How to evaluate a luggage’s quality with the various testing method, these are used to verify the luggage’s construction and functionality performance at the development stage.The following tests must be performed at the development stage or when some components are changed.

The test sequence as the below:

1. Loading weight procedure

2. Luggage Measurement Guideline

3. Tipping test

4. Jerk test

5. Mileage test

6. Case drop test

7. Tumbling test

8. Stair test

9. Environmental test

1) Purpose: To define weight specifications for purpose of testing products.

2) Equipment:

a. Product description

b. Measuring instrument & calculator

3) Loading Weight Calculation and weight factor

a. Weight calculation

i) Unit (cm): length/width/height

ii) For the volumes which unlisted in the below “Weight Factor” cart. The loading weight calculation formula is length (cm)×width(cm)×height(cm)÷1000×0.3 KGS

iii) The maximum internal test weight for any product may not exceed 30kgs

iv) For all products carrying laptop/notebook computer: minimum loading 5KGS

v)For the luggage front appendix pocket, the loading weight calculation should separately follow up with the formula ): pocket volume (litter/cube dm)×0.5 KGS, but luggage total loading weight of product must equal to above point ii) or below “weight factor

 c. Add-on weight: a dead weight of 5 KGS is applied for trolley and wheeled bag which with quick hook function in specific testing.

3) Procedure

a. Determination of internal volume

b. Using outside product dimensions: this method should be used for all products.

c. Measure the outside product dimensions: the length*Width*height, when taking measurements of these three dimensions, stuff the luggage/bags with tissue paper/clothing properly and go from piping to piping on the bags;

d. Use best judgment when a product’s length, width, or height or combination thereof is tapered. In this case, acquiring an average as accurately as possible of the particular into the entire front panel surface so that the entire surface becomes flat;

e. Products with expandable features should be measured in the expandable mood

f. Multiply the 3 dimensions to obtain the cubic feet volume or m3 volume. Loading the Products

g. Load the trolleys, briefcase or bags with clothing/cloth to the weight calculated in above method

h. Pack the product in a manner which will prevent the internal load from shifting freely during testing; use all added device (straps, bars, buckles, hangers, dividers, shelves, etc)

Luggage Measurement Guideline

1) Width: from seam to seam across widest part of back panel, including wheel housing.

2) Height: from handle straps (non-telescopic) till bottom of wheels at center back panel - (including wheel).

3) Depth: from seam to seam at widest point, including wheel.

4) Wheel size: diameter of wheel.

5) For laptop sleeves, also measure

 the inside dimensions from seam to seam, but the smallest size and give us these dimensions separately.

6) Give dimensions and volume if trolley is expanded

3. Tipping Test

1) Purpose:To evaluate the luggage’s stability

2) Equipment:

Dead weight; flat platform, ruler, wheel stopper (the block which block wheel moving)

Wheel stopper height

Two wheel luggage

a. Put the empty luggage onto the flat platform,

b. Place the wheel stopper to the wheels on the back panel side

c. Conduct the tip-over test per description which in point b) of Chapter II “General Function review”

d. Loading the luggage per “Loading weigh Procedure”

e. Repeat the above steps “a” to “c”

Spinners

f. Loading the luggage per “Loading weigh Procedure”

g. Place the wheel stoppers to the spinners on both the back panel side and front side

h. Keep rear spinners point to front side when pushing luggage backwards (see photo below – right)

i. Keep front spinners point to back side when pushing luggage forwards (see photo below - left)

Conduct the tip-over test per description which in point b) of Chapter II “General Function review”

3) Acceptance Criteria

a. The tested product mustn’t fall down when it’s empty

b. The tested product mustn’t fall down when it’s loaded

4. Jerk Testing Procedure

1) Purpose:To evaluate the strength and durability of luggage components used to lift, move or carry the product.

2) Equipment:

Handle jerk tester; Dead weight; Ropes; Timer and Counter

3) Procedure

k. Load the product with the weight per corresponding specification

l. Close the product and fix the handle or carry/ shoulder/back strap to be tested to the jerk tester’s hooks.

m. Set the cycle counter to the number of cycles specified below under section 4

n. Start the machine and adjust its speed to 30±2 cycles per minute.

o. When the test is completed, inspect the product for verifying if there’re the failures of functional components (especially those used to move, lift or carry the product), stitching failures, hardware failures and any other failures or changes that may occur in the course of the testing.

p. Record all observations and the number of the cycles completed when failure occurred.

