Key trends shaping the aerosol market: COSSMA

photos: Ball, Beiersdorf, Colep, Henkel, L’Oréal, Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein, Weener

Demand for deodorants and antiperspirants remains brisk worldwide. This is one of the main reasons for the good production output. Other cosmetic products such as dry shampoos, foaming shower gels, and sun creams also contribute to the more than satisfactory growth rates for the industry. Moreover, demand from the promising pharmaceutical sector is still on the rise.

An analysis of the globally significant economic areas shows that the European and North American markets, which dominate the scene in terms of quantity, remain stable at a high level. It is largely the markets in Asia and South America that are giving fresh impetus for growth.

What about sustainability?

The global discussions about microplastic in the environment and the growing quantities of plastic waste in the oceans also speak in favour of metal packaging. This is precisely because, from the standpoint of sustainability, aluminium has clear advantages over other types of packaging materials. As aluminium constitutes a permanent material, it can be recycled infinitely without any loss of quality. In addition, aluminium has the highest pecuniary value among all packaging materials, thus providing an effective incentive across the entire supply and production chain to collect valuable aluminium and to recycle it in an ecologically sound manner.

Aluminium container manufacturers are conducting intensive joint research with upstream material suppliers on new alloys for containers. “These alloys will help to reduce the already low weight of aluminium containers to an even greater extent, thereby achieving the highest possible level of resource efficiency. This will, in turn, further improve the CO2 foot-print of aluminium containers,” explains Aerobal President Leopold Werdich from Tubex.

Sustainable approaches

Colep has collaborated with Henkel to deliver lightweight tinplate cans for the professional hair styling brand Syoss. The aerosol supplier developed the new packaging solution in a move to provide customers with a more sustainable packaging solution which uses less materials, energy and water. Combining mathematical models, process investments and new materials, they reduced the material consumption in the three metal components. The wall thickness of the aerosols was reduced by around 22%, using double reduction material harder material with lower wall thickness in combination with a new seaming station. The cans have been reduced in weight by 18%, a significant saving associated with the classical 3-piece tinplate can manufacturing process. The lightweight cans are being used for 400ml and 500ml hairspray products in the following main brands: Syoss, Indola, Silhouette, Coiffeur and Rilken.

Future-oriented packaging steel

The new Rasselstein Solidflex packaging steel demonstrates thickness reduction potential. The material was developed by Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein, a global supplier of high-tech packaging steels, and Maiko Engineering, a specialist in tool and machine construction.

The recently launched packaging steel is already widely used in the production of aerosol can bottoms and tops. Yield strengths of at least 600 MPa, combined with an elongation of over five percent, are ideal for manufacturing these components.

Maiko optimised their forming tools in order to harness the potential of reduced thickness. Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein offers a large variety of steel grades for every application and every filling: tinned or special chromium-coated, plain, lacquered or film laminated. In addition to a wide variety of coating combinations and surfaces, as well as different lacquer coating weights, material and film thicknesses, the company also offers BPA-NI solutions.

www.maiko-engineering.de; www.thyssenkrupp-steel.com/en/company/locations/thyssenkrupp-rasselstein-gmbh/

Aerosols: finished products

Weener Plastics (WP) was chosen to design, develop and manufacture the twist-lock spray cap for Nivea, see lead photo. The elegant 5-piece high-end polypropylene cap offers a very fine spray pattern. The ergonomic design allows convenient left- and right-handed activation of the button. The finger grips on the sides allow for easy opening and locking by twisting. This twist-lock function ensures firm closure in the locked position which makes it safe for storage and on-the-go use. WP was also responsible for tooling and engineering. Advanced mould sets and newly developed assembly technology enhance high-speed manufacturing. Furthermore, product and stock handling are fully automated. The Nivea deodorants and anti-perspirants are packaged in appealingly-shaped aerosol cans, each with different protective formulas and actives for a long-lasting feeling of freshness. They all have the new spray cap with the Nivea-blue button enhancing the brand identity.

www.wppg.com

Aerosol accessories

Lindal Group’s EMT is designed for use with compressed air and with regular 1 inch valves or bag on valve systems. The new nozzle technology is designed for low viscosity water-based products, such as water and skin care solutions.

It produces a quiet and gentle mist which dries quickly It also offers improved spray reproducibility and helps to reduce and even eliminate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Another new development is the Smart Dispenser, a new foam dispenser produced by Lindal exclusively for the specialty chemical company Dow Chemical. Designed for the home improvement market, the easy-to-use dispenser automatically prevents foam drips and seals without additional input from the user.

www.lindalgroup.com

Improvements in decoration

Sun Chemical’s SunAltec series is a range of inks for metal decorating on monobloc aerosol cans. The MB Plus series has been designed for monobloc aerosols and the SunTrio range for three-piece cans for sheetfed printing has good press performance.

www.sunchemical.com

Award-winning aerosol achievements

The FEA Global Aerosol Awards were launched to celebrate the creativity and technical excellence of the aerosol industry. Components and machine manufacturers, aerosol fillers, marketers and retailers were encouraged to enter any innovative aerosol products which they launched between November 2016 and June 2018. Five nominees per category, among 28 entries from 16 companies, were selected. The awards were presented by Bertrand Piccard at the FEA Awards Dinner on 4 October 2018 at CCD Düsseldorf in Germany.

These were the winners:

The product that won in the category Most Creative Aerosol Marketing Strategy was Henkel’s got2b by Julien Bam. This limited edition of got2b Sprühkleber hair lacquer can be used for just single strands or the entire head. The influencer and YouTube star with 4.5 million followers designed this limited edition. His typical dance moves decorate the bottle. For his fans he signed the bottle and left a personal message with a reference to his YouTube channel.

The winner in the category Most Innovative Aerosol Product was L’Oréal’s Colorista Spray. These 1-day colour sprays are available in seven different pastel and bold colours and can be simply washed out when washing the hair.

In Innovation in Aerosol Packaging Design Beiersdorf’s Nivea Aerosol Deodorant took home the award. At the centre of the relaunch of the female deodorant was a more feminine, more modern and more elegant new design with a completely new shape with the aim to be relevant for at least a decade to come. On the company’s production lines 300 pieces are produced per minute. Mall + Herlan’s Dove Organza qualified in the category Environmental Achievement & Sustainability in the Aerosol Industry as the aerosol can is 20 % lighter, uses 65% recycled aluminium, and contains 20% more product per pallet.

Attractive aerosol solutions

Ball Corporation recently won the 2018 Euro CanTech Awards from CanTech International for its metallic Ball-branded aluminium aerosol deodorant. For the aerosol can, the company developed a cost-effective solution for customers who want the look of hot stamping, that is where a metallic foil is applied to the can. Using state-of-the-art pigments and the company’s special ink application technology, a glossy, reflective sheen can be applied on aluminium cans of all shapes and sizes and is available in a range of metallic shades.