The rapid evolution of e-commerce and the globalization of supply chains have significantly increased the importance of goods transportation logistics. In this context, characterizing thermal profiles during goods shipping becomes paramount to ensure product integrity and preservation. This document examines a comprehensive study conducted in Europe to evaluate thermal profiles in real shipping conditions, highlighting the need to adapt existing standards to the diverse European climate.
The ISTA 7E standard, originally developed based on data collected in the United States, serves as a reference for packaging qualification under various climatic conditions. However, the climatic and geographical specificities of Europe suggest that the profiles defined by this standard may not be fully suited to the European context. This study proposes to examine how transport conditions in Europe differ from those in the United States and evaluate the impact of these differences on packaging performance during shipments.
Through the analysis of over 75,000 data points collected across various regions and seasons, this research aims to define specific "Cold" and "Heat" thermal profiles for Europe that could better meet the requirements of the European shipping industry and ensure better protection of transported products. The ultimate goal is to propose a modification or extension of the ISTA 7E standards to incorporate these new profiles, optimizing the design of cold chain packaging and reducing risks associated with extreme thermal variations.
Experimental Setup
The study of thermal profile characterization in Europe relies on a rigorous methodology and an experimental setup specifically designed to accurately simulate real shipping conditions of goods. This setup aims to record and analyze temperature variations to which the packaging is subjected during transport across various European climates.
The types of packaging studied include both pallets and individual packages, commonly used in transporting various goods, ranging from pharmaceutical products to perishable consumer goods. These packages were equipped with temperature and motion sensors to collect detailed data on internal and external environmental conditions during shipments.
The sensors used for this study include the Lansmont Saver 3X90, known for its precision in measuring shocks and vibrations, and the MSR145 from MSD Electronics, a compact and robust device capable of recording multiple environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity. These sensors were strategically placed inside and outside the packages to provide a comprehensive picture of physical and thermal conditions during transport.
Data collection spanned several months, covering different seasons to ensure a variety of weather conditions, and involved over 75,000 data recordings. These data cover a wide range of temperatures and humidities, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of packaging performance under various conditions.
This experimental setup not only allowed for measuring current transport conditions but also simulating various mechanical and thermal stress scenarios to which the goods could be exposed. Transport simulation tests were conducted in specially equipped facilities, including climate chambers for conditioning samples at controlled temperatures.
Proposal of ISTA 7E Profiles for Europe
Standardizing packaging tests for shipments in Europe requires adapting the thermal profiles used to assess the resilience and efficiency of packaging materials. The downloadable document describes detailed proposals for creating new ISTA 7E profiles specifically designed for the European context, based on data collected during the preliminary study.
The "Cold" and "Heat" profiles developed for Europe are based on real measurements taken during the transport of goods across various European regions. These profiles have been developed to reflect significant thermal variations characteristic of the European climate, influenced by factors such as the Gulf Stream and the continent's geographical diversity.
Cold Profile: This profile is designed to simulate the coldest conditions observed in Europe. The proposed European Cold profile is more rigorous, reflecting the extreme winter conditions encountered especially in the northern regions of Europe.
Heat Profile: The Heat profile, on the other hand, has been adapted to better represent European summers, where temperature variations can be more pronounced than in the United States. Measurements show a lower average maximum temperature in Europe than for the American profile, but with a much greater amplitude of variation in Europe than in the United States.
These new profiles provide a better representation of the thermal challenges specific to Europe and allow companies to test their packaging under conditions that more faithfully reflect their actual operational environment. Adopting these ISTA 7E "Europe" profiles would contribute to improving the protection of goods during transportation, thereby reducing the risks of degradation related to temperature fluctuations.
Case Study: Packaging Performance Comparison
As part of the evaluation of the new ISTA 7E profiles for Europe, a case study was conducted to compare packaging performance under the "Cold" and "Heat" thermal profiles for both American and European standards. This comparison aims to concretely demonstrate the impacts of climatic variations on packaging resilience and its ability to protect goods during transport.
The study was carried out using a standard insulated shipping box subjected to temperature cycles according to both traditional ISTA 7E profiles and the new European profiles. These probes allowed for precise measurement of internal and external temperature and humidity variations during the tests.
Test Protocol: The tests were conducted following ISTA Standard 20 procedure, including design qualification with symmetrical systems for the X, Y, and Z axes. This accurately simulated real shipping conditions, considering various orientations and movements possible during transport.
Observed Results: The collected data revealed significant differences in packaging responses to American and European thermal profiles. Under the European Cold profile, the packaging maintained a more stable internal temperature despite colder external conditions, thanks to better insulation adapted to frequent temperature drops in Europe. For the Heat profile, the packaging had to cope with more significant variations, especially during periods of high heat. The probes recorded a much more pronounced internal variation amplitude, highlighting the effectiveness of insulation in extreme heat conditions typical of some European summers.
Perspectives et Conclusion
This study, by exploring the characterization of thermal profiles in the European shipping environment and proposing adapted ISTA 7E profiles for Europe, marks a significant step towards improving packaging and goods logistics testing standards. The Cold and Heat profiles specifically designed for the European climate offer a more realistic and suitable approach to testing packaging resilience in varied conditions, better reflecting the continent's climatic realities.
Industry Implications: Adoption of these profiles could potentially transform how products are packaged, stored, and transported across Europe, thereby increasing the safety and efficiency of supply chains. For industries reliant on preserving product quality, such as pharmaceuticals, food, and electronics, these improvements are particularly crucial.
Recommendations for Future Research: Extending data collection to other regions of Europe to more comprehensively cover climatic and geographical variations is recommended. Additionally, integrating the study of relative humidity and its effects on packaging thermal performance could provide additional insights to further refine ISTA 7E profiles for Europe.
Expansion of ISTA 7E Profiles: Considering the creation of additional profiles for other specific conditions, such as intermediate profiles for transitional seasons, could also contribute to optimizing goods protection throughout the year.
ISTA 2024 : TempPACK San Diego
Presentation : Thermal profiles characterization in the goods shipping environment in Europe
