Drop testing determines the ability of a package to withstand the impacts prevalent in the distribution environment.

This process is vital for ensuring that products travel to customers safely and securely, eventually arriving damage free. In turn, drop test systems help companies save money and maintain positive brand-owner reputations by helping to design packaged products that will deliver products with their intended inherent quality intact. Lansmont Drop Test Systems are the gold standard for accurate and repeatable drop testing. Every drop tester we manufacture is factory-tested to ensure it meets flatness-of-drop requirements and exceeds industry specifications.

You’ll find various drop testing systems available at Lansmont that you can choose from based on your individualized needs. Each of our solutions offers different configurations, features and handling capabilities suited for shipments of all shapes and sizes.

Benefits of package drop testing

Evaluating a packaging system’s ability to protect products

Determining the best performing packaging types

Influencing more sustainable, optimized packaging and product designs

Providing insights for mitigating risks

Preventing product damage, minimizing losses and assuring deliverable product quality.

Determining compliance with industry, government or company regulations.

Test methods

A drop tester creates freefall and sudden impact conditions, across various heights and angles. Methods for performing drop tests will depend on the test standard or regulation to which your business complies.

Each standard will specify drop testing procedures and inputs, from organizations such as ISTA, ASTM, ISO, FedEx and US Department of Transportation, commonly focusing on:

  • Drop height
  • Specimen orientation
  • Number of drops

We develop drop testers to exceed industry specifications and every unit is factory tested to ensure it meets strict 'flatness of drop' requirements.

Selecting a drop test system

What are the key criteria to consider?

When selecting a drop test system to measure your product and packaging performance you need to first consider these basic criteria.

Specimen size

The maximum dimensional size (length, width, height) of your intended test specimen.

Our drop test range is suitable for individual components, products and packages through to large engineered shipping crates.

Specimen weight

The maximum weight (lbs/kg) of your intended test specimen.

Our drop test range is suitable for anything from a single bottle of medicine through to payloads up to 3,000 lbs (c. 1,500 kgs), such as diagnostic equipment.

Drop height(s)

The minimum and maximum intended drop heights (in/mm) for your intended test specimen.

Our drop test range is developed for standards-driven testing (eg ASTM D5276) with adjustable drop heights from 1" (25.4 mm) to 96" (c. 2,450 mm).

System overview

Key components of a drop test system

A drop tester enables product and packaging designers to examine how a product behaves when dropped from different heights, simulating various drop scenarios in a lab environment.

Explore the core components of a Lansmont drop testing system.

Lansmont drop test system illustration - flat drop test method

Control system

Lansmont drop test system illustration - flat drop test method

This includes the software and hardware used to configure test parameters, such as drop height and impact force.

You should look for a tester with precise drop mechanisms and accurate measurement instrumentation to ensure reliable results.

Hoist

Mechanical or motorised drop height adjustment

Drop tester with adjustable drop height(s)

The hoist provides precise drop height adjustment, enabling you to set and adjust the height from which the item will be dropped, allowing for different impact scenarios.

Motorised systems provide greater precision and repeatability, saving time and manual effort.

Controller

LansmontPDT handheld drop test controller

For motorised systems a handheld controller for Lansmont Precision Drop Testers (PDTs) is a plug-and-play device with a straightforward setup and calibration routine.

A digital display simultaneously indicates current and desired drop height settings, with simple controls for setting drop heights.

The controller is lightweight and durable for laboratory environments.

Drop platform

Test specimen weight/system capacity

The drop platform, also known as a 'drop leaf', is where the product or package to be tested is placed.

It can be flat or used with specific fixtures to hold the item at varying orientations for different impact scenarios.

When selecting a drop tester it is important to check that the drop platform and tester has an appropriate payload capacity to accommodate your items.

Base plate

Lansmont drop test system illustration - flat drop test method

The base platform provides the basic impact surface when drop testing.

Higher capacity (larger payload) drop testers are frequently installed into a recessed floor, making it safer and easier to position unit loads for testing.

Varying fixtures can be used for testing different impact scenarios.

The maximum weight the tester can accommodate should be suitable for the products or packages you intend to test.

PDT 80

Precision Drop Tester

Our most popular precision drop tester, with handheld controller and electric hoist for drop testing of specimen of upto 177 lbs (80 kgs) from heights of 1-72 in (2.5-183 cm).

PDT 300

Precision Drop Tester

Ideal for drop testing applications of large products and packages, including returnable bulk containers, crated products, or palletized products upto 661 lbs (300 kg) from heights of 1-72 in (2.5-183 cm).

Case studies