RIT has one of the most extensive packaging laboratories in the Northeast.
In addition to academic support, the laboratory provides full commercial package testing services. The RIT labs serve all range of company size from small to Fortune 500, in package development consulting, material testing and distribution simulation.

Below you will find the evaluation services available in our laboratories:

Packaging Dynamics Laboratory
Packaging Materials Laboratory
Integrated Plastics Center

Dynamics Lab Capabilities
ISTA Certified Testing Laboratory                                                                                   

                     
Capable of performing the following test procedures:
•    ISTA 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1G, 1H, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 3A, 3E, 3F, 4AB, 5B, 7B, 7C, 7D
•    ASTM D4169
•    NMFTA Item 180, Item 181
•    MIL-STD-810F

Secure product storage

Rapid test turn around time

Reports, photographs and test documentation provided

Testing Equipment

Environmental Conditioning
•    Temperature Range: – 20°C – 75°C
•     Humidity Range: varies with temperatures - call for humidity capabilitiess

Vibration Testing
•    Random and Sine Vibration
•    Large table dimensions: 60” x 98”
•    Small table dimension: 48" x 48"
•    Max Load: 7,000 lbs

Drop Testing
•    Fall-Away Drop Tester
       o    Max Load: 500 lbs
       o    Max Height: 72”
•    Swing-Arm Drop Tester
       o    Max Load: 150 lbs
       o    Min Height: 18”
       o    Max Height: 72”
•    Quick Release Drop Tester
      o    Max Load: 3,000 lbs

Compression Testing
•    Dimensions: 48” x 48”
•    Max Load: 15,000 lbs

Incline/Impact Tester
•    Max Load: 4,000 lbs
•    Max Speed: 6 mph

Mechanical Shock Testing
•    Dimensions: 32” x 25.5”
•    Max Capacity: 500 lbs
•    Max Carriage Travel: 36 “
•    Max Velocity Change: 288 in/sc
•    Max Acceleration: 600G

Environmental Data Recording
•    Shock
•    Vibration
•    Temperature
•    Relative Humidity

Materials Lab Capabilities
•    Coefficient of Friction
•    Edge Crush Test (ECT)
•    Mullen Burst Test
•    Sutherland Ink Rub
•    Taber Test
•    Internal Tear Resistance
•    Dart Drop Impact
•    Vacuum Leak Detection - Dye penetration of porous material ASTM F1929-98
•    WVTR/O2TR
•    Tensile Strength

Package Testing
•    International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) Certified Testing Laboratory
•    International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) Certified Professionals on staff
•    Custom test development

Research Expertise
•    Package evaluation, design, and modification
•    Measurement of real-world distribution environments
•    Field damage assessment and analysis
•    Product fragility assessment
•    Cushioning design

•    For additional information, pricing, or scheduling, contact the Packaging Laboratory Manager:
       Tom Kausch, CPLP
       E-mail: tjkmet@rit.edu or pkglab@rit.edu
       Phone: (585) 475-2608  or (585) 475-5005
       Fax: (585) 475-5555

•    For more information regarding research and/or development, contact:
        Daniel Goodwin, Ph.D
        E-mail: dlgipk@rit.edu
        Phone: (585) 475-5557
        Fax: (585) 475-5227
        Address: 78 Lomb Memorial Drive
                       Rochester, NY 14623

The goal of the IPC Labs at RIT is to stay on the cutting edge of polymer technology by constantly being involved in research and development in this field.  Currently the lab is focusing on many aspects of polymer technology including:
•    Thermal analysis for plastic materials
•    Identification of polymer/plastic materials
•    Developing new composite materials
•    Developing plastics packaging
•    Researching Returnable plastics containers
•    Developing Eco-friendly packaging materials
•    Modeling and Simulation of Plastics materials
•    Developing Nano incorporated packaging material
•    Developing Polymer alloys 
With more to come in the future...

Testing Capabilities

Plastics Characterization Lab
•    Material Analysis (FTIR Spectroscopy)
•    Thermal Analysis (DSC and TGA)
•    Permeability Testing (WVTR/OTR-MOCON)
•    Tensile/Compression & Friction Testing (INSTRON 5567)

Plastics Processing Lab
•    Melt flow & Viscosity/ Tinius Olsen Extrusion Plastometer
•    Izod / Charpy impact test (Galdabini Impact)
•    HDT Testing (Tinius Olsen HDT)
•    Netstal 90 PlasticInjection Mold Machine
•    Rockwell Hardness Tester (Instron Series 2000)
•    Extruder with In-Line Pelletizer

•    For more information regarding the Plastics and Packaging Innovation Center, Contact:
        Changfeng Ge, Ph.D
        Email: cfgmet@rit.edu
        Phone: (585) 475-5391                            
        Fax: (585) 475-5227