The importance of packaging simulation in distribution logistics

17-04-2018 | Posted by Principia

From our consulting experience, a growing number of companies are interested in the possibility of using simulations to study their product packaging, not only in respect of the design, but particularly regarding its behaviour in various transport and storage scenarios.

Indeed, the requirements from large retailers are becoming more and more strict: damage to a single package within a box on a pallet is sufficient to return the whole lot without a second thought. And on top of that, there may be contractual penalties as well.

Furthermore, apart from being robust, the packaging must be able to contain the optimum number of units, maximising the bulk density for transport. The idea is to do more with less, while maintaining performance.

And this applies to more than just large retailers. Packaging must also fit the requirements  of the new direct sales channels enabled by e-commerce. Think what would happen to Amazon if customers received their purchases in damaged packaging.

Put simply, distribution logistics are playing a progressively important role in our daily lives. For many firms, it is at the core of their business model and packaging quality plays a central role. Thus, it has become very important when designing packaging to consider how it will behave in transit.

CAE simulation tools can be of great help in optimising the cost and duration of this process. Virtual testing allows evaluation of a package-s behaviour throughout its life cycle, including transport, without having to perform physical verifications on prototypes. This reduces the duration of the design stage, which results in lower costs, improved sustainability, and a shorter time to market.

Simulations also allow optimisation of the weight of the packaging, while ensuring robustness and safety. All this leads to a reduction in the associated costs and carbon footprint.

Can one ask for more with less? CATIA and SIMULIA make it possible to simulate primary and secondary packaging to evaluate their strength and behaviour in transport and storage scenarios, producing results that are verified in physical tests.