Expert in focus: Anthi Schoina

When it comes to label material testing, Anthi Schoina brings a wealth of experience to her role as the R&D Laboratory Lead of AD Procerta—Avery Dennison's testing facility service. With a BSc in Chemistry and an MSc in Forensic Science coupled with a team leadership, project management, and laboratory research background, Anthi has held various roles, including Chemist and Lab Supervisor over the last 15 years. Having been the driving force behind ADProcerta's recent ISO/IEC 17025 (Registration number L702, RvA Netherlands), Anthi sheds light on the importance of precise testing and its impact on the packaging industry.

Delivering a high-quality testing service is a complex process that involves more than just technical know-how. It all starts with people. At AD Procerta, for example, our team is composed of highly skilled and committed professionals who ensure that every test is conducted with precision and care.

Transparent and traceable procedures are an important cornerstone of a good testing service. We document every step of our processes, ensuring that all activities can be traced back and verified. This builds trust with our clients and allows us to maintain the integrity of our results. Regular maintenance and calibrated equipment are equally fundamental to achieving accurate results, and we invest heavily in state-of-the-art equipment and ensure its regular maintenance to perform at its best consistently.

And finally, good communication with our customers is also very important. We are all about open and ongoing dialogue with our clients, taking their feedback seriously, and constantly working to improve our services. After all, understanding customer needs is key, and that begins with asking the right questions. Often, customers request specific tests, believing they will provide the insights they need. But through in-depth discussions, we often discover that a different set of tests is needed to truly address their concerns. This collaborative approach ensures we deliver the most accurate results, ultimately solving the customer's problem more efficiently.

Application testing for labels and packaging is exceptionally important as it provides insights beyond what generic testing and Technical Data Sheets (TDS) offer. TDS give standardized product information, but application testing determines how materials perform under specific, real-world conditions. For example, label materials are often tested on glass surfaces, but the properties of glass can vary. Factors like curvature, coatings, and environmental conditions can all impact the label's performance.

Conducting application-based testing (on the actual packaging or real life packaging) is a proactive measure that allows us to simulate scenario-based conditions, ensuring that products meet industry regulations and perform as expected throughout their lifecycle. This is particularly important in sensitive sectors like food and pharmaceuticals, where compliance with stringent standards is a must. By running thorough application testing, we can verify the durability and functionality of our labels and packaging, thus helping prevent production inefficiencies or packaging failure while also protecting clients' brand reputation. Ultimately, this testing approach boosts consumer satisfaction by guaranteeing that packaging and labels meet high performance and reliability standards in their actual usage environments, providing a sense of security and peace of mind.

Some brand owners might be hesitant when it comes to testing product labels in laboratories, but they can be confident in the accuracy of our lab test results. At AD Procerta, we follow internationally recognized FINAT and ASTM methods. And as mentioned before, we mimic real-life conditions as closely as possible to draw accurate conclusions about the behavior of labels and packaging. Our team of experts has decades of experience across various industries, bringing invaluable knowledge to the table.

Our goal is to equip brand owners with a comprehensive understanding of how their products will perform in their intended environments. By choosing AD Procerta, you're choosing accuracy and reliability. We are confident about our results, providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your labels and packaging. With us, you can be sure that your products are tested under the most realistic conditions, giving you the assurance you need.

For more information on how we can support your testing needs, get in touch with us directly or via email at adprocerta@eu.averydennison.com.

Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science company specializing in the design and manufacture of a wide variety of labeling and functional materials. The company’s products, which are used in nearly every major industry, include pressure-sensitive materials for labels and graphic applications; tapes and other bonding solutions for industrial, medical, and retail applications; tags, labels and embellishments for apparel; and radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions serving retail apparel and other markets. Headquartered in Glendale, California, the company employs more than 35,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Reported sales in 2021 were $8.4 billion. Learn more at averydennison.com.