Supplier Side
RPC Beauté Creates Biodegradable Lipstick Container
RPC Beauté (Northants, UK) announced that it has completed its first trial production of a 100% biodegradable lipstick container. Previously, the firm molded a screw-top loose-powder compact using the same biodegradable polymer.
The lipstick container was molded from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) polymer. According to RPC Beauté, PHA is produced from organic sugars and oils that break down in soil, composting, waste treatment processes, river water, and marine environments. Only carbon dioxide and water are generated during the polymer’s decomposition. RPC Beauté adds that PHA has to date proved to be more heat-stable than the more-familiar biodegradable polylactic (PLA) polymer.
The lipstick container incorporates RPC’s patented Revolve mechanism. The Revolve mechanism features a unique collapsible tower that allows the lipstick container to be assembled from four molded parts. The four parts are made from the same packaging material. By comparison, RPC says, many conventional lipstick containers are typically made from five components that are created from a number of different materials.
“The successful application of PHA indicates that fully biodegradable cosmetic packaging can be a reality,” says John Birkett, project manager at RPC Beauté.
Alcan Packaging Beauty Partners with Decorpart
Alcan Packaging Beauty (New York City) has partnered with Decorpart, a UK-based supplier of metal cosmetic packaging components. Under an agreement, Alcan Packaging Beauty will expand its packaging range by using Decorpart’s offerings to create metal, plastic, and metal-plastic hybrid packaging.
Decorpart has set up a site adjacent to Alcan Packaging Beauty’s facility in Suzhou, China. Opened in the third quarter of 2006, the new plant develops metal parts for mascara packaging, compacts, lipstick cases, perfume caps, and jar lids. The components will be assembled at Alcan Packaging Beauty’s facilities in Asia.
RPC Group Acquires Crown Risdon Europe
RPC Group, a rigid-plastic packaging supplier, has acquired the assets of supplier Crown Risdon Europe. Crown Risdon Europe’s facilities enhance those of RPC Cresstale, RPC Group’s cosmetic packaging division.
Crown Risdon Europe’s Marolles and Mozzate plants and RPC Cresstale have been grouped under the name RPC Beauté. The division is managed by Denis Pandolfi, formerly the general manager for Crown Risdon Europe.
Carolina Precision Plastics Acquires Augros
Packaging supplier Carolina Precision Plastics LLC (CPP; Asheboro, NC) has acquired the assets of Augros Inc. (Ronkonkoma, NY), an injection molder of cosmetic packaging components.
CPP plans on operating out of Augros’s Ronkonkoma facility. CPP will also begin transferring select business to its North Carolina plant to better serve customers located in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions.
In addition to the acquisition, CPP plans to form a joint venture with a China-based company by the end of this year. “We recognize the need to offer our customers the option of manufacturing in a low-cost country,” says Brian Tauber, president and CEO of CPP. “Our partner is a well-established, high-quality molder that…should provide a tremendous source of overseas production.”
Rexam Opens Packaging Plant in Poland
Rexam PLC (London) has opened its first plastic packaging plant in Poland. The firm already has two glass plants in Gostyn and Wyszkow.
The new facility will allow Rexam to deliver plastic packaging components to its clients throughout Europe. The new facility houses 14 molding machines with high-speed robotics and assembly. Capabilities include plastic injection molding, manual and automated assembly, ultrasonic welding, and labeling.
New Alliance Helps Brands Reach Hispanic Market
Graphic design studio Hirschhorn & Young Graphics (New York City) and its partner, Creative Packaging Solutions, have formed an alliance. The new entity, called Soluciones Creadoras de Envase, was developed to help brands market their products to the Hispanic community.
“This decision will expand our packaging client base,” says Coni Lefferts, president of Creative Packaging Solutions. “Our international manufacturing representation is in place and ready to ensure that proper packaging structure, graphics, and design are used to reach the exploding Hispanic market. By joining creative talents, Hispanic marketing knowledge, resources in packaging components, translation abilities, and regulatory expertise, we will be able to continue our packaging business growth.”
Soluciones Creadoras de Envase will advise companies on regulatory issues and help them to source and develop packaging. Technical support for cultural adaptation and regulatory compliance will be handled by Hirschhorn & Young Graphics.
