Apr. 14, 2025
There are numerous surface treatments for cosmetic containers. Currently, there are 10 common techniques: Silk Screening, Hot Stamping, Labeling, Coating, Frosting, Shrink film, Water Transfer Printing, Electroplating, Anodized Aluminum, and Engraving. The above 10 surface treatments are primarily intended for glass and plastic bottles and jars, while metal and ceramic containers can utilize a wider range of surface treatment techniques.
With competitive price and timely delivery, thingyfy sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
The first six—silk screening, hot stamping, labeling, coating, frosting, and shrink film—are the most widely used. These methods are well-established, cost-effective for brands, and can accommodate various design needs.
When choosing surface treatments for cosmetic containers, many factors need to be considered, such as the cost of these treatments and how different materials affect the visual effect.
As a manufacturer with over ten years of experience in the cosmetic container packaging industry, we have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you select the most suitable surface treatment for your cosmetic containers, ensuring your product design achieves the desired texture and visual appeal.
Different surface treatments have different cost structures. For example, the cost of silk screening is generally independent of order quantity and is calculated based on the number of colors and printing surfaces.
In contrast, the cost of labeling is related to your order quantity and also depends on factors such as the material of the label paper and the printing technique used on the label’s surface.
Different surface treatments are suited to different bottle materials. For example, printing finishes vary between PET and PE bottles. We generally advise against large color block printing on PE squeeze bottles, as the softer PE material may lead to poor adhesion and eventual peeling, negatively impacting the consumer’s experience over time.
Different finish processes have varying levels of automation and production workflows, which impact production efficiency and lead times.
For example, silk screening is generally more efficient and has faster lead times compared to water transfer printing and coating. This is because silk screening has a higher level of automation, while water transfer printing and coating require more manual handling and longer drying times.
It is important to note that the application of surface treatments on different materials is not absolute. In fact, glass can also be subjected to hot stamping; however, the process is more complex compared to plastic. It requires a pre-coating or spraying of paint on the glass bottle before hot stamping, and the adhesion of the gold foil on glass may not be as strong as on plastic.
In addition to bottle shape design, surface treatments are key to highlighting product features. As a beauty product manager, you don’t necessarily need to rely on unique bottle shapes to make a lasting impression on consumers. In fact, the same bottle shape can achieve different visual effects with various surface treatments.
Instead of investing in custom molds for unique bottle shapes, it may be more cost-effective to work with your design team to plan the bottle’s appearance. Simple surface treatments can offer better cost efficiency, allowing you to maximize the product’s visual impact at a lower cost.
Silkscreen printing is a common printing finish that transfers ink onto the surface of bottles using a silk screen template. It is used to print patterns and text on bottles, typically using UV ink, which dries and cures quickly under UV light, and the printed patterns and text are non-reflective.
The advantages of silk screen printing include:
In the silkscreen printing process, it is important to note that for cylindrical bottles, only one pass through the machine is needed. However, for irregularly shaped bottles, such as square bottles, printing on both sides requires additional machine energy. Consequently, the cost of double-sided silkscreen printing for square bottles is typically higher than for cylindrical bottles.
Hot stamping is actually a type of printing process that transfers metallic colors onto the surface of bottles using heat and pressure. It is commonly used to add high-gloss and metallic-colored patterns and text, enhancing the visual appeal of the product.
The advantages of hot stamping are:
When choosing hot stamping, it is important to consider the adhesion between the bottle material and the metallic foil. If hot stamping is to be applied on materials like glass or bamboo, it is crucial to assess whether the printed patterns and text will withstand abrasion during transportation and long-term use.
It is also worth noting that hot stamping can produce effects beyond just gold or silver patterns. Hot stamping comes with a dedicated color chart, allowing for the selection of different colors and textures to achieve various metallic finishes.
Label paper is typically made from paper or plastic materials, but there are various surface finishes and adhesive methods for labels. The adhesion of the label also depends on the material of the bottle or jar. For instance, labels on PE bottles are usually made from PE materials to ensure better adhesion to the bottle surface.
The advantages of labeling are:
Spray coating is a process that uses a spray gun or spray equipment to apply paint in an atomized form onto the bottle, creating an even coating on the surface. Spray coatings come in various colors and finishes, including sandblasting, oil spraying, and painting, allowing for a range of colors and texture effects.
The advantages of spray coating are:
Compared to electroplating, spray-coated colors tend to be somewhat darker. In the application of cosmetic bottles, there are several spray techniques available, including internal spraying on the inner bottle, external spraying on the outer shell, and surface spraying on the bottle body. The specific spray technique should be chosen based on the bottle’s structure and design requirements.
Frosting is a process that creates a semi-transparent, soft, and matte effect on bottles. Depending on the bottle’s material, different methods are used for frosting. For plastic bottles, the effect is typically achieved through injection molding or spraying. Acid etching or spraying is commonly used for glass bottles.
