BUYER GUIDE / INDUSTRIAL

Antistatic Tray Surface Resistance Testing Guide

An antistatic tray is only as good as the test behind the label. Resistance must be specified as a target range with a measurement method: electrode configuration, applied voltage, temperature and humidity conditioning, and measurement locations. For Tonghou projects the antistatic target range is 10^9 to 10^11 ohms, verified per project on the actual formed part.

10⁹–10¹¹ Ω

Published and updated: 2026-08-21

Content author: Wenzhou Tonghou Plastic Products Co., Ltd.

04 / ENGINEERING NOTE

Define the class before the test

Antistatic, dissipative and conductive describe different resistance behavior, so a request for an ESD tray is not yet a specification.

Tonghou antistatic projects target a surface-resistance range of 10^9 to 10^11 ohms.
Conductive packaging works in a lower resistance class and is a different requirement.
The required class must be stated in the project specification, not inferred by the supplier.

05 / ENGINEERING NOTE

Make the test repeatable

Two honest measurements need the same conditions.

Agree the electrode configuration, applied voltage and reference method, commonly drawn from the IEC 61340 or ANSI/ESD series.
Condition parts at agreed temperature and humidity before measuring, since both strongly influence results.
Define where measurements are taken—flat surfaces, cavity walls and edges can differ.

06 / ENGINEERING NOTE

Re-verify what ages

Antistatic behavior is not a one-time property, especially for trays in repeated use.

Verify resistance on the actual formed part, not only on raw sheet.
For reusable trays, agree a re-verification interval based on handling and environment.
Record results against the agreed method so trend changes are visible.

Applications

Electronics component process trays
Assembly and transfer trays with ESD requirements
Reusable trays needing periodic re-verification

Selection criteria

Target resistance range and its meaning
Test method: electrodes, voltage, conditioning
Measurement locations on the formed part
Re-verification frequency for reusable trays

Pre-production validation

State the target range, the test method and the acceptance decision before production. Measure the actual formed tray under agreed temperature and humidity conditions, and re-verify reusable trays at agreed intervals because antistatic behavior can change with handling and environment.

04 / DECISION MATRIX

Buyer decision table

Specification element	Why it matters
Range	Antistatic and conductive are different classes; 10^9–10^11 Ω is an antistatic target
Method	Electrode, voltage and standards such as IEC 61340 or ANSI/ESD series define comparability
Condition	Temperature and humidity change measured values
Locations	Tray surfaces, cavities and edges can measure differently

05 / BUYER QUESTIONS

Common buyer questions

01What does 10^9–10^11 ohms mean?

It is the antistatic surface-resistance range Tonghou targets for electronics tray projects, measured with the agreed method on the formed part.

02Is antistatic the same as conductive?

No. They are different resistance classes; the required class must be stated in the specification.

03Why did two labs measure differently?

Electrode setup, applied voltage, temperature, humidity and measurement location all influence the reading, which is why the method must be agreed in advance.

04How often should reusable trays be re-tested?

It depends on handling, cleaning and environment; the interval should be agreed per project and results recorded.