ACE PROTECA Luggage: Redefining Durability with Precision Testing
Summary
At Japan’s largest suitcase production site in Akabira, Hokkaido, ACE Luggage has spent over 50 years perfecting the art of durability and innovation. Through the ACE Technology Institute (A.T.I.), we conduct rigorous real-world testing—from caster endurance to impact resistance—ensuring every suitcase meets our uncompromising standards. Our mission is simple: to guarantee safe, reliable travel for everyone.
ACE Luggage's Akabira factory in Hokkaido is Japan’s largest suitcase production site.
For over 50 years, we've upheld our core values of "creativity, innovation, effort, and integrity." While a suitcase isn't life-critical, even a small defect can cause accidents. That’s why we focus on research to ensure uncompromising quality.
Our mission is to guarantee safe, dependable travel for everyone.
To uphold and improve our trusted technology, we conduct various evaluations.
We test the strength and durability of new products and simulate real-world usage scenarios to gather essential data. A.T.I. is vital for developing high-quality products.
A.T.I. ACE TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
At the ACE Luggage factory in Akabira, Hokkaido, we have established the A.T.I. ACE Quality Management Research Institute.
Suitcases are essential tools for transporting our cherished belongings, enduring various stresses as we travel, whether they're being pulled over different surfaces or checked as luggage on flights. Given the diverse conditions in which they are used, we conduct rigorous testing to evaluate the strength and durability of new designs and components, simulating real-world scenarios to gather valuable data.
Among our various tests, here are five key evaluations we frequently conduct:
Caster Durability Test
We load the suitcase and roll it over simulated surfaces to assess the durability of the casters. The maximum load typically reaches up to 30 kg, depending on the suitcase size. We run the casters for approximately 4 hours over a distance of 16 km to evaluate wear and tear.
Drop Test
Loaded suitcases are dropped inside a large rotating drum with a diameter of 3.3 meters. The drum is designed with wooden blocks to simulate various impacts, and we drop the suitcase 25 times over 3 minutes. This test is crucial, especially for luggage handling during flights and transfers, where unexpected impacts can occur.
Drop Impact Test (Casters & Glide)
Loaded suitcases are dropped from a height of 120 cm, first with the casters facing down and then with the glide side down, five times each. This assesses the strength of the casters, glide, and shell against significant impact forces.
Handle Strength Test
With a loaded suitcase, we test both the top and main handles by allowing a free fall of 10 cm, repeated 5,000 times over about 5 hours. This simulates the stress experienced when carrying luggage, especially while climbing stairs, putting pressure not only on the handles but also on the locks.
These tests form the foundation of our manufacturing processes, applied to both new products and existing models. We continuously gather data to support our mission of ensuring safe and secure travel for our customers.