PET containers are commonly used in the packaging of many consumer products, including beverages, pharmaceuticals, and many other types of consumer goods. Due to the low strength of certain bottles, they may deform or collapse when subjected to pressure during storage or shipping. The stacking of containers in warehouses and during transport also imposes vertical stresses on the containers. If the containers do not withstand the vertical pressures, leakage and/or damage to the packaging may occur. Therefore, manufacturers need to utilize dependable means to evaluate the strength of the bottles they produce. An example of a tool for evaluating the strength of PET containers is a top-load tester, which provides a means to measure the compression resistance of PET containers. By performing compression tests on PET containers, manufacturers can verify that their packaging will support the product during shipping and handling without degrading its integrity.
What is a Top Load Tester for PET Bottles?
A top load tester used for testing PET Plastic Bottles is a specialized piece of equipment that tests packaging materials (plastic bottles & containers) for compressive (vertical) strength.
In a typical test, vertical force is applied to a bottle in order to determine the maximum load that the bottle can withstand before deforming.
PET Plastic Bottles are typically stacked during transportation and storage. If the structural integrity of the bottle is compromised, the bottle could be crushed under the weight of the stacked bottles.
The maximum load test will help manufacturers determine whether their packaging designs have sufficient structural integrity. By determining the maximum load capacity of a bottle, manufacturers will be able to produce a more durable bottle and provide their Users with safe packaging performance.
The use of top load testers to measure the strength of PET Plastic Bottles is used by many industries, including beverage manufacturers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, cosmetics manufacturers, and manufacturers of household consumer products.
The Importance of Compression Testing on PET Bottles
Prevention of Bottle Deformation
Vertical stresses on PET bottles occur from stacking and from transportation. The completion of compression testing provides assurance that the container holds its shape under vertical load.
Protection of Product Quality
The proper strength of the packaging of products prevents leakage from the product and provides protection from the outside.
Improvement in the Design of Bottles
Testing can also assist engineers in identifying weak designs for bottles and provide for a greater strength of the bottle’s structure.
Assurance of Reliability of Packaging
By providing consistent strength in the container packaging, the manufacturer provides the assurance that their products will be shipped to customers with no packaging damage.
How a Top Load Tester Functions
To determine how well PET bottles can withstand compression, a top load tester compresses the sample PET bottle. A sample bottle is then placed onto the machine’s testing platform. Then, a compression plate is lowered to apply a downward vertical force on the bottle. The force that is applied to the bottle is recorded while the test continues until the bottle is deformed or collapses. Finally, the maximum compression force that can be applied to the bottle is captured in a computer. In addition, with the increased sophistication of digital control systems, open-loop top load testers now provide greater accuracy in measuring compressive forces applied to PET bottles and therefore assist manufacturers in analyzing the strength of their bottles and maintaining consistent packaging construction.
The Following Industries Use Top Load Testing
Beverage Industry:
In addition to being one of the most common applications for PET plastic bottles, the beverage industry extensively uses PET bottles for all types of beverage packaging, such as water, soft drinks, juices, etc. These packages must remain intact during handling (shipping and various forms of warehousing).
Pharmaceutical Industry:
Plastic bottles are used for most packaging of medications, and structural integrity (that is, not deforming, collapsing, leaking, or failing) must be maintained by the bottle during manufacture, distribution, and use. Compression testing of pharmaceutical products through the use of top-load testing helps manufacturers produce reliable packaging for pharmaceutical products.
Cosmetic Industry:
For cosmetic brands to distinguish themselves from other brands and to maintain high product quality, it is necessary for their cosmetic packaging (i.e., bottles) to retain their shape when exposed to the rigors of manufacturing.
Consumer Goods Industry:
Plastic bottles used for most household consumer products require that an adequate structural package be present to allow for safe storage of products during the manufacturing, shipping, and storage process. Therefore, consumer product manufacturers rely on the top load testing process for establishing the structural stability of their packaging.
Benefits of Conducting a Top Load Test on Bottles
Precise Measurement of Bottle Compression Strength
Top load tests accurately measure how well bottles can support weight when stacked on a pallet.
Improved Quality Control in Production
Manufacturers use top-load tests for bottles to identify weak package designs before they leave the factory.
Reduced Product Damage Due to Packaging Failure
Bottle compression strength testing can help prevent package failure during shipping and storage of products.
Reliability of Package Performance
Bottles with sufficient compression strength allow the product to be safely transported through the supply chain.
Important Considerations for Manufacturers When Selecting Compression Testing Equipment
Manufacturers need to carefully select top-load testing equipment so they can accurately evaluate the quality of their products.
For bottles, the key things to consider when purchasing testing equipment are:
(1) how the machine performs with respect to accuracy,
(2) how durable the components are, and
(3) How easy is it to use?
Many manufacturers today provide standard digital displays, precision load sensors, and high-performance testing frames as part of their advanced top-load testing equipment.
These components will enable the operator to perform accurate bottle compression strength tests on bottles and other beverage containers.
While there are many suppliers of packaging testing equipment, Testronix Instruments specializes in providing state-of-the-art bottle compression testing equipment for manufacturers.
Testronix systems for top load tests of PET bottles will help you assess the durability of your bottles and support your quality control program.
Conclusion
One of the most important factors in providing protection to products while stored or shipped is the bottle strength. Weak PET plastic bottles will easily collapse under stacked loads.
A top load tester can be used to test the compression resistance and packaging durability of PET bottles. The results from these tests will also allow for predictable bottle performance across a variety of industries.
Using an accurate compression tester will help manufacturers improve their bottle designs and package quality. In turn, having reliable testing equipment will provide the necessary consistency for the packaging strength and protection of the products within those packages.