Supplier News
Resin Report
BASF Resin Offers Good Barrier
A new resin, Ultraform E3120 BM, part of a family of polyoxymethylene (POM) resins from BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany), is suited for extrusion-blow-molding containers that, according to the company, display considerably better barrier properties compared with containers made from polyethylene.
The Ultraform E3120 resin is resistant to gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, as well as chemicals such as alcohol and oil. The material can be used to create cosmetic packages such as hairspray bottles, spray cans, and nail polish bottles.
“The new Ultraform exhibits a very high melt stiffness, which means that it is ideal for processing by means of extrusion blow molding,” says Rainer Anderlik, head of BASF’s Ultraform marketing division in Europe. “Consequently, it opens up completely new possibilities for the production of hollow objects and containers.”
Objects made from the new POM grade also weigh less than containers made of metal or glass.
Altuglas Resins Offer Thick Walls, Chemical Resistance
Altuglas International (La Défense Cedex, France) has extended its range of specialty PMMA grades to include Altuglas VML, an acrylic designed especially for molding thick-walled, transparent cosmetic packaging components.
The patented Altuglas VML formula is designed to solve many molding problems associated with heavy or large components. At high temperatures, many resins are easily molded but require long cooling times and result in a yellowish color. At low temperatures, cooling times are often good for these resins, but high-friction injection-molding presses often spoil the appearance of the resulting product.
According to Altuglas, the VML resin can be processed at low temperatures and also combines exceptional aesthetics with low cooling times.
Altuglas has also launched a new acrylic range with enhanced chemical resistance. Three such resin grades are available: Altuglas CR 8, Altuglas CR 12, and Altuglas HCR 3.
Altuglas CR 8 and CR 12 offer good resistance to chemicals and good impact resistance, with Altuglas CR 12 having the higher shock- and chemical-resistance of the two. Altuglas 3 offers very high chemical resistance, good thermal properties, and a very hard surface.
The resins can be extrusion- or injection-molded and are suited for cosmetic products such as fragrances, since they are highly chemical resistant.
Bottle Works Upright or Upside-Down
TricorBraun’s (St. Louis) new Tulipa bottle is designed to function well whether the bottle is used upright or upside-down. The PET bottle is available in sizes of 250 and 500 ml.
The Tulipa bottle accepts three different styles of snap-on closures. Two of these closures are available with silicone or TPE dispensing valves. The patented bi-injection molding of the valves results in a more cost-effective valve dispensing system.
Packaging Firm Debuts
L&S Packaging LLC (Delray Beach, FL) is a new packaging company founded by Ed Stoltz and Jack Leitman, who together have more than 60 years of experience in designing, manufacturing, turnkey filling, and packaging over-the-counter drugs, personal care products, and cosmetics.
As the exclusive representative for China-based S&M Packaging Company, Ltd., L&S Packaging offers components such as fine-mist sprayers, acrylic bottles and jars, treatment pumps, airless packages, trigger sprayers, and PET bottles. The firm also provides turnkey filled packages from its contract facilities.
Easy-to-Use Jar
New High Glass (Miami) has introduced its Laurence Flat glass jar that enables the consumer to easily extract all of the jar’s contents.
Thanks to the jar’s vertical inside walls and rounded inside corners, consumers are more easily able to get product out of the jar than they would be able to from a traditional jar with hard corners and an overhanging lip.
The jar’s cap also has a unique feature. Its removable lens protects and enhances a label or decoration applied to the top of the cap. Jar sizes include 15 and 50 ml.