Smithers Pira, the worldwide authority on package, paper and print industry supply chains, announced today that its distribution testing laboratory in Lansing, Michigan achieved ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation through A2LA. The accreditation demonstrates to our clients that Smithers Pira meets stringent, internationally recognized lab quality standards.

"Our goal is to ensure that our customer's products are packaged so that their characteristics and performance during intended use are not adversely affected by transport and storage," stated Michael Kuebler, technical director at Smithers Pira. "Smithers Pira has worked with various companies to validate distribution performance for a range of medical and pharmaceutical products including tissue implant products, inhalers and medication."

Smithers Pira provides independent, high quality testing and consulting services to ensure pharmaceutical and medical products meet ISO 11607, an international standard that is accepted in the European Union and is an FDA Recognized Consensus Standard in the U.S.

The Smithers Pira Distribution Testing Service Center features state-of-the-art technology and equipment to test, in accordance with ISO 11607, packaging for terminally sterilized medical devices:

  • Seal / Closure evaluation (7.3)
  • Physical tests for sterile package integrity (7.4)
  • Physical tests for packaging performance (7.5)

A variety of specific testing for seal strength, burst, pressure, dye penetration, vacuum, aging, distribution and storage, that fall within the categories listed above, can be conducted by the experienced technical team at Smithers Pira.

"This accreditation requires rigorous processes and procedures that ensure that our laboratory meets the highest standards for independent distribution testing accuracy and quality," added Jim Dowey, President at Smithers Pira. "This type of quality control system is critical for pharmaceutical and medical device companies to ensure that their products perform as designed after moving through the supply chain."

In addition to a diverse service offering for the medical packaging market, the Smithers Pira Distribution Testing Laboratory in Lansing, MI serves key industry verticals such as the food and beverage, consumer goods, electronics and automotive markets in North America with a wide variety of package testing services. Smithers Pira experts test to specific ISO, ISTA, ASTM and other industry standards and develop custom testing protocols to ensure that product packaging will not only hold up to the challenges of the supply chain, but will also find the ideal balance of packaging cost and durability.

About Smithers Pira

Smithers Pira is the worldwide authority on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains. Established in 1930, the company provides distribution testing, technical and strategic consulting, market research and events to help clients evaluate packaging performance, manage compliance, gain market insights and identify opportunities. Please visit www.smitherspira.com.

About The Smithers Group:

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, The Smithers Group includes Smithers Viscient, Smithers Pira, Smithers Rapra, Smithers Apex, Smithers Avanza, and Smithers Quality Assessments. Each Smithers Group company provides technology-based services focused on a defined market. As a group, the diversity of market sectors and technologies provides stability and a platform for long-term growth. By integrating science, technology and business expertise, Smithers goal is to add value throughout the life cycle of our clients' products, by utilizing testing, consulting, information, and compliance services. All Smithers companies are known by their clients as Trusted Providers of Innovative Solutions. For more information, visit www.smithers.com.

You can reach the Smithers Pira North America office at:

6539 Westland Way, Suite 24
Lansing, Michigan 48917
Telephone: (517) 322-2400
www.smitherspira.com

Smithers Pira
Todd Hain, +1-330-762-7441
thain@smithers.com