Daniel de Rosa

35 people for a turnover last year of EUR 5.5 million, IPack will have succeeded in twelve years to emerge as one of the injection company probably the most innovative in the field of perfumery and cosmetic packaging. Who has not noticed the brand new packaging in the form of a stirrup for "Voyage" of Hermes for which engineers at IPack have managed to design an invisible assembly system to make the connection between glass and metal possible, thus following the wish of Philippe Mouquet, designer for Hermes. The guides used for the rotation enabling to absorb the differences between the two materials, while insuring an open/close positioning of the stirrup. A fine achievement too, this famous one-piece spray cap for Decibel by Azzaro a perfect imitation of a microphone. Only five components including two metal parts were necessary for the design of this project. Components are mechanically assembled together by a non-removable crimping and clipping system.

Spray caps, have become one of IPack’s specialty ensuring today more than 10% of its turnover, thanks to a range of three standard nozzles suiting all the pump engines currently marketed.

A second nature!

"Innovation, explains Daniel de Rosa, it’s really a second nature at IPack". This is certainly what has formatted the company since its inception with a strong support from our engineering office combined to a fleet of fifteen injection machines ranging from 25 tons to 300 tons, including a brand new electric press of 150 tonnes commissioned early 2011, plus two assembly and UV bonding lines, an automatic assembly line for spray caps, three machines for the mounting of actuators and another 100% controlled assembly machine for actuators at a rate of one pc/second.

First market, all categories included, the perfume sector where the Normandy company offers all kinds of closures, caps (Surlyn, PETG) or packagings. "This segment probably still accounts for a too big share of our activity," admits Daniel de Rosa. "It is essential nowadays to diversify our business in other areas of beauty or, why not the food industry."

Sirmi, the firm’s latest generation, new non-drip capsule is one example of this. This computer designed capsule, facilitates the distribution of the product by simply squeezing the bottle or tube. The upper part automatically repositions itself naturally after use to reseal the container and maintain a perfect balance of the atmospheric pressure (or not, in airless versions). "The consumer, explains Daniel de Rosa, can permanently keep the capsule in an upside down position to enable a full use of the content, the product used only coming out under the pressure of the consumer’s fingers, thanks to the automatic resealing of the capsule". Sirmi also features a quarter-turn locking system ensuring complete airtightness, which makes it easy to carry around safely in one’s handbag or luggage. The concept of this capsule has of course been the subject of several patent applications and can be declined in all forms and with all possible finishes.

Another particularly clever innovation, this time for the make-up segment, with a casing for lipstick tubes or perfume caps made of a material incorporating magnetic particles. Not only is the whole system particularly heavy but the cap also enables an automatic closing by repositioning itself the right way (patented).

"We are now capable of transforming a plastic magnet directly integrated in the injection process. Made from a very stable material, its price is a real asset when considering the economic instabilities of magnets currently marketed," explains Daniel de Rosa. This new concept which can be customized using classical techniques of surface treatments, is an alternative to magnets made from Rare Earth and opens new avenues in the field of plastic injection.