Plastic squeeze tubes have become a very common product packaging in people’s daily lives, such as cosmetic tube packaging and skincare packaging. These tubes are usually made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as a base material. When you squeeze toothpaste, it’s packaged in an aluminum barrier laminate (ABL) tube; when you squeeze facial cleanser, it’s packaged in a plastic squeeze tube (extruded tube). Plastic tubes are the preferred packaging for cosmetics, skin care products, toothpaste, and pharmaceuticals because they are lightweight, flexible, durable, cheap, and effectively protect their contents and extend product shelf life. Furthermore, plastic squeeze tubes can be customized with colors, finishes and printed patterns, playing a crucial role in shaping a product’s brand image.
However, producing a high-quality plastic tube is not an easy task; it requires many complex processes such as extrusion, printing, injection head, sealing and capping.
Fushiny can produce 2-layer and 5-layer plastic squeeze tubes. The 5-layer plastic squeeze tube contains Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) in the middle layer, which has a dense structure that effectively blocks oxygen and moisture from the air, thus providing excellent protection for the contents. Therefore, 5-layer extruded tubes are often used in high-end products or products requiring air barrier properties. Two-layer squeeze tubes are more common, meeting the packaging needs of most lotion and cream formulations.
Extrusion
First, mix the resin and poured into different barrels, then heated to a molten state by a heating device. The molten material is then transferred to the outlet, where the two layers are combined into one and extruded through a ring-shaped copper die to form a hollow plastic tube, changing the diameter of the ring die to adjust the size of the tube as needed. The plastic tubes are then cooled by cold water and subjected to a vacuum system to ensure their shape and dimensions are correct. Finally, the tubes are cut into segments by a cutting device. The length of the tubes can be set and precisely cut as needed; this is the extrusion process. Our technicians ensure that the thickness of the plastic tubes is uniform and within the specified dimensional range.
Printing
The cut plastic tubes then undergo printing before proceeding to the next step, commonly offset printing. First, the designed illustration are separated into different colors, and make separate printing plates for each color. These plates are attached to different rollers. As the rollers rotate, the plates absorb ink and transfer it to a rubber blanket. The ink on the tube is cured under UV light. When printing, each different color is transferred to the same rubber blanket through a series of rollers, and the design on the rubber blanket is ultimately transferred to the tube. Finally, a glossy or matte varnish is printed on the tube, and it is then sent to an ultraviolet or heated zone for further curing of the ink and varnish. Throughout the printing process, the technicians ensure that each color is correct and that different designs are precisely registered.
Injection Molding
The tube head injection molding is essential. First, prepare and install the molds to an injection machine, place the resin to the barrel, heat and meltt it, and then fed into the injection mold to complete the shoulder and head of the tube. Different tube shapes, such as round and oval, as well as various thread shapes, can be achieved here.
Inspection and Packing
The next step is to seal the end of the tube or seal the opening with foil and screw on the cap, this depends on how you to fill these tubes. After then our quality inspectors will inspect the tubes and complete packaging finally.
Explore what tube finishes we can do.
