Abstract
THE Printing, Packaging and Allied Trades Research Association has recently extended the scope of its work by the provision of a Package Testing Station and Advisory service at its new research centre at Leaifherhead. The service is available both to member of the Association and to non-members on a fee-paying basis. The facilities available fall into four main categories. (1) The advisory service is Uesigned to solve individual practical problems quickly and to supply information related to the many technical aspects of packaging ; consultations may be made and, if required, laboratory research will be undertaken. (2) Packaging Abstracts, a monthly publication, hitherto restricted to flexible packages and packaging materials, has now been extended to cover the whole field of packaging, including bottles, cans, metal drums, wooden boxes, textile sacks, etc., in addition to fibreboard cartons and paper containers, and this journal has now been placed on general sale. (3) The packaging technical library contains many British and foreign books on packaging, and about two hundred periodicals and journals which are abstracted and form the basis of Packaging Abstracts. The library is open during 9.30 a.m.–5 p.m. (Mondays to Fridays) for bona fide inquirers. (4) The package testing station provides three groups of tests which enable manufacturers and users to select the design or the material for a pack so as to provide the optimum protection to the packed goods against all the hazards to which they are likely to be subjected. The first group of tests is that concerned with the mechaster nical strength of the package –a drum test designed to simulate general handling, an inclined plane tewhich reproduces the type of shock -encountered in shunting, and various types of drop test for determining tensile, burst and tear strengths, etc. The second group is concerned with the resistance of packages to atmospheric conditions, and materials are tested for their permeability to water vapour, gases and liquids (including water and oils). The third group of tests covers the protection afforded by the package to attack by insects and moulds, particularly for goods exported to tropical countries. In addition, storage rooms have been installed where the climatic conditions may be controlled to imitate those prevailing in most parts of the world. All inquiries should be addressed to Patra House, Randall Road, Leatherhead, Surrey.
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A Package Testing and Advisory Service. Nature 164, 519 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/164519a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/164519a0