Endurance test for pet toys: SKZ further develops testing methods for plastic products
A powerful shaker, constant chewing in the living room, then off into a mud bath: when pets’ teeth meet toys, there’s often not much left at the end. For the plastics used, this means enormous long-term stress. After all, they must withstand high biting forces, moisture and sunlight – and must not break or release harmful substances or small parts that could be swallowed. But how can one check whether a material is actually up to these requirements?
The SKZ test mark for pet toys provides the answers. Around a year after its introduction, the SKZ Plastics Centre is further developing the associated test procedures and expanding its range to include additional animal species. The reason? Many buyers are very satisfied.
Up to 10,000 chewing cycles: Bruno puts dog toys through their paces
At the heart of the test is a mechanical device that simulates the chewing behaviour of a Golden Retriever. The test jaw performs up to 10,000 chewing cycles under a defined bite load. This reveals at an early stage whether the material develops weak spots or cracks, or whether small parts come loose that could be swallowed.
Until now, the testing apparatus was primarily known as the ‘Würzburg Dog’. It has now been officially named: ‘ ’ Bruno. He carries out the bite tests and is set to be joined by further test subjects in future, including toys for cats, sheep and rats. In addition, it will soon be possible to produce customised jaw moulds – for smaller dog breeds, for example – on request.
An overview of the testing range
In addition to mechanical strength, the SKZ also examines other safety-related material and product properties. The ’s current range of testing services includes:
- Mechanical testing: Chewing tests under a defined bite load using the Bruno test denture.
- hazardous substance analyses: Testing for substances that may leach from plastics and coatings, including phthalates (plasticisers, particularly in PVC), bisphenol A (BPA, a raw material for polycarbonate), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, found for example in soft rubber), heavy metals, as well as N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances that may be produced during the processing of rubber and elastomers.
- Weather and UV resistance: Testing of material stability under exposure to sunlight, moisture and temperature fluctuations.
This is based on the modular structure of the test concept: the individual tests can be flexibly combined and applied to different product groups – from dog toys and cat products to other pet supplies.
Independent verification for manufacturers
And precisely because there are no specific statutory limits for harmful substances in dog toys, voluntary testing is becoming increasingly important. The need for action was also highlighted by a ‘ ’ test carried out by Stiftung Warentest: In four out of 15 dog toys examined, the experts found carcinogenic substances, primarily nitrosamines, which can be produced during the manufacture of rubber, natural rubber or latex. It is precisely these substances that the SKZ tests for as part of its quality mark.
For manufacturers, the quality mark offers the opportunity to have the safety and durability of their plastic products assessed by an independent body. The standardised testing procedures ensure comparable conditions: they reveal weaknesses in materials or design before a product even reaches the market, and provide reliable results for quality assurance and product development.
Such certification can also be worthwhile from an economic perspective. According to a survey of more than 440 buyers of dog toys, 86 per cent are willing to spend more money on certified products.
This award not only gives us a clear competitive advantage, but also gives dog owners peace of mind that they are giving their pets safe toys.
Pet toys may seem like a niche topic at first glance, but they demonstrate the requirements that plastic products must meet in everyday use: they must withstand high mechanical stresses, remain stable even under changing environmental conditions, and must not release any substances harmful to health. Realistic, standardised test procedures make these properties measurable and help manufacturers to provide targeted evidence of material quality and product safety.
And Bruno? He carries on chewing – in the service of material quality.
Author: Ann-Kathrin Ullrich | K-Mag
Ann-Kathrin Ullrich enjoys explaining how new ideas from research, technology and industry are changing everyday life. Alongside her work for EuroShop-Mag, she focuses on plastics and rubber in K-Mag: from new materials and processing methods through to testing technology and issues relating to the circular economy.
