Packaging testing and validation laboratory Metropack supports luxury brands in the approval of their packaging. The company also plays a key role in innovation and agility to reduce time-to-market, according to Julien Foret, Business Engineer at Metropack.
What was the starting point for Metropack?
Our laboratory has been carrying out tests on packaging in our 2,000m2 laboratory in Reims for 20 years now. In the beginning, our core business was simulating the transport of products in laboratory conditions. We now offer an entire range of tests for quality or packaging development departments. These include, for example, how a new material performs, how it compares to an existing material, testing a new product, etc. In a bid to meet growing demand in the medical and pharmaceutical, industry and luxury sector for cosmetics, wines and spirits and fine foods, we are expanding our surface area by an additional 1,000m2 at the start of 2023.
What are your clients' needs in luxury packaging?
Concerns today are focused on sustainable development. A first axis is to reduce packaging waste at source, which involves assessing the associated risks. A second is to change materials, especially plastics, to promote recyclability. A third is to reuse existing packaging, which means conducting tests to assess the endurance or lifetime of, for example, a reusable makeup case or a perfume bottle. A final challenge is linked to the rise of e-commerce with the assessment of new logistical constraints on the product. Thanks to our rapid lab testing, we can not only ensure a product’s strength, lifetime and integrity, but also easily fit into demanding brand development schedules.
Why have you chosen to sponsor the Formes de Luxe Awards?
We wanted to make our expertise better known and also to support brands and packaging suppliers who wish to innovate and push the limits of what is possible. In the future, the sophistication of designs and strengthened regulations will require adapting testing methods. With our R&D team, we are moving forward in several directions to boost our investments and future services. A first axis targets palletized load issues, in particular the characterization of wrapping films. A second axis is numerical simulation to predict the behavior of packaging, depending on constraints or analyze a functional issue. The idea is to support our customers as early as possible, and as soon as a new idea is put forward, in order to design the right product, the first time around and as quickly as possible!
