testing.

Cosmetics brush pull-out testing

Our client is a major cosmetics company using a variety of brushes for all applications and wished to tensile test the integrity of the bristles. Gripping the awkwardly-shaped handles and bristle tips in a repeatable way, demanded more than a single standard vice grip...

Retort packaging 90 degree peel and lid strength testing

The food packaging industry has long had concerns about pinholes, flex cracks and leaks in the flexible materials and seals of retort flexible lidded packaging. A famous global food and drink maker needed to test the laminated retort (and other thin film) packaging solutions that protect products such as their popular microwaveable stir-in pots.

Jeff West
Product Info
English
Created 11 Oct 2016
Modified 08 Nov 2016
Hits 1852

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Case study: Mecmesin's packaging tension test

Specification

Solution

System

Files

Download file

See also

Fast food tray crush testing

Top-load testing of plant-based PLA material bottles

Tensile testing wire joining systems

Extreme sports waterproof bio-textile mechanical properties

Automated syringe break-loose and glide force system

Edge Crush Test (ECT) of corrugated cardboard

Wine can pop-and-tear opening force

Release torque testing of Champagne and sparkling wine corks

Adhesive test on capsulated cork stoppers

Vial stopper needle penetrability residual seal force and torque testing

Torque testing CRC closures with a pneumatically-controlled downward force

PET Screen Protector Release Liner Peel Testing

Lipstick shear force resistance

Hand sanitiser dispenser pump testing

Adhesion peel strength of COVID-19 tapes and stickers

Peel strength of foam band on PPE face visors

Edge Crush Test (ECT) of corrugated cardboard

Break-loose and sustaining force tests of pre-filled drug cartridges to ISO 11608-3

Vaccine delivery device and packaging testing

PET preforms - repurposing production for COVID-19 test kits

Probiotic drink packaging testing

Testing Ventilator and Breathing Assistance Apparatus Components

Face mask strength testing

Pharmaceutical tablet crush and break strength

Surgical rubber glove tensile strength testing

Lipstick tube force and torque testing

Mecmesin's materials testers

Top-load crush of plastic bottle with semi-automated test process

Dispensing pump assembly testing

Powdered drink container - Mecmesin's compressive strength & lid peel tests

Cosmetics brush pull-out testing

Retort packaging 90 degree peel and lid strength testing

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