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Supplier Side

NACD Names Alpha Packaging Supplier of the Year

The National Association of Container Distributors (NACD; Naperville, IL) named bottle and jar company Alpha Packaging (Tucson, AZ) its 2007 Supplier of the Year.

NACD president Char Sloan said that Alpha received the most votes by NACD members. “[Alpha Packaging] has made it its mission to provide great products along with world-class service to its NACD distributor partners,” he said. Some of those services include adding two new plants this year to serve Alpha’s customers in different regions of the United States.

“NACD represents the highest standards of the packaging profession, and to know that we have earned the respect and recognition of the people who drive our industry means very much to all of us,” said Dave Spence, president and COO of Alpha Packaging.

NACD also recognized product packages supplied by its members. In the cosmetic and personal care category, NACD presented three awards. The gold award went to distributor Berlin Packaging (Chicago) for a three-piece custom-molded jar for Samy Style Ice Styling Putty. Omaha-based distributor Ryco Packaging Corp., which was recently acquired by distributor TricorBraun (St. Louis), won the silver award for airless stock dispensers for the Lisa Hoffman day and night line. Finally, the bottle for Bullfrog Sunblock and Insect Repellent, whose bumpy texture, color, and shape give the impression of a bullfrog, won the bronze award. The bottle was supplied by Package Supply & Equipment Co. (Atlanta).

Film Ensures That Pressed Powder Is Evenly Packed

At the EastPack trade show in June, Sensor Products Inc. (Madison, NJ) reported that a leading cosmetic company recently used Sensor Products’ Pressurex film to ensure that its pressed powder was uniformly compressed in a compact.

Pressurex’s flexible film measures the amount of force that is exerted by one surface onto another. It also measures distribution of pressure and indicates if more pressure is exerted in some areas than others.

The film was placed between the powder’s surface and the compacting equipment. After the compacting equipment pressed down on the film, the film’s color turned darker in areas where more pressure had been applied, and lighter in areas where less pressure had been applied. This indicated whether or not the powder was evenly compacted. The film was analyzed using Sensor Products’ Topaq imaging system.

According to Carlos Ruiz, technical sales manager for Sensor Products, this was the first cosmetic application of its kind for Pressurex. By indicating when pressure distribution was uneven and when the compacting equipment needed to be recalibrated, the film helped to eliminate scrap of compacts that weren’t properly filled.

New Colorants Developed for Biodegradable Plastics

PolyOne Corp. (Cleveland) has introduced colorants and additives specifically designed for biodegradable plastics. According to Poly-One, the colorants and additives don’t interfere with the composting of biodegradable materials. They also meet several global composting standards, including EN 13432 (European Union), ASTM D6400 (United States), BPS GREENPLA (Japan), and DIN CERTO (Germany).

The colorants and additives can be used during extrusion molding and blow molding of the following plastics:

• Polylactic acid (PLA).
• Polyhydroxybutyrate valerate co - polymer (PHBV).
• Polybutylene Succinate (PBS).
• Polybutylene Adipate Coterephthalate (PBAT).
• Starch blends.

OnColor BIO Colorants are available in a range of transparent and opaque colors. The OnCap BIO Additives line includes antistatic, UV protection, and antifog additives.

“OnColor BIO Colorants and OnCap BIO Additives enable our customers to manufacture products with low environmental impact,” said John Van Hulle, vice president and general manager, North American Color, PolyOne. “We developed these new colorants and additives in direct response to requests from our customers around the world for products based on sustainable materials.”

Large Bottles Ideal for Personal Care

At the Luxe Pack New York trade show, DieterBakicEnterprises (Munich) showcased three new large polyethylene bottles for hair care and skin care products.

The Lilith, Dione, and Metis bottles are available in sizes of 250, 300, and 500 ml, and feature large panels for labeling. For these bottles, Dieter- Bakic has also designed a flip-top cap called Mood, which disguises the bottle’s fill level.

Target Names Anisa Vendor of the Year

Target Corp. named cosmetic brush supplier Anisa International Inc. (Atlanta) its 2006 Vendor of the Year in the beauty division. Anisa produced more than 3.2 million cosmetic brushes for Target in 2006, and, Anisa says, delivered every purchase order 100% complete and on time. It also provided Target with quicker turnaround for samples, and reduced manufacturing time. Anisa Telwar, founder and CEO of Anisa, received the award in May in Shanghai.

“We work hard to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations and standards, so to receive this award is a testament of our core values—passion, commitment, and integrity. We are greatly honored,” said Telwar.

ABA Packaging Offers Acrylic Jars, Airless Bottles

ABA Packaging (Holtsville, NY) has introduced a line of acrylic jars. The jars can be customized in a variety of colors.

In addition, the company has expanded its line of airless and lotion dispensers. Dispensers are available in sizes ranging from 2 to 200 ml. Unique features include dual chambers with single or split actuators.

