Transport & Distribution Simulation
Transport, Vibration & Environmental Simulation
Independent testing that recreates the real conditions your product and packaging face in transit — from the vibration of a truck deck to the humidity of a shipping container — so failures show up on our test bench, not in a customer's hands.
NATA-accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 · 38 years of testing expertise · Independent & Australian-owned
Why simulate the journey, not just the product
Most packaging and product failures don't happen in a warehouse — they happen somewhere between the production line and the end customer, after a combination of vibration, shock, stacking load, temperature and humidity that's hard to predict from a single test. Transport and environmental simulation testing recreates that combination under controlled conditions, so you can see how your product and packaging perform together before you commit to a shipping method or a retailer's compliance program.
What we test to
Jump to a category below, or get in touch to scope a program around your distribution channel.
ISTA Package Testing
The International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) sets test series for packaged-product performance, from simple integrity checks through to full distribution simulation. We test to the series that matches your distribution channel and retailer requirements.
ASTM D4169 Distribution Testing
ASTM D4169 defines distribution cycles and assurance levels for shipping containers and systems, combining handling, vibration, compression and environmental conditioning into a single representative test cycle matched to your actual distribution environment.
If it has to survive the journey, we test the journey.
Vibration Testing
Vibration is one of the most common causes of transit failure — the low-frequency shaking a product experiences on truck decks, in shipping containers and on rail wagons can loosen fasteners, fatigue materials and work packaging apart well before any shock or drop event occurs. It's a core component of our ISTA and ASTM D4169 distribution programs, and available as a standalone test in its own right.
See our vibration testing capability in detailEnvironmental Simulation Testing
A shipment can pass through climate extremes well beyond anything it faces in normal use — a hot shipping container, a cold air-freight hold, a humid loading dock. Environmental simulation layers our temperature & humidity testing capability on top of the mechanical testing above, so your product is proven against the whole journey, not just the mechanical part of it.
See our temperature & humidity testing capability in detailAmazon & Retailer Packaging Testing
Major retailers, including Amazon, require packaging to pass their own ISTA member test series — commonly ISTA 6-Amazon.com-SIOC — before it can be shipped through their fulfilment network. We test to these retailer-specific series alongside standard ISTA and ASTM programs.
Why clients test with Falcon
NATA-accredited to ISO/IEC 17025
Our mechanical testing is independently accredited, giving your test reports real weight with regulators, customers and retailers.
38 years of testing experience
Testing products and packaging since 1988.
Independent & Australian-owned
A specialist testing laboratory, not a division of a manufacturer or logistics provider — so your result is independent and unbiased.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between vibration testing and ISTA testing?
Vibration testing is one component within a broader ISTA or ASTM D4169 distribution program, but it's also available as a standalone test if that's all you need to check.
Do you test to Amazon's specific packaging requirements?
We test to the ISTA member and retailer-specific series that major retailers, including Amazon, require. Get in touch with your retailer's requirements and we'll confirm the right test program.
What's the difference between environmental simulation and your other mechanical tests?
Environmental simulation conditions a product to temperature and humidity extremes. It's typically combined with — not a replacement for — mechanical tests like vibration, drop and compression.
Which ISTA series is right for my product?
It depends on your distribution channel and any retailer requirements. Talk to us about how your product ships and we'll recommend the right series.
Related services
Request a testing quote
Tell us about your product, packaging and distribution channel, and we'll come back with a clear scope, timeframe and price.