Packaging Industry – Testing Instruments

IDM Instruments has a wide range of testing instruments for the packaging industry. These testing machines are designed to test the quality of packaging materials like boxes, cartons, plastic films & many more. Quality assurance and control are important, especially in the packaging industry because the packaging material is responsible to protect the contents inside. In most cases, the contents are the products themselves. Thus, the packaging materials should meet necessary requirements to sustain along the supply chain from the sender (manufacturer/ reseller) to the receiver (customer).

Moreover, packaging plays an important role in the marketing and branding of the product. This is because the customer’s first interaction with the product is usually the packaging of the product. Therefore, brands across the globe have invested significant dollars in designing, branding, and customized packaging for their products.  Not just for domestic goods, packaging plays an important role in the industrial sector as well.

For all these reasons, testing instruments used within the packaging industry is critical. So, IDM Instruments has the following instruments to test the quality of packaging materials. All these machines are manufactured to meet relevant testing standards like ISO, ASTM, EN, etc.

Box Compression Testers

Model: B0009 – 50kN (small platen)
Model: B0010 – 50kN (large platen)
Model: B0011 – 100kN (large platen)

The Box Compression Tester is a floor-mounted machine where a complete pallet can be loaded into the machine. It is designed to evaluate packages and material under compressive loads. One platen is supplied with the machine measuring 1000mm x 800mm x 25mm which can be fixed or floated, as well as a base platen with the same dimensions. The software used with the Box Compression Tester is the IDM Instruments Pty Ltd® Universal Tester Software.

Box Opening Pressure Tester

Model: B0013

The Box Opening Pressure Tester has been designed to measure the opening force of flat stacked carton boxes, used for the development and quality control of cartons during production, therefore speeding up production set-up time. The maximum pressure needed to open the box is locked in the digital display for evaluation.

Carton Crease Proofer

Model: C0053

This user-friendly instrument is commonly utilized in ink laboratories to assist the development of flexible coatings that resist cracking on commercial cartons. It allows the operator to quickly produce quality carton board crease samples without committing machine time. The unit comes complete with robust rules & dies which are of the same quality as those used with a full-scale cut and crease machine.

Coefficient of Friction Testers

Model: C0055-M1 – Standard

Model: C0055-M2 – Variable Speed

Model: C0055-M3 – Variable Speed & Heated Platen

The standard C0055-M1 unit can measure Static COF (peak) from a resting position and continue to move testing surfaces in a relative motion to give an accurate kinetic COF (dynamic) result. The C0055-comes with the addition of variable speed from 50 – 300mm/min using a stepper motor for acuate variable speed control. With variable speed, touch screen operation & in-built heated platen, model C0055-M3 is most ideal for plastic film testing.

Crease and Stiffness Tester

Model: C0039-M1

Used to measure the force required to bend board in machine and cross directions of grain. The value of crease stiffness is technically important in the folding of carton blanks during their erection and closure. The crease recovery (spring back) can result in forces, which distort the erected carton or cause stresses to be applied to closures, which reduce their effectiveness.

Coefficient of Friction Tester – Incline Plane

Model: C0045

This instrument is used to determine the coefficient of static friction of most packaging materials by measuring the angle at which one test surface begins to slide against another inclined surface as the incline is increased at a constant and prescribed rate. As the plane rises at a rate of 1.5° ±0.5°/s, the first sign of movement from the sled is detected by a micro switch, stopping the plane movement and recording the relevant angle of the incline. The test is frequently referred to as a slide angle. The coefficient of friction is numerically equivalent to the tangent of that angle.

Bursting Strength Tester

Model: BT-21C (for cartonboard)
Model: BT-21P (for paper)

The Bursting Strength Tester determines the bursting strength of paper, board and corrugated board. It features built-in software, operated through the touch panel screen. The software allows a choice of testing units, as well as complete statistics, and RS-232 for connection to an external computer.

Brightness Measurement Instruments

IDM offer a range of easy to use brightness testers which provide instantaneous digital read outs of TAPPI/GE brightness and measures optical properties according to industry standards including colour, opacity, fluorescence, TAPPI Brightness and colour difference.

Crease Bend Tester

Model: B0012

Used to monitor scoring equipment to ensure box performance, by measuring the bending resistance of the creased board at the time of folding at the crease. It measures the maximum force required to bend the sample board. Corrugated converters use the Crease Bend Tester to aid adjustments to improve the quality, ensuring the end-user will have boxes that run effectively on their production line.

Cobb Moisture Absorption Tester (Ring & Roller)

The Cobb Moisture Absorption Test Ring and Roller have been specifically designed to help determine the quantity of water absorbed by non-bibulous paper, paperboard and corrugated fibreboard. It is not suitable for tests on un-sized porous papers such as newsprint or blotting paper.

Coating Thickness Measurement

Model: CTG-300

The Coating Thickness Gauge, equipped with aerodynamic levitation measuring head, provides a computer-enhanced method of rapidly assessing lacquer film weight of both internal and external coatings on beverage and food cans and also tinplate.

