Leading cosmetics and toiletries manufacturer Beiersdorf has selected Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanisate (TPV) from US company Advanced Elastomer Systems (AES) for the new actuator head (dispensing system) of its latest Nivea shaving foam and gel products.
The actuator head, manufactured using two-shot injection moulding, comprises a hard polypropylene body onto which a soft Santoprene TPV surface is added.
"We anticipate a growing market for all plastic materials that exhibit a high-quality touch, especially for applications which require a feeling that is similar to human skin," said Norbert Menzel, packaging management, at Cosmed, Beiersdorf. "In this application, for example, the soft Santoprene TPV is particularly appealing to consumers and provides an excellent contrast compared with products using only hard polypropylene," added Menzel.
A 55 Shore A Santoprene TPV grade was selected because it provides a sound, soft-touch grip which has a non-slip surface even when wet. In addition, it can be coloured to match any shade desired.
"We also chose Santoprene TPV because it is a well-established material in consumer applications. Utilising the knowledge, experience and support of the AES technical team enabled us to minimise any possible problems during the developmental period. This is key in bringing consumer products to market quickly," said Menzel.
"This represents one of the first packaging applications for Santoprene TPV for a mass market cosmetics and toiletries brand," said Ulf Nilsson, director marketing, Consumer Markets, AES.
"In the past, Santoprene TPV has been used in the selective cosmetics market on many occasions when the application, such as perfume bottles, required a differentiating or innovative look, or when technical specifications were very high," Nilsson continued.
"Packaging innovation is a priority for cosmetics and toiletries companies, and this application is an important step forward for AES, demonstrating added value in large volume market applications."