Innovation drives European tube industry
Run by the European Tube Manufacturing Association, the competition took place during the association’s annual congress, held in Munich last month, and highlighted some of the leading names in the industry.
The competition revealed a high level of innovation, according to the award organisers, a factor that has been triggered by the economic recession in 2009, in turn prompting more of a need to stand out in a saturated market place.
Seven jury members chose to recognize ETMA members in a number of categories, with awards given for best offering in aluminium, plastic, laminate and prototype – the same categories as those for the 2009 awards.
Lindhardt scoops laminate and aluminium categories
Germany-based company Lindhardt won two categories – best in aluminium tube and best in the laminate tube category.
The company garnered the aluminium category award on the fact that it combined an aluminium tube with a tamper-evident protection for the cap, while the laminate award went to its Multiflex line, which incorporates a weld seam and an airless dispenser system.
The top award in the plastic tube category went to another German company, Rangendingen, which was credited with the design for the matt-appearance of the tube, contrasted by the high-gloss flip-top cap.
Alu-Digital-Foil-Tube
Swiss company Obrist was awarded the prize for best prototype tube for its Alu-Digital-Foil-Tube. The design incorporates a digital printing process, which means photos can be reproduced on a thin plastic film of PET or PP to an extremely high image quality.
The film is applied to the tube at the end of the tube-making process using heat, offering specialist marketing opportunities for premium designs and special branding effects.
“Even during economically difficult times the member companies have obviously continued to further develop packaging material intensively and have invested sustainably in the future of the tube,” said ETMA secretary general, Gregor Spengler.
