09.15.06
A Place for that Secret Stash
Alcan Packaging Beauty’s Secret Box Palette is a complete make-up solution, offering room for eye color, lip and facial ranges and applicators — as well as a special secret box in the center that can store almost anything from glitter gels to mini-sponges to body tattoos to jewelry. According to Alcan, the Secret Box Palette can be easily customized; the pan and mirror holders can be placed in all or just some of the wells. Its stock aluminum pans come in two sizes, covering all of the pan support or just one-third. More information: www.alcan.com.
Qosmedix offers three economical spray misters well suited for testers, travel size packaging or gift with purchase. The natural polypropylene bottles and pumps are available in 2.5ml, 5ml, and 8ml with an overcap that prevents leakage and a wide neck for easy filling. The misters are the right size for sampling perfumes, body mists, liquid skincare products and colognes. More information: www.qosmedix.com
Ditch Cap Dispensing Orifices with Deckless Dispens-R Tube
Berry Plastics and its Tubed Products LLC subsidiary have introduced the Deckless Dispens-R Tube, which features snap-on, flip-top technology and a new product delivery system. A sister tube to the Dispens-R Tube, the Deckless Dispens-R dispenses product directly from the tube orifice, eliminating the need for a cap dispensing orifice. Because the Deckless Dispens-R is a snap-on design, the closure is non-removable. Thumb access oriented to the tube graphics and a strong butterfly hinge assure easy opening. In addition, the Deckless design allows for dual color dispensing surface and the tube head can accent and match the cap color. More information: www.berryplastics.com.
Liquid Stick Pack from Unette
Unette Corp. has added a new liquid Stick Pack to its line of single-use packaging available in foil laminate, tube-like packette form. The Stick Pack features a directional flow channel and the ability to apply high-level flexographic printing on the foil laminate film. More information: www.unette.com
TricorBraun has created the prototype of a lotion pump that requires only one hand to operate, unlike the traditional dispensers that require one hand to depress the pump while the other hand “catches” the bottle’s contents. The new design marks the first time in almost 40 years the company has made a change to is lotion pump. According to the company, applications include cosmetic and personal care products. For example, the pump allows hair stylists to reach with one hand to dispense shampoo, conditioner or styling products while continuing the application with the other hand. More information: www.tricorbraun.com.
Heavy-Wall PET Bottles Have Glass-Like Appearance
SeaCliff Packaging is offering two new families of heavy-wall, polyethylene (PET) bottles. Designed to have the appearance and feel of glass without the breakability and expense, the heavy plastic is not squeezable like drug store style containers, but rather offers the feel of a high-end, department store product because of its density, according to the company. Currently used by Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty collection and the Wynn Hotel’s personal line, bottles are available in custom colors, white or clear. Silk screening with UV ink or hot stamping can be used for customizing and decorating. The bottles, which are offered in cylindrical and oval in varying sizes, can be topped off with dispenser pumps or fine-mist sprayers. More information: www.seacliffpackaging.com.
Rexam Dispensing Systems has a new Blister Pack spray sampler for drug stores, supermarkets and other retail outlets. The new sampler, designed to attract new fragrance consumers through a self-service purchase, offers the same kind of fragrance experience as the full sized retail brand. The trial package allows up to 40 sprays per mini dispenser. The Blister Pack also provides a large space for communicating with the end-user in drawing attention to the fragrance sampler, according to the company. To produce the new sampler, Rexam teamed with Le Papillon, Ltd., which provides filling and packaging operations using automatic, high-speed production processes. More information: www.rexam.com.
Airless Metered Dose Dispensing Pen for Lotions, Gels and Creams
Arrowpak Inc. is offering an airless metered dose dispensing pen for creams, lotions, gels and pharmaceutical products. The pen’s dispensing end is designed for a variety of tip styles, including doe-foot, brush and roll-on. A locking mechanism on the actuator button makes it suitable for travel, according to the company. Available dosages include 100mcl, 130mcl,1700mcl, and 200mcl, with available sizes of 3ml, 7.5ml and 15ml rounds and a 30ml oval. All components are polypropylene, except the diaphragm, which is LDPE. Other materials, such as glass and aluminum, are available for the inner tube. Decoration options include silk screening and hot stamping. More information: www.arrowpak.com.
Holographic Effects from XSYS Print Systems
XSYS Print Solutions has expanded its range of patterns and colors available in the HolographINK Process, a specialty imaging process which provides a holographic effect without the need to print on holographic material. The single-component process, which can be used for decorative, brand recognition, security or anti-counterfeiting applications, can create countless holographic colors and patterns. Excellent image bond can be achieved on a broad choice of print substrates, including PE, PP and PVC, unsupported and in a self-adhesive laminate; heat-sensitive films; paper; cartonboard; and plastic tube laminates. In addition to a standard range of patterns and colors, XSYS also offers ready-to-use holographic images that can be licensed. Sample cards showing patterns and colors are available. More information: www.xsys-printsolutions.com.
Digital Printing on Cans Reduces Minimum Quantities
Ball-Steeltin has added digital printing capacity that reduces minimum quantities, costs and delivery times for custom-printed cans. According to the company, orders that previously took one to two months to complete using older technology now can be filled in as little as three weeks. In addition, this new capability provides reduced set-up charges and production quantities as low as 250 units. More information: www.ball.com.
Special Effect UV/EB Coatings from Northwest Coatings
Northwest Coatings offers Phantavision, UV/EB curable special effect coatings — including pearlescent, glitter and color changing effects —to enhance the appearance of printed materials. Phantavision produces different effects depending on the viewing angle; high contrast color shifts appear with sharp changes in the viewing angles, while smooth changes occur with gradual curves. The company’s special effect coatings are designed for both web and sheet-fed applications and may be applied in-line or off-line over most inks, primers and substrates. These coatings have a variety of end-use characteristics such as: hot stamping, scratch resistance, high flexibility and water and chemical resistance. More information: www.northwestcoatings.com.
Iridescent Shrink Labels Made with PETG, PLA Resins
Gilbreth Packaging offers an iridescent shrink label that can be used to create combo packs that display a continually changing rainbow. As the film interacts with the light, it projects a kaleidoscopic pattern of color experiences that provide a unique on-package customer involvement. The labels are made with PETG and PLA resins—making it environmentally friendly. More information: www.gilbrethusa.com.
Metallic Look for Plastic...
New MetaLustre color concentrates from Teknor Color Company will provide the luxurious metallic look for health and beauty packaging, while enabling manufacturers to cut back on the development work normally required to ensure packaging looks identical no matter which plastic materials are selected. The color concentrates, which are in commercial use by Impressions Packaging Corp. for a new line of heavy-walled stock PET bottles called PET Metal, include aluminum, blue steel, brass, copper, gold and pewter. For each color, Teknor has developed multiple formulations designed to deliver an identical hue in packages made from various resins. Formulations are available for PET, PETG, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, ionomer, crystal PS, HIPS, SAN, ABS, PVC, PC, nylon and TPEs used in soft-touch applications. More information: www.teknorcolor.com.
...and from Stock Paper
Companies can create the look of metal with specialty cover stocks from Decorated Paper, a division of Hazen Paper Company. Five of its ready-to-ship lines offer unique choices that replicate metal, perform reliably with different printing techniques and are ideal for displays. Achievable effects include brushed aluminum, burnished copper, mirror-like chrome and three-dimensional holographic patterns. More information: visit www.decoratedpaper.com.
