Two years after integrating 3D printing technology into its services, Albéa has reached a new milestone in the development of 3D cosmetic packaging solutions, thanks to a partnership with start-up Erpro 3D Factory. The company is currently developing applications exploiting industry-leading HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology, combined with Erpro's know-how in cosmetics production. As a result, the first generation of cosmetic parts, designed and produced to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of the HP platform, is currently in the final stages of development. Albéa will be launching the first products very shortly.
"HP and Erpro's expertise allows us to take 3D printing in cosmetics to the next level. The fine detail that HP technology is capable of delivering is astonishing, says Yann Crapet, 3D Project Manager at Albéa. We can offer our customers fast-to-market solutions combined with unprecedented custom design, for both small and large quantities."
In the initial phase of this joint effort, Albéa, Erpro and HP Inc worked closely together to design and produce applications that met the regulatory standards of the cosmetics industry, while offering a high level of quality, cost and reliability. By offering extreme detail and massive customization, the benefits of the design proved essential to the development process.
"As we've seen in consumer goods and other markets such as automotive and healthcare, the mass production of 3D printing applications has the potential to truly revolutionize industries," said Virginia Palacios, responsible for managing Multi Jet Fusion, HP Personalization and 3D Printing solutions. This groundbreaking work with Albéa and Erpro opens up astonishing possibilities for the world's leading cosmetics brands. The advanced capabilities offered by Multi Jet Fusion enable incredibly detailed design, precision quality and first-class performance for parts such as cosmetic brushes and more."
As the end-user of the machine, Erpro improved and customized its manufacturing processes to support the industrial production of small parts designed by Albéa.
3D printing technology continues to evolve rapidly beyond prototyping, offering flexible options for highly customized mass production of final parts and opening up new perspectives for brands and manufacturers, particularly in the cosmetics sector : "Today, this technology is unlocking many manufacturing applications, with unprecedented precision and reliability." explains Quentin Bertucchi, R&D Process Engineer at Erpro Group. "We are now able to produce even larger quantities in a shorter time. Advancing the industrialization of 3D printing with HP and Albéa and exploring all the possibilities of this technology is an exciting experience."adds Cyrille Vue, CEO of Erpro.
Albéa joins the declaration on extended producer responsibility for packaging
Albéa was the first cosmetics packaging manufacturer to sign the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Three years later, it was one of some 100 companies to endorse Ellen MacArthur's declaration in favor of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the packaging industry.
"This declaration is an important and necessary step in the journey towards circularity, and we're proud to be part of it, says Gilles Swyngedauw, VP Sustainable Development & Innovation. We are rethinking the plastic packaging value chain with the aim of having a 100 % circular Albéa product portfolio by 2025. However, we are convinced that such a change will only happen if we work closely with all industry stakeholders. Together, we need to put in place efficient systems that enable packaging waste to be collected and regenerated."
