Deciding how to package your item to achieve the best presentation value, protection, and storage options is perhaps one of the most critical aspects of product development.

You want the packaging, whether done by hand or machine, to look its most attractive while still being packaged with the best materials and most effective methods so that it can be displayed, stored, and transported in the safest way possible.

Product developers may lack knowledge of the packaging process and the machines required to achieve the desired outcome. That’s where packaging companies like U.S. Packaging & Wrapping can assist.

Customers can call us with the information they need about their product, and we can offer the solutions. One feature of that process is shipping the item(s) to us so we can test the product samples with various machines and materials in our demo room to ensure the correct solution.

We can recommend the machine and other products that you need.

Submitting your product for testing is a simple process.

1. Sample Form: Before shipping your item for testing, fill out the sample form and place it inside the box. The form will ask questions like contact information, the material you would like to use, the machine you would like to run your samples on, how many products per day do you anticipate running, how will the product be handled after it is wrapped (retail, wholesale, or shipped directly to the customer), and any special requirement for how the item should be run. Fill out the information to the best of your knowledge. Providing a sample of how you would like the product wrapped is also always helpful.
2. Shipping: Prepare your item for shipment to ensure safe travel to our facility. Include the sample form and a return label for the product to be returned upon completion. Returning the product via parcel is an excellent way to be sure the packaging will hold up during transportation.
3. Testing: Once we receive your items and confirm they arrived in good condition, we will begin testing within 48 hours. If the machine and materials needed are already in the warehouse, testing can be completed within 48 hours. Testing may take up to 5-10 business days for larger machines or items that are not on the floor.
4. Results: Once the testing is complete, we will provide pictures or videos upon request and an explanation of the packaging machine and material used during testing. We will also give you our recommendations.
5. Return: We will return the completed product as soon as possible using the label provided.

We will stay in contact with you to ensure the testing achieved your desired outcome.

There is always the possibility that sample testing will show your items are not a good fit for our machines or products. In that case, we will be open and honest with you and try to provide a recommendation of what to try.

U.S. Packaging & Wrapping has performed thousands of sample testing. We have tested everything from chipboard boxes  golf clubs and cheesecake.

There are several types of samples testing we can perform:

• Bag Sealing Testing: Seal testing can involve ensuring the seal strength and the capability of the sealer. Efficiency is also a common desire when companies send products and materials for seal testing.
• Package Drop Testing: Most major online retailers require drop testing. This allows you to see how your product will fare if it’s mishandled during shipping or warehousing. Drop testing is the best option for protecting from product loss.
• Shrink Wrap Testing: Shrink wrapping can bundle multiple products, protect individual products, cover boxes of products for a tamper-evident seal, or provide an extra layer of packaging when shipping items susceptible to leaking. Heat sensitive products are also frequently sent for testing. We will test your product to determine which machines will work best, process more efficiently, and produce a better-looking product.
• Vacuum Packaging Testing: A longer shelf life for your product can be achieved through vacuum packaging, which reduces the oxygen exposure. In addition to testing how your products hold up during the vacuum sealing process, we will also test it with different materials and machines. We also test products for compacting rates and shipping solutions to reduce space.
• Stretch Film Testing: We offer stretch film testing in several ways. First, reach our sales team via phone or email and tell us your needs. From there, we can send you a sample roll, test your current material, or prepare mock shipments for in-house testing.

Let us test samples of your product to achieve the best possible results. U.S. Packaging & Wrapping offers a variety of high-quality packaging solutions. For your packaging needs, visit our website at uspackagingandwrapping.com or contact us by phone at 1-800-441-5090 or by email at [email protected]