ISTA

Smither has a long-standing association with the International Safe Transit Association in the improvement development of test methods and standards. Smither's distribution testing laboratories are accredited by ISTA.

The International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) is an organization focused on the specific concerns of transport packaging with mission to develop and deliver standards, educational programs and tools for the economic, social and environmental optimization of packaging systems. These goals are well aligned with those of Smither so we are proud to have such a strong relationship with ISTA and support its global work.

For more than 50 years Smither has been providing distribution testing and consulting services and solutions to both retail and industrial goods supply chains; working to develop test methods and standards as well as specific research projects and knowledge development is vital to us. In addition to tailored test programs that we develop for our clients, we use and have extensive knowledge of internationally recognized test standards including those developed by ISTA.

Smither has been a member of ISTA since the 1990s and all of Smither's Distribution Testing laboratories are ISTA accredited.

Smither Partners with ISTA's Advocate Research and Value Delivery Program

ISTA's Advocate Research and Value Delivery Program aims to accelerate the development of information sources and test methods by conducting research and collecting data that improves testing and design methodologies relating to the shipment of packaged goods and products.

As a partner of the Advocate Program, Smither will help guide the new research aiding in the scientific advancement of package design and testing in order to lower costs, reduce environmental footprint and improve speed to market.

Smither participation on ISTA technical committees and boards

Vice President and General Manager of Smither Materials Science and Engineering Division-EU, Sam Sheppard Fidler, currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the ISTA Global Board (elected to this position in April 2012, previously a 'Global Board Director at Large'). In this role, Sam supports Chair (Matt Daum, HP) and ISTA Executive Director (Ed Church) with long range planning for ISTA.

Sam is also Chair of the ISTA European Board - and has provided strong support towards development of ISTA's European Symposia since 2009.

ISTA Certified Packaging Professional (CPLPs)

Smither has three ISTA Certified Packaging Laboratory Professionals (CPLPs). Technologists based at our UK package testing laboratory including James Raw, Justin Scott and Alan Gillespie.

Please note that the standards listed here are an illustration of what we offer and that others may also be available. Contact us for more information.