Tubes

As we celebrate the end of 2011, we'd like to take time to point out the year's top articles on www.pmpnews.com. Following are the articles published this year that drew the most page views.

1. Comfort In Parenteral Delivery

Cosmetic packaging provider Topline Products is working with tube manufacturer Viva Healthcare to market injection-molded polypropylene (PP) tubes with in-mold labeling (IML). The technology, created by Viva Healthcare, offers both aesthetic and environmentally friendly features. “We are now ready for mass production of this tube,” reports Charles Chang, president of Topline Products.

High-End Look

Dispensing Tubes

The Tube Council has announced the winners of its 2010 Tube of the Year Awards. An independent panel of judges evaluated nearly two dozen submissions, ranking entries in the following categories: Innovative Tube, Innovative Component/Process, Pharmaceutical, Food, Personal Care, Dentifrice, and Household/Industrial. Judging resulted in one category with two winners, and runners-up and/or special mentions were named in all categories.

By Marie Redding

Tubes with airless pumps, many of which are being used for cosmeceutical products, is a growing product category for Albéa.

The supplier recently added three new small-sized options to its family of airless tubes (trademarked “Precitube”) that contain integrated airless pumps.

The pump is a metered-dose system, ideal for pharmaceutical applications as well as beauty products. The pump is designed in two versions, for lotions or sprays.

By Marie Redding

Suppliers are investing in new equipment and processes for printing on both laminate and extruded tubes.
While most suppliers say reducing margins and cutting costs are priorities for most of their customers, Berry Plastics (www.berryplastics.com) is reporting the opposite.

Jerry Ruud, vice president, sales & marketing, Berry Plastics, has been seeing more retailers’ private label brands, such as products by CVS and Walgreens, upgrading to more high-end tubes that are decorated extensively.

OraTech, a contract manufacturing and packaging company, has recently added two more Norden high-speed tube filling machines to its full-service operation. The firm serves medical, dental, nutraceutical, and over-the-counter healthcare product marketers.

Expanding its tube-filling capabilities was necessary in order to meet customer demand. According to Michael Anderson, manager of contract manufacturing/packaging/consumer products, “the ability to offer quick turnaround is essential.”

This past summer, Desert Essence relaunched its natural beauty products line, redesigning its packaging and adding new items. Tubes are playing a sizable role in that launch, which extends into fall.