The injection-molded frosting is usually applied to caps and pump heads during the molding process, eliminating the need for additional processing. Acid etching involves immersing the glass in an acid solution, which reacts with the surface and removes the smooth layer to create a frosted effect.
The advantages of frosting are:
It is important to note that frosting cannot easily cover defects such as black spots or cracks on the bottle. If the received bottles (without any surface decoration) have significant defects, alternative methods like labeling or spray painting should be considered to address these issues.
Shrink film is a packaging process that adheres a plastic film to the surface of a bottle through heating. For products that require high decorative value, complex packaging designs, and full coverage, using shrink film technology offers the best cost-effectiveness.
The advantages of shrink film technology are:
Water transfer printing is a process that transfers patterns from a water-soluble film to the surface of a bottle. Similar to shrink film, it can achieve high-precision patterns and text coverage on complex bottle shapes and curves. However, the visual effect and texture presented by water transfer printing appear much more premium compared to shrink film printing.
The advantages of water transfer printing are:
Electroplating is a process that uses electrolysis to coat the surface of a bottle with a layer of metal. This technique not only provides a high-gloss metallic appearance but also can create a brushed metal texture, enhancing the product’s feel and visual appeal.
The advantages of electroplating are:
Electroplating is typically used on plastic and metal bottles, and less commonly on glass. This is because the process of electroplating glass is more complex and expensive.
Although glass can be electroplated after pre-treatment, the adhesion of the electroplated layer on glass is generally weaker than on plastic or metal, necessitating extra care during use and transportation to avoid damage.
Want more information on Surface Finishing Services? Feel free to contact us.
Anodized aluminum involves an electrochemical process that forms an oxide layer on the surface of aluminum to enhance its corrosion resistance and appearance. This oxide layer can be dyed, allowing for various metallic colors. This process is commonly used for bottle caps, which are often fitted with a plastic lining inside.
Advantages of Anodized Aluminum:
Engraving is a process of creating patterns and text on the surface of bottles using mechanical, laser, or chemical methods. Depending on the material of the bottle, different engraving methods may be used, including etching and laser engraving. Typically, laser engraving is used for metal, plastic and bamboo packaging, while both laser and chemical etching are used for glass.
Advantages of Engraving:
Laser engraving is commonly used on glass and metal cosmetic bottles, but it is rarely used on plastic bottles due to less favorable results and lower cost-effectiveness.
PCBs, also known as Printed Circuit Boards, have a wide range of industrial applications. PCBs must be completely covered with proper surface finishes as they are designed with copper traces. While increasing the overall service life of PCB assembly, the right surface finishes also prevent copper oxidation/deterioration. Choosing the right surface finish can help ensure the PCB's performance, durability, and compliance. Here are 10 types of PCB surface finishes that manufacturers should consider while designing PCBs.
Among well-known PCB surface finishes, immersion silver is a popular one that covers the copper surface of PCB with a thin layer of silver chemical deposits.
The advantages of using immersion silver as a PCB surface finish are:
The disadvantages of immersion silver are:
HASL is one of the conventional PCB surface finishes that dips PCB into a molten solder pot.
The benefits of using this surface finish include:
HASL limitations are as follows:
Using ENEPIG as a PCB surface finish offers various advantages like:
The limitations of ENEPIG are as follows:
It is an upgrade of conventional Hot Air Solder Levelling. It is basically a replacement for lead-containing solders.
The benefits of using this PCB surface finish are as follows:
Lead-free HASL also has disadvantages like:
ENIG is a widely used PCB surface finish that uses electroless plating method to place a thin layer of nickel is placed on the PCB’s copper surface.
The benefits of using ENIG include:
The demerits of ENIG include:
A specialised PCB surface finish, Electrolytic Wire Bondable Gold, is used in applications that typically require wire bonding.
Using this PCB surface finish offers advantages like:
The disadvantages of Electrolytic Wire Bondable Gold are:
Immersion Tin is a PCB surface finish which has zero-lead soldering techniques.
Using immersion tin as PCB surface finish provides:
Immersion tin also has challenges like:
Carbon Ink is not a standard surface finish for the entire printed circuit board. Rather, it is implemented in selected regions to provide unique capabilities.
Its benefits include:
The demerits of carbon ink are:
OSP is one of the surface finishes that is used in PCB production to prevent copper oxidation until soldering.
The advantages of OSP are as follows:
The disadvantages of OSP include:
Hard Gold or Electrolytic Nickel/Gold is a type of PCB surface finish that is frequently used in applications requiring long-lasting and repetitive use. It involves the electroplating process of the nickel on the copper pads of PCBs.
This surface finish also offers some important advantages, such as:
The cons of hard gold as PCB surface are:
Depending on the manufacturing process of PCBs, cost, durability and many other factors, choose a surface finish that is ideal for the PCB design. Furthermore, select a surface finish that prevents copper deterioration, as PCBs are made of copper traces.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of rapid prototyping for robotics industry. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Previous: None
Next: How to Save Money When Buying low Volume Manufacturing Service
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )