Another contributor to the upward trend in tubes sales is the fact that personal care manufacturers who experimented with packaging solutions from the East are reverting to local suppliers for their requirements. ‘We’re now meeting the packaging needs of several manufacturers who have had this experience,’ Mike explains. ‘In addition, the rand’s depreciation has boosted our tube sales, since there has been a definite decrease in frequency of retailers importing already filled product,’ he adds.
When it comes to looking at specific innovations in the local tubes market, Consupaq has recently produced a first in South Africa – an oval tube for personal care applications.
The new tube has been produced through a nifty technical modification to Consupaq’s manufacturing lines, using existing technology and substrates. ‘One of the major benefits that an oval tube offers our customers is its wider shelf presence, which contributes to an overall improved shelf shout,’ notes Robin Rigney, Consupaq’s general manager. ‘The new design has a wider decorative panel, so more colour and shape engages the eye. The back panel is also more retail friendly, as it loses less copy and design space to the pack’s side. Since the oval tubes are available in all our well-known formats, such as soft touch and high gloss, our existing customers can easily switch over, without their brands being compromised,’ he continues.
These tubes have a squarer shoulder than their round counterparts and have an enhanced feel and appearance, since more of the tube comes into contact with the hand. Designed for the high-end cosmetics and personal care sectors, they are produced in sizes ranging from 30ml, which is ideal for airline travel and gift packs, up to 250ml, with a 30mm, 40mm, or 50mm diameter. The line is available in a wide range of colours and can be decorated using any of the latest technologies, including five-colour silkscreen printing, hot foiling and labelling. In addition, a variety of textured finishes are offered.
A screw-on or flip-top polypropylene cap also comes in various colours to match the tube’s overall decoration. ‘These are currently imported,’ Robin notes, ‘but plans are afoot to manufacture them locally. This innovation is wholly South African and keeps the local cosmetics industry well in line with global trends.’
Woolworths takes the initiative
With its payoff line, The Difference, Woolworths prides itself on having made a difference in the lives of South Africans for nearly 80 years. It was the first to offer its customers pre-washed lettuce, as well as the first machine-washable wool. Now, having partnered with Consupaq, it has launched the first personal care products offered in oval tubes.
The tubes are used for the retailer’s latest Hand Scrub and Nail Cream, Hand & Nail Cream and Shower Gel. ‘The labels on the tubes have been flexographically printed especially for this range,’ Robin adds, ‘and showcase the decoration potential when choosing this labelling option. Flexo printing has come a long way over the past few years and with advances in technology, designers now have a lot more latitude with regard to artwork.’
‘This label allows for crisp detail in all sizes, as well as clear type, with no infilling. It also sits smoothly without creasing and even in the different variants, the colour match between the labels is perfect,’ Robin enthuses.
The flexo-printed labels are water-resistant, retain visual impact even when wet, and have a no-label look, meaning that they look as though they have been offset-printed. ‘The quality of the decoration supplied by the label exceeds anything currently possible in offset,’ he notes.
‘We have several more oval-tube projects in the pipeline and the concept has been well accepted by the market. We were thrilled to be nominated for a Gold Pack award for these tubes,’ Robin concludes.
Bowler Plastics
T +27 021 704 2223 / www.bowler.co.za
Consupaq
T +27 031 5711050 / www.consupaq.co.za
