The „European tube manufacturers association“ (etma) honoured the winners of the „Tube of the Year“ competition at its general meeting. Awards were presented in the categories of aluminium tubes, plastic tubes, laminate tubes and prototypes. The jury assessed a total of 40 entries.
With the Aluminium tubes was won by the Italian manufacturer „La Metallurgica“ with a hair colourant. Hoffmann Neopac from Switzerland won the prize for the best Laminate tube for a „No Mess“ tube for Voltaren. Albea from France came out on top in the Plastic tubes with a tube with an innovative flip-top cap. Finally, the German producer Linhardt secured the prize for the best Prototypes. He developed a tube with a laminate inner layer with an antimicrobial effect.
The highlight of the aluminium tubes from „La Metallurgica“ is on the inside. They are equipped with an invisible, integrated into the printed image, digital watermarks on the tube. Several digital labels can even be applied to the tube. They are read using the „Linkreader“ smartphone app. Consumers can be directed to additional Internet content.
Lightweight plastic cap and intuitive fastening system
The „Slim cap“ on the plastic tube of Albea is one of the lightest currently available. It is already used on tubes for the „Klorane“ brand from Pierre Fabre. The design with a particularly flat shoulder and an accentuated edge ensures that no water accumulates in the cap. The attractive appearance of the cap is also striking.
„Whether modern interactive features, hygienic and consumer-friendly dispenser systems, environmentally friendly and resource-saving material savings or technically sophisticated solutions for even better product protection - the etma ‘Tube of the Year“ competition once again impressively demonstrates the future viability of the tube packaging material this year."
Gregor Spengler, etma Secretary General and Head of Packaging at Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V. (GDA)
The particularly dimensionally stable Voltaren plastic tube from Hoffmann Neopac convinced the jury with its intuitive Locking system. The integrated massage nozzle closes automatically when the gel is applied. The applicator, which is easy to remove with a quick-release thread, also ensures that only a small amount of gel remains after application.
Linhardt developed special features for its winning prototype Sterione, which are applied to the inner layer of the tube laminate. The organo-metallic molecular complexes do not damage the actual contents of the tube, but reduce the influence of bacteria, viruses and fungi on the contents. The coating is effective for more than five years. This makes the use of biocides or nanoparticles in the tubes superfluous.
