On Display: Combining Form and Function
Squeezable Tube
A squeezable laminate tube has an eye-tip dispenser that is suited for cosmetic products requiring precise, on-the-spot applications. An aluminum barrier inserted into the tube's middle layer offers good barrier protection. The tube is 5 1/4 in. in diameter and has a standard neck orifice of 0.530 in. The laminate tubes are also available in diameters of 1 1/4, 3 1/4, 7 1/4, and 1 in., and other orifice sizes can be customized. Decorating options include hot stamping, silk screening, and six-color offset printing. CCL Container, Tube Div., Oak Ridge, NJ.
Dual-Tube Package
A tube-in-a-tube package keeps products separate until they are dispensed. One product is held in a plastic inner tube, while the second product is housed in a laminate outer tube that offers high-barrier protection. The outer and inner tubes are joined together at the package's neck. Squeezing the package dispenses both products from their separate tubes through a single orifice. The orifice design, which can be customized, and the viscosity of the products determine the ratio of products dispensed. The dual package is well suited for holding Procter & Gamble's Crest Advanced Cleaning toothpaste, since the product's hydrogen peroxide and baking- soda ingredients should not be mixed until the time of use. A stock cap is also available to complement the package. Cebal Americas, Norwalk, CT.
Protective Tubes
Tubes constructed of high-barrier coextruded film are suited for housing personal-care products. Integra tubes offer good UV-, flavor-, oxygen-, and moisture-barrier properties. The tubes can be customized in a range of thicknesses, barrier materials, and fillers. Rexam Medical Packaging Ltd., Stoke Gifford, Bristol, UK.
Metallic Tube
A plastic squeeze tube can be decorated with a metallic finish using a company's offset printing capabilities. The metallic tube retains its shape and will not dent or collapse when squeezed. The supplier's patented CD dispensing closure can be provided in a 1.5-in.-diam size with a glossy finish, or in a 2-in.-diam size with a glossy or a matte finish. The one-piece closure features a self-cleaning orifice. Tubed Products Inc., Easthampton, MA.
Tamper-Evident Closure
A tube closure features a tamper-evident tear band at the thumb recess. The tamper-evident closure is pressed onto the tube. Once the tamper-evident band has been removed, the flip-top closure can be opened with one hand for dispensing. Available with a 0.197-in. orifice, the closure is 2 in. in diameter and has a 20.6-mm neck finish. The cap features the company's patented Butterfly hinge, which does not protrude from the package. Zeller Plastik, Libertyville, IL.
Ultratransparent Tube
An ultratransparent squeeze tube is available in diameters ranging from 5 1/4 to 2 in. Fill sizes range from 3 1/4 to 10 1/4 oz. The Transparent-Series tubes can be decorated using offset or screen printing, or with clear labels. The tube's colors can be matched to the colors of an existing product line. The company supplies multilayer plastic-tube packaging to the personal-care and cosmetic industries. Thatcher Tubes LLC, Woodstock, IL.
Sample Tubes
Plastic- and foil-laminated tubes have tearable tops for single-use applications. With sizes ranging from 2 to 60 cc, the tubes are suited for holding liquid, cream, or paste products. The tube heads can be designed in many shapes, with various dispensing characteristics. The supplier can design the package to replicate a product's retail packaging. Decorating options include flexo or gravure printing, or hot stamping. Unette Corp., Wharton, NJ.