Square Jars

The Firenze line of square PET jars is suited for products such as cream, lotion, and gel. Offered by Cosmetic Packaging Group (Union, NJ), an O. Berk company, the jars are available in four sizes: 4, 6, and 8 oz, all with a 70/400 neck finish; and 16 oz with an 89/400 neck finish. The jars can be frosted and provided in custom colors.

Pastel Colors

Small pastel jars have been added to Qosmedix’s (Edgewood, NY) offerings. The 3-ml jars are available in colors of natural, teal, salmon, and violet. Suited for trial sizes of creams and gels, they feature polypropylene screw-on caps.

Alcan Opens Facility for Fragrance Caps and Shells

A new Alcan Packaging Beauty facility in France is dedicated to manufacturing caps and shells for fragrance packaging. Located in Parigné L’Evêque, the new 7000-m2 industrial facility will house the teams from Alcan’s former Challes site, whose industrial expertise included injection molding thick Surlyn parts, UV gluing of plastic and glass, and in-line assembly of multicomponent products.

Popularity Grows in Luxury Market for Rexam’s Foam Pump

Rexam Airspray’s (Pompano Beach, FL) F2 Finger Pump Foamer has been the foam dispenser of choice lately for many high-end skin care brands. Stella McCartney’s Care line of luxury organic skin care products uses the foam dispenser, as does Guerlain for its Secret de Pureté cleansing foam cream.

The F2 Finger Pump Foamer transforms liquid products into foam with a single push of the button. Both Guerlain and Stella McCartney chose cylindrical dispensers. However, the F2 finger pump can be used on a range of container shapes, including square, triangular, domed, oval, or flat. Also, the dispenser can be fully filled or completely emptied, thanks to the angular design of its dip tube. This design also allows the dispenser to be used at an angle.

Frosted Stock Bottles Eliminate Need for Secondary Spraying

Impressions Packaging (Peachtree City, GA) now provides its PET Glass line of heavy-walled PET bottles with a frosted finish. The decorative look is provided without requiring brands to pay for postmold spraying because the frost masterbatch is added during molding.

The new effect makes the bottles look like they are frosted glass. One of the benefits of the molded-in frosting is that the decoration will not scratch or wear off of a bottle’s surface.

New Bottles Added to Wholesale Line

McKernan Packaging Clearing House (Reno, NV) has added the Evone bottle to its King wholesale bottle line.

The clear, lightweight PET bottles are offered in 2, 4, and 8 oz. They have neck finishes of 24/410 and 20/410 and are available by the case or by the truckload.

New, Improved Sprayer Now Patented

Packaging Concepts Assoc. (Boynton Beach, FL) has patented its new M-PAK 3 spray dispenser. A new and improved version of the supplier’s original patented M-PAK, the MPAK 3 features a hinged door that prevents contents from drying out or accidentally discharging. A locking pin keeps the actuator door closed.

The M-PAK 3 is available in a ½- oz size and delivers a metered nonaerosol spray.

Stock Lipstick Cases Feature Metal Look

Risdon International Inc. (Watertown, CT) has launched MiniTouch 407 Lipstick, a stock line of metal and plastic lipstick cases.

The MiniTouch cases have a 0.407- in.-inner-diameter acetyl cup and feature the supplier’s patented Color- Touch smooth-swiveling mechanism. Gold or silver colors in bright or satiny finishes are offered, as well as a variety of anodized colors.

Anomatic Opens Aluminum Tooling Center

Anomatic Corp. (Newark, OH) has opened a new tooling center in Connecticut in order to shorten lead times for manufacturing anodized aluminum beauty components.

The new facility will develop tooling for Anomatic’s new products, make final adjustments for new products, and test run new product parts. After test runs have been completed, the tooling will then be sent to Anomatic plants in Ohio and China for manufacturing.

RPC Bramlage Streamlines Roll-On Deodorant Bottle

RPC Bramlage (Northants, UK) has launched a cost-efficient roll-on deodorant bottle that is made from three, rather than four, parts.

The 50-ml polypropylene deodorant bottle comprises a container with an integral fitment, as well as a cap, both of which are produced at RPC Bramlage. A ball is sourced from an outside supplier. According to RPC Bramlage, combining the container and the fitment not only eliminated an extra part, but also simplified the assembly process.

UV Curing Process Suits Heat-Sensitive Plastic

Xenon Corp. (Wilmington, MA) has introduced a new UV curing system that is compatible with heatsensitive plastics because it uses pulsed UV light. The CoolCureXL Interweave system can be used for continuous curing processes such as powder coating and digital- and narrow-web printing.

According to a Xenon representative, a cosmetic company recently used the CoolCureXL system to bond together two plastic parts, top and bottom, without melting the heat-sensitive plastics. Conventional continuous-wave UV mercury lamps melted the plastic, but because Cool- CureXL’s pulsed UV light curing was cooler, it solved the problem.

Temkin Offers PLA Film

Film packaging supplier Temkin International Inc. (Payson, UT) can now substitute biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) film for regular film. The environmentally friendly film can be used for Temkin’s sleeves, bags, and gift set wrapping, among other items.