Lots of expertise and state of the art testing equipment

The Topa Institute, part of the Topa Group, has undergone a complete metamorphosis following major refurbishment. It’s a real showroom with all the latest machines. Even more important is the knowledge and experience of the team, particularly in the area of load security.

important since goods need to be well protected during transportation, which must also be safe. That’s why transport packaging and load security are governed by legal regulations. At the Topa Institute, experts test packaging’s protective function, strength and security. The institute also considers whether packaging could be made more sustainable.

At our Topa Institute, we investigate whether we could make better packaging with less material and reduced costs, for example. Thanks to this in-house development, testing and research centre, we can support our customers in their quest to reduce CO₂ emissions, consumption of raw materials and logistics costs.

Portfolio manager Arjan Voshart

Why testing?

The Topa Institute conducts tests with clear objectives. Like savings. Savings on material might look great on paper, but these shouldn’t be at the expense of the transportation. So testing is a good solution. Quality assurance is another reason to carry out testing. Packaging that protects the product against weather conditions is developed, assessed and then quality tested in a climatic chamber.

The procedures are strict and consist of multiple steps. We take a structured approach to this process. A new product might be another reason to conduct testing. With the help of mechanical testing, we can get a good idea of the most critical points of a product along with the (transport) packaging, all before a product launch. Early testing of a new product often results in simple improvements and provides reassurance that the packaging choice is right. 

Testing transport situations

In the lab, we can recreate circumstances up to very extreme transport situations and keep the amount of damage to a minimum. The testing centre boasts the latest transport-simulation technology. During transportation, vibrations, bumps, knocks, pressure loads, temperature fluctuations or changes in humidity can have a significant impact on the load.

The Topa Institute determines the testing objectives in advance, in cooperation with the customer. New or tightened legislation around transport can also be a reason to take another critical look at the current transportation and storage. Different regulations also apply in different countries. The Topa Institute tests the quality of the packaging and takes the applicable legislation into account.

Load security

Portfolio Manager Arjan Voshart knows better than anyone how important testing of transport packaging is. Not just because products need to be delivered in good condition after transportation, but certainly in connection with safety too.

Head Inspector Kurt Garrez, an expert in the field of load security and packaging and chair of the Belgian national expert network, Centrex, has seen the impact it can have if requirements in relation to load security and packaging are not followed. For parties active in shipping, it is therefore important to know the rules and to pack and secure loads in accordance with requirements. Load security is a priority at Topa. We therefore help customers to improve the quality and safety of their transportation. Our ISTA, EUMOS and APASS certifications confirm that we have the necessary knowledge and expertise. Moreover, our latest machines also comply with the ‘DIN 55415:2022-09’ standard.

Portfolio manager Arjan Voshart

Climate neutral

In 2022, the year of Topa’s 100th anniversary, Topa became an official ‘Climate Neutral Company’.

Our goal for 2022 was a reduction of 15%. But, working together, we succeeded in reducing our emissions by more than 27%, something we are of course very proud of. We compensated for the remaining CO₂ emissions by supporting the ‘Wind Energy Chile’ climate project. Once the turbines have been built, this project will save about 197,420 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

Portfolio manager Arjan Voshart

Higher level

The objective of the recent investments is to push the Topa Institute and its service provision to a higher level. There are further opportunities and the Topa Institute is prepared for future demands. New concrete floors have been poured and almost all the equipment has been refurbished. The group possesses all the necessary know-how to help customers find the right packaging solution, on the basis of testing and measurements.

Wondering if we can improve your packaging?
Contact Topa Institute by phone: +31 252 245 350, or send an e-mail to: info@topainstitute.com