As projects are now full steam ahead since the halt during the nation-wide peak of “the virus”, we have been receiving numerous enquiries from customers regarding our cosmetic tubes. At Weltrade Packaging we can supply a large range of custom tubes which are available in different sizes, in any colour and can be printed on. With this it can be confusing for our customers to pick a tube that is right for their product. One particular question which we receive quite regularly is “What is the difference between an Aluminium Barrier Laminate (ABL) Tube and an Aluminium tube?” Although they might sound and look similar they are quite different.
These tubes are printed on a flat sheet and later welded into a round or oval shape. This means that ABL and aluminium tubes will have a seam line running through the side of the tube, compared to a standard Polyethylene (PE) extrusion tube which will not. An ABL tube is made with aluminium as the barrier and a polyethylene layer on either side of the tube, compared to an aluminium tube which is just pure aluminium.
ABL and Aluminium tubes both have very strong barrier protection properties for products containing essential oils, fluoride, air contaminants, antiseptics and food. So how do you pick between an ABL tube over an aluminium tube? We believe using an ABL tube will have greater benefits over a pure aluminium tube and some of them are listed below:
Pros of an ABL Tube:
- Strong barrier protection
- Does not tear
- Does not leak
- Will not easily dent
- Larger range of closures available
- Low consumption of energy & fossil fuels to manufacture
- Been introduced into the market more recently than Aluminum tubes
- Tube manufacturers do not require special machinery to crimp (seal) the tube
- Only 10k unit MOQ
If you do not wish to go down the path of an ABL or aluminium tube we do offer a range of PE extrusion tubes in both single layer and 5 layer options. If sustainability is a major focus for your brand, our PE tubes can be biodegradable, made from sugarcane bioplastic or PCR (Post Consumer Resin). We have noticed a big push from consumers and brands for the direction of sustainability and will only imagine this to grow within the next couple of years. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with someone from our team.