Fluctuating demand
Two millions... , three million a year? "The number of bulb atomizers sold in France (the leading consumer market) fluctuates a lot," admitted René Karla from Karla Innovations. "But actually these last months seem to show a promising market increase." Especially since this almost ancestral product was upgraded at the beginning of 2010 thanks to a technical trick applied on the spray head, allowing, with a simple twist, to seal the whole distribution system.
Karla Innovations’ bulb atomizers are manufactured in Taiwan. A manufacturing process requiring great technical expertise, first for the bulb which is made of two TPE injected then welded shells, and then for the spray head, especially concerning the nozzle which must perform a perfect spray. "Bulbs..., are currently available in all shapes, materials and colours," explained René Karla. "When I mention materials for the bulb, I mean that some of them may be dressed with a thin net (the sock!) of any type but they can also be flocked."
A bulb atomizer that sprays powder!
However, having a bottle fitted with a fine bulb atomizers on his bathroom shelf has a cost Between 1.50 € and 3 €.
"Obviously this kind of container is rather more naturally meant for niche and luxury perfumes," admitted René Karla, "but it is more and more found in the home fragrance segment and even in that of make-up powder!"
Airtight bulb atomizer
As for the airtight bulb atomizer, it represents a real progress. "Its lack in airtightness was considered as a real drawback when the consumer wanted to take it with her in her bag," insisted René Karla. "Today, it’s totally safe". So much so that this type of airtight spray should represent 50% of the market in the two years to come.
And it is only the beginning of it. Engineers are working on a system that would make it possible to control the spray dose, which is impossible to do today, whatever the pressure. Because currently, the sprayed volume only depends of the finger pressure on the bulb. A real headache!
