Comprehensive and Certified Package Testing

Poor packaging design causes product damage and millions in lost revenue each year. Proper package testing can significantly eliminate this cost and reduce customer frustration━and we can help. The Compliance Management Group (CMG) is a Massachusetts-based test laboratory that has been trusted by leading manufacturers nationwide for more than 20 years.

We offer ISTA-, ASTM-, and Amazon-certified package testing services. Whether you are shipping a television or a medical device, we can determine potential shipment risks and help you prevent damage.

Accreditations

ISTA-Certified Testing

Our International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) package testing capabilities fulfill the following standards:

Non-Simulation Tests

1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1G, 1H(Click for More Info)

Non-Simulation Tests

Challenge the integrity of the product and package combination. Useful as screening tests but not designed to simulate environmental occurrences.

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Partial Simulation Tests

2A, 2B, 2C

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Partial Simulation Tests

More thorough screening test useful for refining preliminary designs. Not intended to be predictive of shipping performance.

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General Simulation Tests

3A, 3B, 3E, 3F, 3H, 3K

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General Simulation Tests

Provide a simulation of the damage-producing motions, forces, conditions, and sequences of transport environments. Useful as a predictive tool to understand risk of damage.

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Enhanced Simulation Tests

4AB

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Enhanced Simulation Tests

Customizing test plans that closely tie the tests and sequence to a user-defined pattern of distribution environment hazards.

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Member Performance Tests

6-AMAZON.com, 6-SAMSCLUB, 6-FEDEX

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Member Performance Tests

Created by an ISTA member or in cooperation with ISTA to establish unique requirements or to reflect their particular conditions of distribution. Useful in evaluating the effectiveness of packaging against hazards represented in their supply chain.

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Development Tests

7D, 7E(Click for More Info)

Development Tests

Used in the development of transport packages by comparing the relative performance of two or more container designs but are not intended to evaluate the protection afforded packaged-products.

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ASTM-Certified Testing

Our American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) package testing capabilities fulfill the following standards:

ASTM F88 Package Seal Strength Testing
ASTM F1886 Package Seal Integrity by Visual Inspection
ASTM F1929 Package Testing for Dye Penetration/Seal Leaks
ASTM F2096 Package Gross Leak Detection (Bubble test)
ASTM D4169 Package Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
ASTM D4332 Standard Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing

ISO Package Testing

Our International Organization for Standardization (ISO) testing capabilities fulfill common ISO 11607 standards for terminally sterilized medical devices. CMG testing covers:

Stability Testing (accelerated aging)
Accelerated aging stability testing involves storing samples at an increased temperature to simulate real time aging in a shorter amount of time. Thus, initial stability testing can be performed in a shorter amount of time. Stability testing, such as accelerated aging, is necessary to prove product shelf life, as package integrity is lost over time as packaging materials or adhesives degrade.
Peel Strength Testing
Peel strength testing ensures that your packaging is capable of providing (and maintaining) a sterile barrier for your product by evaluating packaging for modes of seal failure. This test is carried out according to ASTM standards.
Integrity Testing
Package integrity testing is critical for determining the sterility and shelf life of a product or medical device. CMG package integrity testing includes an evaluation of dye leaks (ASTM F1929), bubble leaks (ASTM F2096), visual inspection (ASTM F1886), and other assessments of sterile barrier integrity.

Amazon APASS Testing

As an ISTA-certified lab, CMG provides package testing in compliance with Amazon’s certification test methods. We offer ISTA 6 Amazon.com package testing in our Littleton, Massachusetts, package test lab, which is A2LA and ISTA Accredited.

How We Work

Unlike other labs, we do more than simply pass or fail a package’s performance. During testing, our engineers proactively identify issues, share initial results, and recommend modifications or solutions to help clients achieve their testing goal(s).

This feedback and guidance during the test process is the key to completing a test program in a timely, cost-effective, and successful manner.

Our package testing process follows this sequence:

1

Discovery

We hold an initial meeting or phone call to learn about your product, its characteristics, its applications, and geographical market territory

2

Planning

We devise an estimate and test schedule to achieve your goals.

3

Testing

We conduct tests and provide daily updates, along with proactive recommendations

4

Reporting

We provide a detailed test report with results and any modifications required to pass and fulfill the test standard.

Clients Include

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CMG has consistently made what is often a frustrating, difficult process enjoyable. They are clear communicators, professional, and great to work with. Whenever problems come up, they offer suggestions and are ready to collaborate on all sorts of cost savings workarounds. As a startup, our schedule constantly changes which they have been more than able to accommodate. CMG is a great team and have lent their expertise to standard EMC testing as well as to extended areas of the regulatory process through their extensive experience in the field.

Tyler Hutchison, Senior Electrical Engineer, Hydrow

At Bose, we consider CMG to be a key business partner. While there are many test labs, CMG routinely offers service without conditions. We know that CMG will bring our projects in on or ahead of schedule while always providing the highest quality service. In today’s ever changing environment it is crucial for us to have suppliers and partners that can adapt to and meet our needs when called upon. CMG has demonstrated that meeting their client’s needs is their main objective and that focus has translated to their current and continued success

David J. Leis, Manager, Design Quality Engineering, Bose

This past weekend, two of my key engineers were at your facility working a highly visible and critical program for Northrop Grumman, the ATFLIR program supporting the FA-18s. I wanted to pass along my sincerest thanks to you for arranging support at your facility, and most particularly to the two gentlemen, Dan Gordon and Bernie Cameron, who worked with us on Friday, October 13th and Saturday, October 14th. Without their professional assistance and support, we could not have managed to achieve all that we did in such a short time or on such short notice. Both should be commended for providing top notch level of support. I have been told by both Northrop Grumman engineers who were at your facility that Dan and Bernie gave 110% effort. Please express to each our thanks, not only for their support, but for giving up a part of their personal time on our behalf.

Lorrie Gampp, ATFLIR 1550 Program Manager, Northrop Grumman

I would like to express my appreciation for the support I received from your organization on our latest round of testing last week of the APR-39A Receiver Assemblies. I would especially like to thank your technical staff, particularly Dan and Bernie, for successful test profiling and after-hour support on a holiday weekend. Timely completion of the testing sequence represented approximately 400K in end of year sales for our Littleton Operation. Thanks again and I look forward to future programs with your organization.

Francis X. McSweeney, Sr. Quality Engineer, Curtiss Wright Controls