Do you have a tube packaging project in the pipeline, or have you ever considered making a switch to tube packaging? We can provide the insight you need. At MJS Packaging, we take pride in our expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality tube packaging solutions for personal care, health and skincare products. Account Executive James Daniell, who has been with us for 14 years, has extensive knowledge and experience in tube packaging. James shared his wisdom on the benefits and capabilities of tube packaging.
Why Use Tube Packaging?
In the packaging landscape, tubes offer numerous advantages. They come as a single unit, eliminating the need to purchase a closure separately can be cost-effective and efficient. Squeezable flip-top or disc-top tubes are ideal for products that require single-hand use such as sunscreens or lotions, making them convenient for on-the-go applications. Tubes also allow full 360-degree graphic designs, providing a visually appealing package that maximizes decoration space. Furthermore, the entry cost for tube packaging is relatively low, as it involves simple filling and crimping machinery.
“We have seen companies that are packaging in bottles or jars convert to tubes, especially in lotions, creams, salves… products with some viscosity to them, where being able to squeeze that tube makes it easier for the consumer to dispense the product,” James states.
Tube Packaging Solutions for Your Product
MJS Packaging caters to many industries, providing tube packaging for personal care, sunscreens, skincare, beauty products, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and prescription topicals. Our tube packaging solutions suit various formulations, including creams, gels, pastes and ointments. We offer packaging for pain relief creams, anti-itch remedies, hair care products, makeup and body care items.
The materials used for tube packaging depend on the product type and requirements. For example, you could use a 100% aluminum tube with epoxy interior barrier layers for aggressive formulations like hair dye. For OTC medicines such as lidocaine, a laminate tube consisting of polyethylene and an aluminum barrier layer combination might be a good choice. Regarding skincare products, customers may be looking for a softer feel. You could opt for straight HDPE tubes or HDPE and LDPE tubes that require a barrier layer. An EVOH barrier layer will help support many formulations while allowing an all-plastic feel to the tube.
EVOH Explained
Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, or EVOH, is a flexible thermoplastic. This material offers robust protection against hydrocarbons, oils and organic solvents. EVOH’s exceptional barrier properties make it an ideal choice for packaging drugs and cosmetics because it effectively blocks oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
It is often combined with other materials, like HDPE, to enhance moisture resistance, as EVOH’s gas prevention is weakened by moisture. One of the great things about tubes is that you can have a range of barriers depending on your formulation needs. There are FDA-approved sun care ingredients, and in some cases, they require an EVOH layer. Consider consumer safety and product regulations when it comes to items like sunscreen.
Decoration & Tube Design
One of the standout features of tube packaging is the variety of decoration options available. Tubes can be decorated in-line, making the process cost-effective and efficient. Our decoration capabilities include metallic treatments, in-mold labeling (IML), and full-color graphics with intricate art designs.
These options allow brands to create visually stunning and durable packaging that maintains its appearance over time. Make a splash with a textured design via embossing, a soft finish layer, or temperature-sensitive ink that changes colors.
Tube Printing Choices
Digital Printing: Digital printing offers several advantages, making it a popular choice for tube packaging. One of the primary benefits is that you can make minute changes without incurring the costs of plate changes and losing significant time during production. You can even utilize variable printing, which allows for customization and personalization from tube to tube.
Pad Printing: This is a versatile decoration method used in tube packaging. It allows for transferring intricate designs onto various-shaped surfaces, providing high-quality prints that include detailed logos, text and images.
Screen Printing: Screen printing involves brushing ink across a silk mesh or metal screen to create a design that appears to stand off the package. This high-end decoration method is ideal for beauty, personal care and cosmetics packaging, delivering a premium shelf presence.
Dry Offset Printing: Dry offset printing is another method used in tube decoration. It offers efficient, high-quality printing for various designs and colors. This technique suits large production runs and ensures consistent, vibrant prints.
In-Mold Decoration: Widespread across many industries due to the benefits of injection molded tubes with IML. These tubes feature quick lead times, sustainability advantages and great decoration quality, with 100% of the tube covered. Manufactured and printed under one roof, they reduce energy consumption by up to 35%. IML tubes are often fully recyclable. Its vertical integration ensures rapid production times, making them efficient and eco-friendly packaging.
Closure and Head Style Varieties
Tubes offer various closures and head styles to suit different product formulations and user needs. Refer to our “Exploring Tube Packaging” webinar recap to learn more about the anatomy of a tube. Some of our closure varieties include dispensing and non-dispensing closures, which can feature child-resistant or tamper-evident properties. You can even embellish your packaging with smooth or ribbed closures and gloss or matte cap finishes. Explore the different options:
- Flip-top or disc-top closure
- Sealed tubes with puncture openings
- Push down and turn child-resistant closures (CRC)
- Snap-on neck finish
- Nasal, ocular or ophthalmic tip
- Lip applicators or slant tip
- Domed applicators
- Screw-on closure or twist-off cap
- Removable nozzle
- Rollerball
- Needle nose, long or wide nozzle
These closures ensure product safety, convenience and ease of use for consumers. “One of the great things about tubes for all skin care, including sun care, is that you can get a wide range of orifice sizes. So, if you have a thicker, denser product, you can have a wider orifice on your tube and cap. You can also have narrow ones for oils and real low-viscosity formulations.”
James adds: “I think the two things that are going to allow a product not to leak in in advance of being used are the aluminum seals on the top of the tube underneath the cap (which is great for little travel sizes) and then certainly for products where the FDA requires child-resistant packaging, then there are push down and turn CRC tubes.”
What to Know When Starting a Tube Project
Embarking on a tube packaging project involves several considerations to ensure a successful outcome. Here are some tips and expectations to keep in mind:
Understanding Your Product Needs: Based on your product’s formulation and regulatory requirements, determine the type of tube material and barrier layer that may be required. Choose the appropriate closure type based on the product’s viscosity and intended use. There will be dialogue with MJS Packaging to determine the type of tube and closure best for a given formulation or usage. Ensure your tube packaging meets all regulatory standards, especially for OTC medicines and FDA-approved products.
Minimum Order Quantities: Tubes are a very high-speed manufactured product. For a given configuration, the minimum order quantity can be in the 25,000 units range. However, your experts at MJS Packaging have the strength of their network to explore lower-order quantity solutions if needed.
Cost Considerations: Evaluate the overall cost of tube packaging, including filling and crimping machinery, to ensure it fits within your budget.
Decoration and Branding: Consider your need for potential graphic changes when ordering fully decorated tubes. Ordering in large volumes lowers costs but reduces flexibility for updates. Opting for undecorated tubes gives you the freedom to change graphics as needed. Remember, extruded tubes have no seams, while laminate tubes do, which can affect your design. Ensure enough crimp space to avoid cutting into your graphic area during crimping.
“MJS Packaging provides a tube expert in your corner to help you through all the stages and steps it takes to create the right tube packaging solution for your product,” James points out.
That’s not where the story ends because we are here for assistance with design, decoration, filling and order and logistics management. It’s a relationship to us — we want to be your partner in getting a great product out that meets your goals and provides a favorable user experience for the customer.
Work With MJS Packaging
Tube packaging offers a versatile and appealing solution for personal care, health and skincare products. With the guidance of experts like James Daniell, MJS Packaging is well-equipped to assist you in navigating the complexities of tube packaging projects.
Contact MJS Packaging today to start your journey towards exceptional tube packaging solutions.
