The Applied Technical Services Family of Companies (ATS FoC) performs package validation testing to help manufacturers assess packaging performance under expected environmental conditions throughout the packaging’s lifecycle. Factors such as temperature, humidity, and aging can impact materials and overall performance.
ATS offers package validation testing for organizations seeking laboratory data on packaging performance. These services support product development, packaging qualification, environmental assessments, and quality investigations. Packaging is exposed to varying conditions during storage, transportation, and distribution, which can affect materials, seals, adhesives, and integrity. Environmental testing offers a controlled method to evaluate these effects.
What Does Package Validation Testing Evaluate?
Package validation testing assesses packaging after exposure to specified environmental conditions, which are determined by the packaging system, product, and intended use. Environmental evaluations may include:
- Temperature exposure
- Humidity exposure
- Temperature cycling
- Combined temperature and humidity conditioning
- Accelerated aging
- Long-term aging
- Storage condition simulation
- Transportation-related environmental exposure
After environmental conditioning, additional tests evaluate package integrity, seal strength, leak resistance, and other key characteristics. This approach enables organizations to compare packaging performance before and after environmental exposure, helping to identify any changes in packaging characteristics.
How Can Environmental Testing Support Package Validation?
Packaging materials respond differently to temperature and humidity changes. Extended exposure can further impact specific materials or components. Environmental package testing provides data on these effects under controlled laboratory conditions, helping organizations determine if packaging maintains its intended characteristics after exposure.
For example, accelerated aging may precede integrity testing to assess package performance after simulated aging. Temperature and humidity conditioning may also precede seal strength testing, allowing comparison of sealing performance before and after conditioning.
Who Needs Package Validation Testing Services?
Manufacturers and packaging developers use package validation testing during product development and qualification. It also supports organizations assessing changes to existing packaging systems. Our clients include:
- Medical device manufacturers
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Packaging manufacturers
- Contract manufacturers
- Consumer product manufacturers
- Packaging engineers
- Product development teams
- Quality assurance departments
- Research and development organizations
Testing is recommended when developing new packaging or modifying existing materials. It also supports investigations into packaging performance after storage or transportation.
What Environmental Conditions Does ATS Test Packaging Under?
Environmental conditions are selected based on testing objectives. ATS provides laboratory evaluations tailored to specified temperature, humidity, and aging requirements. Potential testing conditions include:
- Elevated temperatures
- Reduced temperatures
- Controlled humidity
- Temperature cycling
- Temperature and humidity exposure
- Accelerated aging conditions
- Extended storage conditions
- Simulated environmental conditions
Testing parameters should align with the evaluation’s purpose. Exposure temperature, humidity, and duration all influence the results.
After environmental conditioning, ATS conducts additional tests such as package integrity, seal strength, leak, or visual evaluations as needed.
How Does Accelerated Aging Factor Into Package Validation?
Accelerated aging allows organizations to evaluate packaging over a simulated timeframe by using controlled conditions to reduce the duration of aging assessments. This method is useful during packaging development and qualification, providing insight into how packaging characteristics change over time.
Testing can compare aged and unaged packages to identify differences. Further evaluations may assess package integrity or seal strength after aging. Aging conditions should be selected based on materials and study objectives. Organizations should define test parameters according to relevant methods and project needs.
What Tests Can Be Performed After Environmental Conditioning?
Environmental conditioning is often paired with additional performance testing to assess packaging characteristics after exposure to specified conditions. Depending on the project, testing may include:
- Package integrity testing
- Seal strength testing
- Leak testing
- Dye penetration testing
- Bubble leak testing
- Visual inspection
- Material evaluation
- Transportation testing
Pre- and post-conditioning tests provide comparative data, helping organizations determine if environmental exposure impacts packaging performance. ATS recommends suitable follow-up evaluations for specific packaging configurations.
What Standards Apply to Package Environmental Testing?
The applicable standards depend on the product, packaging system, and testing objectives. Medical device packaging may involve ISO 11607 and related test methods. ISO 11607 addresses packaging systems for terminally sterilized medical devices. Environmental conditioning and aging may form part of broader packaging evaluations when appropriate.
Other standards may address specific temperature, humidity, aging, transportation, or package performance requirements. The appropriate methods depend on the application and defined testing objectives. ATS helps organizations identify testing options based on applicable requirements. Testing should follow the relevant standard or established procedure when required.
When Should Package Validation Testing Be Performed?
Package validation testing may be appropriate during several stages of packaging development. Early environmental evaluations provide useful information when teams compare materials or packaging designs. Additional testing may be warranted after significant changes to the packaging system. Material, supplier, sealing process, and manufacturing changes affect packaging performance. Common applications include:
- New packaging development
- Packaging qualification
- Shelf-life evaluations
- Accelerated aging studies
- Material changes
- Supplier changes
- Manufacturing process changes
- Storage evaluations
- Transportation evaluations
- Packaging failure investigations
Package Validation Testing at ATS
The ATS FoC offers package validation testing for organizations evaluating packaging under defined environmental conditions. Laboratory capabilities include temperature, humidity, aging, and related evaluations. ATS also conducts follow-up testing to assess package integrity and other characteristics after environmental exposure, providing valuable data on packaging response.
Professional laboratory testing supports packaging engineers, quality teams, and product developers during development and qualification. ATS collaborates with clients to understand objectives and recommend suitable testing methods. Our package validation testing professionals work diligently to develop evaluation approaches tailored to client packaging systems and environmental needs.
Contact Us
Trust the proven experts at ATS and submit a web request form or call +1 (888) 287-5227 today for accurate package validation testing with reliable results.
