RPC beauté Marolles has launched two new decoration techniques for the expanded RPC Bramlage-Wiko operation. HotFix was developed in partnership with jewellery brand Swarovski, and EcoCoat offers an environmentally friendly alternative to varnishing through creative use of overmoulding.
HotFix – which enables patterns of Swarovski stones to be affixed to plastics cosmetics packaging – has been developed to respond to the constant need to add value to cosmetic packaging, while ensuring cost effectiveness. Traditionally, cost has been the biggest obstacle to the placement of gemstones into plastic containers.
“Until now, the technique required individual application by hand, which was significantly expensive and limited its use to special editions,” explains Gérald Martines, business development director, RPC Bramlage-Wiko. “HotFix represents the first time that the placement of gemstones into plastics has been achieved on an industrial basis.”
The technology, which is the result of RPC beauté Marolles’ investment and expertise in automated manufacture, can be applied to ‘plain’ plastic (in any classic cosmetic polymer), lacquered or plated parts, and overmoulded or combined with other decoration and finishing techniques. RPC is offering HotFix for a wide variety of cosmetics packaging types, including lipsticks, mascaras, glosses, compacts and closures.
RPC believes the automation offered by HotFix opens the technology to mainstream cosmetics packaging as well as high-end luxury applications.
“By using HotFix, capacity can match typical production outputs for million-unit ‘blockbuster’ launches as well as limited series,” explains Gérald Martines. “And by ensuring a uniformity of cost in affixing stones to the pack, the biggest decision facing brands is how much to spend on the stones themselves, which of course are priced by Swarovski at market rates.”
EcoCoat – a thin coat of transparent polymer which is overmoulded on top of a plastics component – has been developed to respond to the demand for luxury packaging that is more sustainable and ecologically friendly. It is also said to deliver both a premium appearance and an effective aid in the fight against counterfeiting.
The technique offers an innovative spin on RPC beauté Marolles’ expertise in overmoulding, as Gérald Martines explains. “Whereas traditional overmoulding is intended to achieve high thicknesses, the objective here is to achieve a coating using only an extremely thin skin, of no more than a few tenths of a millimetre.”
EcoCoat is aid to allow high gloss and depth of finish to be achieved without the inconvenience of varnishing. “Logistics and handling are significantly simplified and reduced, while EcoCoat avoids the emission of greenhouse gases associated with varnishing,” adds Gérald Martines.
The thin coating can be specified in a number of styles, including clear, tinted, or incorporating metallic or pearlescent pigments. This offers great design flexibility in combination with the variety of classical treatments that can be applied to the substrate.
Crucially, EcoCoat can also be applied over any standard decoration technique, a significant advantage as the decoration is protected and enhanced by the added depth provided by the coating. For example, the application of EcoCoat over traceability marking or holographic labels protects these devices from tampering.
