Container and Package Testing
Protect your products and brand value with comprehensive container and package testing that prevents costly transit damage. Element’s simulations of real-world shipping conditions identify weaknesses before your products reach customers - saving you time, money, and protecting your brand reputation.

What is Container & Package Testing at Element?
Container and Package Testing evaluates how packaging protects products during storage, handling, and transportation. At Element, we provide comprehensive ISTA-approved testing services that simulate real-world shipping conditions your packages will encounter. Our full-service labs use specialized equipment and highly trained technical staff to evaluate package performance across multiple industries, from consumer goods to pharmaceuticals.

What Can Element Offer You For Container & Package Testing?
Key tests offered
Key tests offered
Element's comprehensive testing programs evaluate your packaging against real-world distribution hazards. We run your packaging through rigorous physical and environmental testing that replicates the stresses encountered throughout your supply chain, identifying potential vulnerabilities before they impact your customers.
- Package vibration and shock testing to simulate transportation conditions
- Drop testing and incline impact testing to replicate handling incidents
- Compression testing to evaluate stacking strength during storage
- Temperature and humidity cycling to assess environmental resilience
- Specialized medical package integrity tests (vacuum leak, bubble defect, dye penetration)
- Accelerated weathering and aging to predict long-term performance
Products we test
Products we test
Element tests a complete range of packaging products, from single-use consumer packaging to reusable shipping containers and pharmaceutical packaging systems. We evaluate all components of your packaging solution to ensure your products arrive intact and functional.
- Shipping containers and systems (cardboard, plastic, metal)
- Medical device packaging and sterile barrier systems
- Pharmaceutical containers (glass, plastic, PET, PETG)
- Container closure systems, including elastomeric and rubber closures
- Pressure-sensitive tapes and thermal insulation materials
Methods and solutions offered
Methods and solutions offered
Your packaging challenges require specialized solutions tailored to your specific distribution environment. Element's experts design customized testing programs that combine standardized protocols with specific testing conditions relevant to your products, helping you meet regulatory requirements while optimizing packaging performance and cost.
- ASTM D4169 distribution simulation for comprehensive performance evaluation
- FED-STD-101C testing for military and government requirements
- USP, EP, and JP pharmacopeia testing for pharmaceutical containers
- Custom testing protocols for specialized packaging applications
- Failure analysis and root cause determination for packaging issues
Pharmaceutical packaging expertise
Your pharmaceutical products require packaging that maintains product efficacy from production to patient. Element has years of experience testing containers to USP, EP, and JP standards. We evaluate glass containers for type classification, plastic containers for chemical compatibility, and closure systems for integrity.
- USP <660> testing for glass container classification (Type I, II, and III)
- USP <661.1> and <661.2> testing for plastic container compatibility
- USP <671> moisture permeation testing for barrier properties
- Elastomeric and rubber closure evaluation
- Investigative failure analysis for packaging issues
Cutting-edge equipment we use
Cutting-edge equipment we use
Element's state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with specialized testing equipment to accurately simulate distribution hazards. Our advanced technology allows us to create realistic test conditions that predict how your packaging will perform in actual use, giving you confidence in your packaging decisions.
- High-frequency vibration and shock equipment for transportation simulation
- Walk-in environmental chambers for temperature, humidity, and altitude testing
- Compression testing systems for evaluating stacking strength
- Package drop test apparatus for impact evaluation
- Specialized pharmaceutical container testing equipment
- Package testing fixtures designed and fabricated on-site for your unique needs
Standards we test to and the products we test
- ASTM D4169, "Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems"
- ASTM D6551/D6551M, "Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Xenon-Arc Exposure Apparatus"
- ASTM C165, "Standard Test Method for Measuring Compressive Properties of Thermal Insulations"
- FED-STD-101C, Test Procedures for Packaging Materials
- ISTA 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1G, 1H, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, 7D, 6-FEDEX-A and B, 6-SAMSCLUB, 6-AMAZON.COM
- 3-A Sanitary Dairy Testing (No. 18 & 20)
- USP <660> Containers – Glass Type I, II and III Containers
- USP <661.1> and <661.2> Containers – Plastics
- USP <671> - Performance Testing Moisture Permeation Tests
- EP General Chapters Plastics
- USP Class Plastics certification
Shipping containers and packaging
- Shipping containers and systems
- Cardboard boxes and cartons
- Plastic containers and totes
- Pressure-sensitive tapes
- Thermal insulation materials
Medical and pharmaceutical packaging
- Sterile barrier systems and seals
- Glass containers (Type I, II, and III)
- Plastic containers (HDPE/LDPE/Polypropylene)
- PET and PETG containers
- Elastomeric and rubber closures
Your Challenges, Our Solutions
Transit damage prevention through simulation
Regulatory compliance made straightforward
Pharmaceutical efficacy through proven testing
Custom distribution challenges solved effectively
Why Choose Element

Certified Simulation expertise
Customized shipping simulation capability
Pharmaceutical container specialization
On-site fixture design and fabrication

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