Printed Tube Applications
A printed tube, squeeze tube, or collapsible tube is a collapsible package which can be used for viscous liquids such as toothpaste, artist’s paint, adhesive, caulk, & ointments. Basically, a tube is a cylindrical, hollow piece with a round or oval profile, made of plastic, paperboard, aluminum, or other metal. In general, on one end of the tube body there is a round orifice, which can be closed by different caps and closures. The orifice can be shaped in many different ways: plastic nozzles in various styles and lengths are most typical. The other end is sealed either by welding or by folding. Typical tube sizes range from 3ml to 300ml. Most tubes are designed to be dispensed with hand pressure, but some are used with a tube key at the base to help roll them up. Printing, or decoration, of the tube can be achieved by silk screening, flexographic or lithographic technics depending on the required print quality.
The earliest collapsible tubes were made of tin, zinc, or lead, sometimes coated with wax on the inside. Aluminum tube caps and closures are generally threaded, as is the nozzle. Aluminum tubes generally have the far end folded several times after the contents have been added. The tube is typically hermetically sealed and nearly germ-free due to the high temperatures during the production process. The inside of the tube can be coated to prevent the material from reacting with the contents. Aluminum tubes are produced by impact extrusion from a small round blank. Designs can be printed onto the tube, using the wet-in-wet offset printing method. Six tones are often used. The filled content can be squeezed out by finger pressure. The main characteristic of aluminium tubes is the total separation of the contents from the surrounding atmosphere; therefore, such tubes are especially suitable for the packaging of highly perishable contents. Aluminium tubes are used for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, paint, and technical products.
Tubes are most commonly produced in with plastic, most commonly polyethylene. Plastic tubes are used for cosmetics such as hand creams, and also some foodstuffs. The plastic tube retains its shape after each squeeze unlike laminate tubes such as toothpaste tubes. Plastic tubes can be highly decorated or have a special additive such as soft touch to make the tube more appealing during use or at the point of sale. Plastic tubes are produced by extrusion. A sleeve is first produced on a specialized extrusion machine. It must be produced to a very high standard (for decoration purposes) and also to tight tolerances, compatible with automated processes after extrusion. Once the sleeve is produced, the tube head is fitted using an automated heading machine. Tube printing using specialized printing machines such as silk screen printing applies the desired decoration. The open tubes are typically filled and sealed at a separate facility. Multi-layer plastic tubes have become increasingly popular; they isolate the contents better from the air, allowing them to be used for a wider range of products, such as food.
Printed tubes are widely used in a variety of markets where dispensing viscous products is needed. The most common use of lotion pumps are in the following categories:
- Personal care
- Beauty/hair care
- Automotive
- Household cleaning
- Sanitization
- Healthcare
How do I choose the right printed tube?
Selecting the correct printed tube is critical for the success of your product. In determining the best printed tube for your product it is important to take into consideration the following attributes – diameter, length, pliability, cap style, leak prevention and print requirements.
SGC Closures offers a wide variety of printed tubes with the above combinations of attributes allowing us to provide the most suitable printed tubes for our customers exacting requirements. Our most popular styles of printed tubes are featured on this website. However, we provide many of our customers with custom foaming pump solutions to meet the specific needs to maximize the success of their products.
SGC Closures offers the widest range of printed tubes, most competitive pricing and service programs to fit the production demands of our customers.
If you have interest in more information on particular models or would like to see samples, please fill out the inquiry form below and we will be in contact ASAP.