Clicker Press – Test Sample Preparation

Model: C0056 Series

The Swing Arm Clicker Presses are used for a wide variety of die-cutting applications. The most common uses are cutting soft to semi-rigid materials such as gaskets, leather, cork, rubber, elastic, foam, and other like materials. The SE 25 is completely hydraulic and is made of strong casting material to ensure powerful yet quiet running.

Colour Check Cabinets

Model: C0048 Series

Used to assess colour changes under different light sources, to determine the suitability of materials for industrial applications where there is the need to maintain colour consistency and quality. Fluorescent daylight, incandescent and optional black light may be used either individually or in combination.

Crush Tester

Model: CT-21

Crush Testers determine the compression strength of corrugated and fibreboard and their components. Operation is completed by built-in software through an easy to use backlit alphanumeric keypad. Optional accessories are available for Flat Crush, Edge Crush, Short Column, Pin Adhesion, Ring Crush, Corrugated Crush-Cross Direction etc.

Dead Weight Compression Tester

Model: D0003

Designed to perform either as a single test to investigate the effect of deformation, creep, collapse or failure as part of a sequence of tests designed to measure the ability of a package, to withstand a distribution system that includes a compression hazard. It may also be used to investigate performance under particular conditions of loading.

Cutters – Test Sample Preparation apparatus

Model: C0024 – Cutting Dies (Tool Steel)

Model: C0025 – Cutting Dies (Ruller Type)

Model: C0038 – Cutting Dies (Flat Crush Test Cutter)

Model: C0022 – Cutting Dies (Cutting Press)

Model: C0034 – Cutting Templates – Stainless Steel

IDM Instruments has a wide range of Testing sample preparation devices as per testing standards including cutting presses, cutting dies & templates.

Film Free Shrink Tester

Model: F0006

The Film Free Shrink Tester consists of a small, circular aluminum block, electrically heated and controlled by a temperature controller. Using aluminum foil discs with silicon oil, the test piece is placed into it to accelerate shrinkage at selectable temperatures.

Hot Tack Tester

Model: H0005

An advanced system for monitoring the seal performance of flexible and semi rigid plastic bags or tubes. This unit determines the capability of a heat-seal join to hang together when it is stressed, at a specified time interval, while still hot from the sealing operation, but before it reaches ambient temperature. The overall design of a package can contribute or detract from the materials ability to provide hot tack during the sealing process.

Ink Rub Testers

Model: I0001 (Single Arm)

Model: I0002 (Twin Arm)

Units designed to determine the quality of adhesion, and scuff resistance of ink to paper surfaces, plastic and aluminium film. The method of operation is that a 2 or 4 lb weight with a clean white board is swept across the test piece for a set number of times, and then closely examined. Heated weights are also available.

Densometer & Smoothness Tester

Model: 4340

This unit measures the porosity, air-permeability or air resistance of sheet-like materials. It combines the abilities of a low, standard and high pressure tester with a digital timer that provides a reading in seconds.

Heat Sealing Machine

Model: L0001-PRO (2 x Heated Bars)
Model: L0001-PRO-S (Heated & Silicone Bars)

Laboratory Heat Sealers are designed to be used for development work to help determine the sealing properties and characteristics of plastic and laminated materials. The Heat Sealer is electrically heated and temperature controlled with adjustable sealing pressure, controlled by a timer.

Leakage Tester

Model: Gb-M

This instrument is used to test the seal integrity on glass or plastic containers and cans. The GB-M has been designed to operate automatically with compressed air to detect leakage, giving sensitive and accurate readings.

PET Bottle Pressure Tester

Model: PEBT-4000

The PEBT-4000 PET Bottle Pressure Tester is an advance testing equipment specialized for testing the PET bottles. It has been designed in conformity to the three international commonly used testing methods: (1) Ramp Fill Mode; (2) Burst Mode; (3) User-Defined Mode.

Precision Drop (Impact) Testers

Model: P0003 (150kg Capacity)
Model: P0007 (75kg Capacity)

Performs vertical impact tests on complete, filled transport packages by dropping. The test may be performed either as a single test to investigate the vertical impact or as part of a sequence of tests designed to measure the ability of a package to withstand a distribution system that includes a vertical impact hazard. Optional fixtures can be supplied to conduct bucket drop, corner drop and edge drop tests.

Score Bend Testers

IDM offers machines to measure the force to open or bend paperboard and scored paper carton. Optional fixtures can be fitted to also conduct
spring back after folding, providing critical information for sealing or gluing operations.

Water Vapour Permeation Analyzer

Model: W300 Series

With the Gravimetric Method, these units test the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of packaging materials, such as plastic film, composite film, co-extrusion film, aluminum-plated film, aluminum foil, infusion bag, sheets, paper, paper board, solar battery panel, cellophane, ceramics and porcelain, and various containers such as bag, pouch, bottle, can, bowl, box, widely used in the industries of food, pharmaceuticals etc.

Universal Testing Machines

Model: F0025

IDM provides a range of UTM’s which feature multiple testing capabilities including compression testing and tensile testing. UTM’s eliminate the need of having multiple machines to perform various tests (i.e. compression and tensile). UTM’s offer versatility and the ability to set up dual tests to speed up test set up, production & ultimately reduces operator fatigue & possible setup errors.

Not sure what you’re looking for or cannot find a product? Contact us directly to get a custom solution as per your testing requirements.