4) Acceptance Criteria

a. The tested product must remain functional, all stitching and rivet/screw anchorage points must remain intact, and any other component failures are unacceptable within the specified number of jerk (listed below)

b. No any broken, crack and deformation are accepted in the tested parts/components or related to the tested parts/components

c. Single carry handle: 1000 jerks

d. Trolley Pull handles: 500 jerks

e. Double carry (bail) handles: each handle apply 1000 jerks

f. Shoulder straps: each strap apply 1000 jerks

g. Door hook of garment bag: 100 jerk with a fixed internal weight of 10Kgs

h. Quick hook: 100 jerks with a fixed weight of 5KGS

Remarks: Jerk for trolley bag which has both trolleys handle and carry handles, it can be treats as a trolley and a bag, trolley handle applies 500 cycles’ jerks and the carry handle applies 1000 cycle jerks.

5) Calibration

a. Check “stroke” once a week to ensure that proper stroke distance is achieved;

b. Check to see if spring is properly lubricated with grease – add grease as needed

c. Check the compression of the spring on monthly basis;

d. Check if the speed is correct or not on weekly basis.

 5. Mileage Test Procedure

1) Purpose:To evaluate the structural integrity of finished products and the performance of attachment points, quick hooks, wheels, wheel subassemblies and pull handles

2) Equipment

a.Mileage cycle tester or equivalent equipment

b. Mileage cycle conveyor belt with 10 mm bumper/obstacle configuration

c. Ropes

3) Procedure

a. Load the product to the weight specified;

b. For luggage with “quick hook” and/or “smart sleeve” functions, add each 5KGS loading weight for each;

c. Close the product, place it on the conveyor belt and secure the pull handle to the machine in a non-rigid manner that simulates human use and also making sure that the angle between the product and the belt is 50 +/- 10 degree;

Remarks: If within the above angle the wheel set still touch the ground or with abrasion with obstacle of mileage tester, please kindly adjust the angle to avoid it

d. Set the machine to a speed of 4.0km/h for “KIPLING” and 2.5km/h for “EASTPAK”

e. Start the machine for a non-stop cycle with total distance as prescribed under point 4) below

f. When the test is complete, inspect the product for functional failures of attachment points, quick hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies and pull handle

g. Record all observations and the distance completed.

4) Acceptance Criteria

a. Kipling brand: All wheeled products must reach 32 continuous KMS and still remain fully functional in the following areas: attachment points, quick hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies, and pull handle;

b. “EASTPAK” brand: All wheeled products must reach 50 continuous KMS and still remain fully functional in the following areas: attachment points, quick hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies, and pull handle;

c. No any broken, crack and deformation are accepted in the following areas: attachment points, quick hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies, and pull handle.

d. Spinners luggage must be tested in “pull” mode firstly for 16KMS/25KMS and then in “push” mode for another 16KMS/25KMS

Remarks: “Push” mod is simulating man pushes the luggage to walk, luggage is beside him with its “width” parallel with the walking direction, and the luggage can be place the right side or left side of the people.

e. Pullmans with long pull straps and with 4 wheels must be tested in pull mode (on all 4 wheels) 

 a. Machine speed: 4km/h to be checked once a week.

b. 6 mm bumper/obstacle height to be checked annually on month basis;

c. Check and service the machine once a month.

5) Calibration

a. Machine speed: 4km/h to be checked once a week.

b. 6 mm bumper/obstacle height to be checked annually on month basis;

c. Check and service the machine once a month.

 6. Case Drop Testing Procedure

1) Purpose: To determine the resistance of a finished product’s internal and external components and assemblies against breaking and deformation. Also to determine that the product remains stable in an upright position (if product is intended to be in an upright position) or to determine that the product remain in the position that it was designed to be in.

2) Equipment

a. Case Drop Tester or equivalent cold conditioning equipment.

b. Apparatus capable of dropping products from a specified height (free fall) with a metal plate used as the drop zone

3) Test conditions

The test is performed under room temperature which is determined as 23±2℃

(Actually some FTYs without air conditioning perform the testing under open air temperature)

4). Procedure:

a. Load the product per loading weight procedure

b. Set apparatus at test height of 100cm

c. Drop sequence (some drop can be skipped if it’s inapplicable):

i) Bottom panel: 3 drops

ii) Top panel: 3 drops

iii) Back panel: 3 drops

iv) Side panels : 1 drop x 2

v) Front panel: 1 drop

vi) Right rear wheel: 1 drop at 45°angle

vii) Left rear wheel: 1 drop at 45°angle

5) Acceptance criteria

a. Breakage or deformation of plastic attachments such as carts, studs, glides, etc. that make the product unusable are unacceptable.

b. Breakage and/or deformation of wire assembly for panels, reinforcement frames, etc. is unacceptable.

