Experience

The kind of test a container is subjected to is determined by a combination of factors including regulatory requirements, applicable standard(s), mode of transport (land, sea, air), type and category of product in the container, size and shape of the container, and the material the container is made of. We match our experience with your needs, and together devise a roadmap to guide you to the appropriate regulatory approval of your package.

Some typical tests we provide are:

• Drop Testing
• Impact Testing
• Static Compression Testing
• Stacking Tests (warehouse practice and vehicle transport)
• Tensile Testing
• Water Resistance Testing (Cobb and other methods)
• Vertical and Rotary Vibration Testing (including packaged, single, sweep, stacked, pallet load, bounce, and endurance testing)
• Sifting Resistance Testing
• Hydraulic and Air Leakage Testing
• Top and Bottom Lift Testing
• Topple and Righting Tests

In addition, we offer the following packaging and container testing related services:

• Container Conditioning
• Design Inspection
• Prototype Testing
• Information Advisory Service (helping you find the information and contacts you need)
• ESCR Stress Crack Identification

Expertise

Test methods and standards are established by teams that represent regulatory authorities, industry, and standards bodies. Some of the standards, industry association and regulatory body requirements that we test to are:

• Transport Canada Dangerous Goods (TCDG)
• United States Department of Transport (USDOT)
• United Nations Chapter 6.5 (UN Chapter 6.5)
• Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), 43.165-95, 43.21-M91, and 43-GP-2MP
• Rigid Intermediate Bulk Container Association (RIBCA)
• Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association (FIBCA)
• American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
• International Standards Organization (ISO)
• International Safe Transit Association (ISTA)
• Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI)
• Military (MIL)
• International Air Transport Authority (IATA)
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B616, B620
• Federal Regulations of Code (49 CFR)
• International Civil Aeronautics Organization (ICAO)
• Pre-Shipment Test Methods (SEARS)
• International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG)

We can also test to a customer's unique requirements or special circumstances.

Our staff make a continuing effort to be current with standards, changes, and industry trends by participating regularly on various industry standards organizations.

In addition, WESTEST is a member of the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association (FIBCA) and the Packaging Association of Canada (PAC).

WESTEST is authorized as a Department of Transport (DOT) UN Third-Party Certification Agency. 

Equipment

It takes a significant complement of testing and monitoring equipment to provide the wide variety of services we offer. Here is a brief sampling of what it takes to service your testing needs:

• Conditioning Room (for controlling and maintaining temperature and humidity)
• Cobb Tester
• Load Cells (50,000 pound capacity)
• Weigh Scale (30,000 pound capacity)
• Instron Tester (for performing tensile, compression, edge crush and tear tests)
• Vertical Vibration Tester (10,000 pound capacity)
• Compression Tester (30,000 pound capacity)
• Rotary & Vertical Vibration Tester (2,000 pound capacity)
• LAB Drop Tester (100 pound capacity)
• A selection of test monitoring and data recording devices

One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.

Package Testing.ca is a division of Western Canada Testing Inc. (WESTEST).