A New Reason to Sample

Rexam has created the Sofistic’s for Cream sampler

Rexam Offers New Sample Styles

Rexam Dispensing Systems has produced Sofistic’s for Cream, a new sampler for lotion products. Dedicated to fluid lotions, the sampler features the Rexam SP543 pump and a 2mL polypropylene plastic bottle.

The unit comes with a pre-molded cap pre-assembled on the pump. The pump itself is snapped onto the bottle after filling, increasing filling speed. The bottle is available with a wide choice of decoration options including silk screening, hot stamping, color matching and flag labels.

The company has also introduced Soficard, a brand “look-alike” mini package. The Soficard consists of a card glued around a miniature spray vial, that replicates the exact appearance of the fragrance package. More information: www.rexam.com

Axilone Launches Online Catalog

Component supplier Axilone has launched an online catalog. The catalog, found at www.axilone-sa.com, allows customers to search for products by choosing the desired category, material, shape and standards. Searches can also be completed using keywords. The company offers caps, collars, lipstick packages and pots.

O.BERK Vamps Up Product Line

O.BERK has introduced its new line of square grip containers and its line of clear canisters. The square grip containers are available in PET in three sizes: 48oz with 89-400 neck finish, 64oz and 128oz, both with 110-400 neck finishes. The jars have handle grips. The clear canisters are available in PETG or clarified polypropylene, along with a variety of friction fit closures. Four sizes are available. More information: www.oberk.com.

PolyOne Expands Capabilities

PolyOne Corp., Cleveland, OH, is offering six color matching labs, including two new labs at PolyOne’s Vonore, TN and St. Peters, MO facilities. Each lab is equipped with PolyOne’s electronic color selection system. The system stores more than four million color pigments and formulas. More information: (440) 930-3323; [email protected]; www.polyone.com.

Stock Jar Cover Offered

Cameo Metal Products, Brooklyn, NY, is offering a stock jar cover for its 66mm Fine Ribbed Jar. The cover is available in matte, shiny and brushed finishes. It is also offered with custom decorating, including screen printing, embossed and de-bossed logos. More information: www.cameometal.com.

Bubble Jars

Bubble Jar Introduced

Qosmedix, Edgewood, NY, has introduced a frosted polypropylene bubble jar for packaging of cosmetic and personal care products. The gently rounded 1.35oz frosted finish jar is available with a black cap or a white cap. Additional custom sizes, colors and silk screening are available. More information: (631) 242-3270.

Mixtek Introduces Dispenser

Mixtek System, New York City, has introduced its new generation Series E — advanced co-dispensing system.The system features Cushion Tolerance to consistently dispense product accurately and is housed in a retro-sleek distinctive design. More information: www.mixtek.com.

Seufert Creates Dispenser Box

Seufert, in cooperation with French partner Packart, is offering a dispenser box. The PET box provides a new closure option for folding cartons. The closure system is integrated into the box, which is made up of only one piece. The box can include custom decoration, including transparent effects, frosted options or opaque coloring. More information: 49 (0) 6 106 690 342; www.seufert-verpackungen.de.

Decorated Paper Showcases Special Effects

Decorated Paper, a division of Hazen Paper Company, is offering new chip charts. Printed on Decorated’s Brilliance double rainbow holographic transfer, the cover of the chart features a photograph that appears three-dimensional, thanks to the reflective characteristics of the stock and the selective use of opaque white ink to mask portions of the image. Additional images demonstrate the ability of this unusual stock.

Inside, a panorama of six of the expanded Decorated Paper lines unfolds. In addition to dazzling Brilliance are Cadillac, Cadillac Embossed, Stellar, Metallic, and Sun. More information: www.decoratedpaper.com; (800) 882-3400.

A Cluster of Cosmetics

Join France’s In-Crowd    

France’s Cosmetic Valley was created in 1994 to promote synergy among cosmetics and perfumery businesses concentrated in the Orleans Loire Valley, Chartres and Tours areas.  In July 2005, the French government officially recognized the Cosmetic Valley as a national competitiveness cluster, for promoting the image of luxury, perfumery and cosmetics around the world.  

The Organic and Analytical Chemistry Institute is part of the Cosmetic Valley research network.

A month prior to achieving this honor, the Cosmetic Valley expanded geographically and welcomed new companies, research organizations, training centers and economic development authorities. Today the Cosmetic Valley’s membership includes 200 companies, three universities, dozens of public and private research and training organizations, ten local government organizations and about 1,000 researchers.

The activities of the companies range from the culture of aromatic plants and plant extraction to research, formulation, plastic injection, manufacturing, packaging and logistics.

Among the recent Cosmetic Valley projects, for instance, the LVMH Group plans to create a “Skin and Well-Being Institute”, centered around the worldwide production, distribution and product development of Christian Dior in Orleans. The partners of the project include the Institute of Organic and Analytical Chemistry and the Center of Molecular Biophysics at the University of Orleans, the Dermatology Department of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tours, the Orleans and Tours hospitals as well as the Christian Dior Laboratory and other private research and clinical development companies.  The various players involved will work together to study skin cells and the new cosmetic products.

The Alban Muller Group, producer of herbal extracts and natural ingredients, leads another project entitled “Herboretum”.  The Herboretum is a 23-acre beauty and health garden. The Herboretum’s primary mission is to become a forum where botanists, biochemists and pharmacists can collaborate in research.  Another goal of the project is to become a think-tank for botanical and cosmetic, pharmaceutical and health-food applications of natural ingredients.

Non-profit economic development organization Orleans Loire Valley Development (OVLD), has helped beauty companies find office locations and human resources, facilitate setup and technology transfer, and obtain financial incentives, among other services.  

In partnership with a number of new members including small and medium-sized companies, universities, research institutes, training organizations and regional economic development agencies like Orleans Loire Valley Development, the Cosmetic Valley set three goals:

1.    To encourage joint research projects for new beauty products as well as support the set-up of new companies, innovative start-ups and research units in the Cosmetic Valley.

2.    To facilitate across-the-line cooperation and further development of complementary sectors such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, packaging, plastics transformation, medical imaging, agriculture, waste management and warehousing and distribution.

3.    To create 4,000 to 5,000 jobs.

More information: (704) 365-0041.