Calibration

c. Freezer: make sure a -15C temperature is maintained constantly , check on daily basis whenever testing product to ensure that this temperature is maintained;

d. If using a machine such as a drop table, make sure that it is maintained every six months.

 8. Stair Test Procedure

1) PURPOSE

a. To simulate a severe handling environment.

b. To evaluate the structural integrity of the finished product, its subassemblies and its components, especially the parts linked to the wheel assembly, wheel housings, kick plates, wheel handle, etc.

2) EQUIPMENT

a. Stair Tester or any machine made with the similar theory or

b. A platform with 20cm±2cm in height, simulating a curb

c. Dead loading weight

3) TEST CONDITIONS

a. The test starts with loading and closed product.

b. 5KGS dead weight is loaded on the top panel to simulate “smart sleeve” function or“quick hook” function.

c. Temperature: the product is to be conditioned at room temperature 23±C (ambient).

4) PROCEDURE

a. Load the product according to the weight specified;

b. For luggage with “quick hook” and/or “smart sleeve” functions, add each 5kgs loading weight for each;

c. Speed for stair testing as the same as which applied at “Mileage” testing for each brands

a). Kipling Brand at 4 KMS/H;

b). Eastpak brand at 2.5KMS/H;

d. Perform the testing with Stair Tester

a). Put the loaded luggage onto the Stair Tester Machine or similar tester

b). Set the apparatus on tester as 25 lifts and 25 drops totally

c). Start the machine to running the cycles

e. Perform the testing manually

a) Distance for walking starts: 200cm to stair

b) Close the product and keep the luggage at 50 angle  10

c) Pull the luggage forwards at the above mentioned speed, when its back panel impacts onto the stair edge, pausefor a half second, and then pull it up to the stair platform.

d) Reverse the direction and then pull the luggage down the stair at the above mentioned speed.

Remarks: No speed-up is allowed while the luggage impacts onto the stair;

Pull the luggage up and down the curb stair forms a full stair testing cycle

e) Repeat above step e-f to finish a totally 50 stairs (25 cub drops + 25 cub lifts).

f) Upon completion of the 25 drops and 25 lifts the product has to be checked thoroughly

f. Unload the luggage, inspect the product for functional failures of attachment points, quick

hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies and pull handle

g. Record all observations and the distance completed.

6) Acceptance Criteria

a. All wheeled products must reach 50 stairs (25 cub drops + 25 cub lifts) still remain fully functional in the following areas: attachment points, quick hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies, and pull handle.

b. No any broken, crack and deformation are accepted in the following areas: attachment points, quick hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies, and pull handle.

7) Calibration

a. Maintain to make sure stair has not damage

9. Environmental Cycling Test Procedure

1) Purpose:To evaluate the variation of the metal parts, fabric and plastic parts, etc along with the environment changing.

2) Equipment

a.Environmental Chamber

b. Thermometer

c. Humidometer

3) Procedure

a. Set program parameter as “66oC, 35% R.H.” * 26 hours; “-12oC, 35% R.H.” * 24 hours ; 66oC, 95% R.H. * 24 hours”

b. Turn on the environmental chamber, 2 hours latter put the entire luggage into chamber

c. Check the variation after 24 hours “dry heat” within 5 minute

d. Check the variation after 24 hours “cold” within 5 minutes

e. Check the variation after 24 hours “humi-heat” after 2 hours

4) Acceptance Criteria

a. No any broken, crack and deformation are accepted in the following areas: attachment points, quick hook, wheels, wheel subassemblies, and pull handle

b. No rust/oxidation on the metal parts surface is acceptable

c. No color changing (fading, color migration, coating surface bubble etc) is acceptable

d. No awful wrinkle on the main fabric are acceptable

5) Calibration (on monthly basis)

a. Put both the thermometer and humidometer in to chamber for at least 2 hours “heat” to verify if the chamber high temperature is aligned with what the chamber indicator shows “66oC, 35% R.H.” or not

b. Put both the thermometer and humidometer in to chamber for at least 2 hours “cold” to verify if the chamber low temperature is aligned with what the chamber indicator shows “-12oC, 35% R.H” or not

c.Put the humidometer in to chamber for at least 2 hours “humi-heat” to verify if the chamber humidity is aligned with what the chamber indicator shows “66oC ,95% R.H.” or not.