Rexam scoops Oscar's packaging prize

Rexam Beauty recently picked up an Oscar de L'Emballage for its stainless steel dispensing system used in the Dior Homme fragrance.

The pump has been designed to remain hidden in the glass bottle, and is said to be the first time that metal has been used as a dispensing system for a fragrance.

Until now, using metals in fragrances has proved extremely difficult, as it often causes undesirable chemical reactions that can taint the perfume, causing it to become discoloured or even alter the scent.

Rexam says that the method of manufacturing for the steel pump is a closely guarded secret, given that the industry has already devoted considerable time and energy towards developing a metal pump.

The industry has been striving towards this goal because of the fact that in a premium product such as Dior Homme, a metal pump lends the packaging a far more luxurious touch, when compared to a plastic pump.

The pump itself comprises two different technologies, an SP8 crimpless pump and cap, adapted to a FEA 20 ring. This preassembled kit allows for simple packaging assembly, which in turns helps to optimise productivity, Rexam claims.

It was developed through a collaborative effort between the Christian Dior and Rexam teams that undertook an in-depth study of the chemical, industrial and aesthetic constraints the project presented - and all in under six months, from concept to first production run.