Unilever was the runaway winner in the toiletries/cosmetics category at the Starpack Industry Awards 2007 last night, sweeping the board in the Best Designer/Design House of the Year award.
Gold
Supported by SPC the Gold Star for Best Toiletries/Cosmetics Pack went to the New Sure Deodorant Aerosol 2007 from Unilever HPC UK.
Specialist judge Sarah Divanbeigi, packaging ideations manager, Sensodyne Future Group, GSK said: “This is a truly wonderful pack that combines innovation and technical excellence with beauty in design.” The pack offers a number of features to engage the senses and 'delight the consumer' and is the first marketed aerosol to use can-shaping debossing technology. The orientation of the graphics to the front of the cap means the aesthetic appeal of the pack is not compromised, while the 'open' and 'close' switch is indispensable for busy modern lifestyles. The tactile shape of the can not only differentiates the Sure Deodorant from the competition but also forms a close gender-specific bond with the user.
The technical innovation features a shaped aluminium monobloc can with a distinctive contemporary graphic design. The new spray-through actuator with unique locking feature blends effortlessly into the can. Research shows that over-caps are regularly discarded by users so the new actuator utilises a spray-through design with a unique locking feature.
This means the pack makes optimal use of polymer as it has no cap and is lightweight. It also allows the consumer to carry the aerosol without risk of accidental spraying.
(The new Sure deodorant also won a Bronze Star Best Designer/Design House of the Year)
Silver
Taking the Silver Star in the SPC Award was Unilever's Axe/Lynx Male Body Spray Pack. In this highly competitive and rapidly evolving market this technically innovative pack offers excellent shelf impact and consumer convenience. The can is impact extruded aluminium and the actuator is an assembly of four injection moulded plastic components. There are six can suppliers and six injection moulding suppliers and it is produced at six aerosol manufacturing facilities. About 500 million units are produced each year.
(Also winners of Silver Star Best Consumer Pack - Non Food, Silver Star Best Toiletries/Cosmetics Pack; and Bronze Star Best Component)
Dove was flying high taking the Gold Star in Best Designer/Design House of the Year (sponsored by RPC Group) and Silver Star Best Toiletries/Cosmetics Pack.
Unilever worked with Seymour Powell on the new Dove Petal Actuator to create a beautifully uncomplicated design. The inspiration for the design, which is the first example of its type on the market, came from the desire to improve the sensorial experience from both a visual and tactile perspective.
Dubbed Project Petal, Unilever wanted to relaunch Dove deodorant to confirm its status as leader of the skin care market. Unilever needed to improve the brand's sensorial offering, a key element of which was to replace the current aerosol actuator with the new Petal version. The Petal features a fully enclosed actuator and the design differs from others on the market as it utilises a soft rubber co-moulding to provide softness to the touch and to completely hide any split lines.
The actuator needed to:
o Deliver a reward to the senses by improving the look and feel of the core product
o Assert its superior, active skin care benefit
o Improve the look in store by moving towards beauty
o Stand out from competition
The new technically innovative actuator comprises a bi-injection actuator body with soft touch finger pad, over-cap and spray channel. There are six core variant colours and two further regional colours.
The finger pad is made from Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE); and the actuator body/spray channel from Impact Copolymer Polypropylene (PP) which has high stiffness, impact resistance and anti-static properties. The overcap is made from Random Copolymer PP which has the additional benefit of high transparency.
Currently all 'integrated one-piece' actuators (actuators that hide the metalwork of the valve and can ring) either have the button as part of the moulding, requiring a visible split line within the moulding to allow the button to hinge or separate components.
“The Petal Actuator is the first example of a fully enclosed aerosol actuator on the market. A clever use of materials and moulding techniques to produce an aerosol valve with a unique action that emphasises the feminine and premium position the product occupies,” commented Jim Dale, design manager, RPC Group
Others winners
Cosmetics and Toiletries - Bronze Star
Name: Slider Shower Gel Pack
Entrant/Brand Owner: Thames Plastic Bottles
End User: Supermarket chains
This completely new pack concept is functional, attractive, and clearly meets the demands of a rapidly growing market sector.
Best Consumer Pack - Non-Food Bronze Star
Name: AirFree dispensing system for Veet Depilatory Product
Entrant: Polimoon
Brand Owner: Reckitt Benckiser
Utilising Polimoon's patented 'Airfree' system. The unique custom moulded Reckitt Benckiser designed 'Veet' bottle meets the needs of today's consumers.
Best Component - Silver Star
Name: NoC Dip Tube - Lanvin's Rumeur/Paul Smith Story
Entrant: MeadWestvaco Calmar
Brand Owner: Inter Parfums
The NoC Dip Tube is used for Lanvin's Rumeur and Paul Smith Story perfumes. It is claimed to be the world's first invisible dip tube for fragrance packs. It uses proprietary patent pending technology to create a dip tube that literally disappears when it comes into contact with the fragrance solution.