Engelhard Makes Packaging Shine
Engelhard Corp. (Iselin, NJ), a supplier of pigments for cosmetic products and packaging, has added its new Reflecks Dimensions Shiny Colours pigments to its pearlescent pigment line. The new borosilicate-based color pigments are vibrant and highly reflective. They are available in gold, bronze, copper, and rouge shades.
In other news, Engelhard’s Rightfit and Synergy pigments lines are now featured on www.matchmycolor.com, a Web site that offers on-line color-matching services. “We are excited to start this collaboration with www.matchmycolor.com,” says Roland Valin of global sales and technical marketing for Engelhard’s Color Pigments. “The Web site provides an effective channel to respond to the plastic industry’s need for quick and accurate color matching.”
Finally, it was announced that Engelhard has been integrated into chemical company BASF (Florham Park, NJ). Engelhard companies will be renamed BASF Catalysts LLC.
FiberMark Launches Cork-Like Material
FiberMark (Brattleboro, VT), a supplier of materials used to adorn packaging, has introduced a new product with a cork-like appearance. Evora by Corvon is a soft yet durable covering material that features a distinctive printed texture.
Evora can be decorated using foil stamping, screen printing, or blind stamping. It is available in a palette of warm neutral and deep earthy colors.
Fort Dearborn Acquired
Private-equity firm Genstar Capital LLC has acquired label supplier Fort Dearborn Co. (Elk Grove, IL). As part of the transaction, Fort Dearborn’s current COO, Michael Anderson, will assume the role of president and CEO. Richard Adler, the company’s current president and CEO, will maintain a position on Fort Dearborn’s board of directors and serve as an advisor.
Fort Dearborn specializes in cut-and-stack, pressure-sensitive, and shrink-sleeve labels for the personal care market. It operates six facilities nationwide.
Cosfibel Creates Bourjois Carton
For its Grains de Beauté shower gel line, Bourjois chose clear cartons from Cosfibel Creative Packaging (Paris). The 400-µ polypropylene cartons were printed with orange, green, pink, and purple graphics.
Cosfibel Creative Packaging and its subsidiary companies, Roskoplast, Grumbe, and Tepor, specialize in manufacturing transparent packaging for the cosmetics industry.
Global Closures Systems Now On-line
Closure supplier Global Closures Systems (GCS) has launched its new Web site. Located at www.gcs.com, the Web site features stock components offered by the six companies that make up GCS: Astra Plastique, Bender, Massmould, Obrist, UCP, and Zeller. On the Web site, more than 800 stock closures for various industries can be cross-searched using a variety of criteria including market type, closure type, neck finish, tamper evidence, and closure material.
“While GCS is a new company, we are unique in that we have a strong foundation of industry technologies and expertise, along with an extensive portfolio of products,” says Colin Jones, vice president of sales and market development at GCS.
Clear Bags
Qosmedix (Edgewood, NY) has introduced new transparent gift bags. The bags are well suited for packaging cosmetic travel kits, bath and body gift sets, or promotional items.
The bags are available in four stock sizes. They are made from vinyl with a choice of closures. Qosmedix also offers applicators, brushes, jars, and vials for the beauty market.
CTL’s New Flip-Top Closure
CTL Packaging (Metropolitaine, France) has added a new flip-top closure to its Positop closure line. The new 30-mm closure is suited for a range of skin care, body care, and hair care products.
The push-on cap is designed to always orient to the front of a package. It is available in diameters of 30, 35, 40, and 50 mm. The cap is available in glossy, matte, opaque, and transparent finishes and can be decorated with hot stamping and silk-screening. A tamper-evident sleeve can also be added.
DieterBakic Gives Nivea A New Look
Beiersdorf brand Nivea Beauté chose standard packaging supplier DieterBakicEnterprises (Munich) to redesign its cosmetic packaging. The supplier’s design division, DieterBakicDesign, provided the design concept, while DieterBakicEnterprises supplied and decorated the packaging components.
Aesthetically, the design is meant to be unpretentious and streamlined, according to DieterBakic. The components were colored a shimmery blue, and a new logo was designed.
The new Nivea packages first launched earlier this year. By August of this year, three-quarters of Nivea Beauté packaging reflected the new design, according to DieterBakic.
Serac Launches Filler/Capper
Serac (Metropolitaine, France) offers a filling-and-capping line specifically designed for the cosmetics market.
According to Serac, the Cronos system provides cosmetic packagers with a single machine that can process a wide variety of containers, caps, and product types. The system can accommodate screw caps, click-on caps, pumps, and more.