Terms in the packaging industry are often used incorrectly without us giving them a second thought. However, correct terminology is a prerequisite for clarity and exact transformation into other languages, especially in view of the globalisation of the economy. The provision of standardised terms can help here. The packaging journal will dedicate a series to these in 2019.
The German Institute for Standardisation has developed the DIN-Term terminology database, which offers efficient terminology work which provides interested parties with the standardised terms in a timely and reliable manner. This also includes the basic standard DIN 55405 „Packaging - Terminology - Terms“, which defines standardised terms for the field of packaging.
German industry recognised the importance of clear standards that could be applied by all as early as the Beginning of the 20th century. In 1905, even before a standardisation institution was founded, Germany's fish processors introduced standardised can formats, followed by the canning industry and the chambers of commerce, which in 1907 also advocated the use of cans. Standardised can formats in fruit and vegetable processing use.
Foundation of the German Industry Standards Committee
In 1917, the Standards Committee of German Industry (NADI) was founded, which saw an opportunity to bring the war to a successful conclusion by rationalising the previously unregulated armaments production. The NADI gave rise to „German industry standards“, abbreviated to „DIN“, which were particularly necessary for co-operation in mechanical engineering and were soon seen as a guarantee of quality workmanship.
In 1922, one of the best-known standards, DIN 476, was created for Paper formats. The name NADI was changed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee) in 1926. After the Second World War, the Allied Control Council commissioned the Standards Committee, which from then on was called the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN), to resume its activities in 1946.
DIN became a member of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in 1951. The East/West German cooperation in the field of standardisation continued until the Wall was built in 1961, after which the Office for Standardisation, Metrology and Product Testing (ASMW) was founded in the GDR, which now developed the „Technical Standards, Quality Regulations and Delivery Conditions (TGL)“ instead of DIN. Since 1990, DIN has once again been responsible for All-German standardisation work responsible.
[infotext icon]Increasingly, the Standardisation European and international in character. National standards now only account for 15 percent of standardisation projects, the others are coordinated with international ISO and European CEN working committees[/infotext].How DIN works
DIN is a registered association whose members are legal entities. It is managed by an executive board. DIN's task is to initiate and support standards for the benefit of the general public while safeguarding the public interest and to organise the integration of international standards into the German body of standards. The Basic principles of the work of DIN are DIN 820 and include such principles as uniformity, voluntariness, market-orientation, economic efficiency or reference to the latest state of science and technology.
In 1975, DIN and the Federal Republic of Germany signed the Standardisation agreement, in which the state undertook to transfer standardisation work exclusively to DIN, which remained an independent, non-governmental organisation without the state's right to issue instructions. Committees such as the commissions for safety technology, environmental protection and the consumer council were also established. The standards developed are distributed for a fee by Beuth Verlag, a subsidiary of DIN, which finances part of the non-profit standardisation activities.
The permanent employees organise the work in the standards committees in committees and coordinate it with the steering committee consisting of representatives of the interested parties. For each Standardisation task A working committee or technical committee is responsible for standardisation. As a rule, several working committees are combined to form a standards committee. More than 30,000 experts contribute their expertise to the standardisation process and play a key role in bringing innovations to market maturity.
70th anniversary of the DIN. (Image: HTWK Leipzig)
The Packaging Standards Committee as part of DIN
Especially today, when there is so much public discussion about packaging, it is important to support the work of packaging standardisation and thus contribute to the optimal fulfilment of packaging functions, the enforcement of safety requirements and the conservation of resources. The Packaging Standards Committee (NAVp) is responsible for the standardisation of all technical and organisational elements of the physical flow of goods as well as for the necessary principles and requirements for packaging materials, means and aids, packaging systems and loading units. It also coordinates German participation in the international standardisation organisations of the speciality.
In 1948, the NAVp was founded in Leipzig, the trade fair metropolis that was being re-established at the time, and celebrated its anniversary there at the HTWK this year. 70th anniversary with a festive event.
Whoever has the standard has the market
The focus of standardisation varied over the following decades. While in the post-war period, standardisation helped to eliminate economic bottlenecks and regain access and influence on the international market, in the 1970s it succeeded in Basic standards for terminology, dimensions and test methods and to develop standards for new materials. This was done true to the motto: „Whoever has the standard has the market.“
After that the Environmental compatibility of packaging, management standards and EU Commission regulations. In 1985, a new Concept for technical harmonisation in the EU was introduced. Further milestones were conformity assessment in 1989 and product regulation in the EU in 1999. Since then, more than 20 New Approach Directives such as Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste or Regulation EC 10-2006 on good manufacturing practice have come into force.
Today, the packaging industry, like many other sectors of the economy, is facing numerous challenges such as Industry 4.0, digitalisation, safety and traceability of packaging. One Higher standardisation efficiency, This also includes the further development and provision of standardised terms on the basis of DIN-Term (further information can be found at http://www.din-term.din.de).
[infotext icon]In our series "Standardised terms" we take a closer look at some (frequently misused) technical terms in the packaging industry.All articles in the series:
Packaging standardisation - development and application
Standardised terms - Part 1: Bag or pouch?
Standardised terms - Part 2: Carton or box?
Standardised terms - Part 3: Can or tin?
Standardised terms - Part 4: Steige or Stiege?
Standardised terms - Part 5: Crate, box or harass?
Standardised terms - Part 6: Drum or barrel?
Standardised terms - Part 7: What actually is a "tray"?
Standardised terms - Part 8: What is a blister pack?
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