Squeeze tubes form an essential component of modern packaging. They appear widely in skincare, makeup, personal care, and pharma products. These tubes hold creams, gels, lotions, and ointments. They also contribute directly to the overall user experience. Squeeze tubes serve as a vital part of contemporary packaging solutions. You can find them in many skincare, makeup, personal care, and pharmaceutical items. The tubes store creams, gels, lotions, and ointments effectively.
At Hongyi, we focus on cosmetic tube manufacturing. We supply both OEM and ODM solutions to our clients. Our products range from skin care tubes to functional tubes designed for makeup, personal care, and pharma applications. We manage each production stage from material selection through final printing.
Types of Squeeze Tubes
Single-Layer Plastic Tubes
Single-layer plastic tubes usually consist of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). These tubes remain lightweight and flexible. They also help manufacturers keep production costs low. The tubes perform effectively with lower-viscosity creams and lotions. The manufacturing sequence includes extrusion, printing, filling, and sealing. This process offers simple handling for users. However, the tubes deliver only moderate protection against oxygen and moisture.
Key benefits:
Affordable production cost
Flexible wall for easy squeezing
Wide color and printing options
Multi-Layer Co-Extruded Tubes
Multi-layer tubes join several distinct material layers together. This construction delivers improved barrier performance. The layers often incorporate PE, EVOH, or nylon. The resulting structure limits oxidation and blocks moisture entry. It therefore safeguards sensitive formulas throughout their shelf life.
The manufacturing steps feature co-extrusion followed by accurate layer bonding and thorough quality inspection to prevent delamination. At Hongyi our R&D team creates custom molds. These molds accommodate different diameters and wall thicknesses required by various product lines.
Applications:
Sensitive skincare formulas
Specialty hair care products
Nutraceutical gels
Aluminum-Plastic Tubes
Aluminum-plastic tubes suit applications that demand high barrier protection. They appear frequently in pharma items and potent skincare formulas. The embedded metal layer stops air and light from reaching the contents and causing degradation.
Production involves several stages. These stages include laminating aluminum foil to plastic, applying offset or silk-screen printing, and performing filling with hermetic sealing. Precise control remains necessary to avoid wrinkles, leaks, or irregular seals. Hongyi brings long experience to the production of aluminum-plastic tubes and consistently delivers stable quality.
Double Open Squeeze Tubes
The double open squeeze tube design increases both flexibility and ease of use. It features two separate openings. One opening supports filling while the other supports dispensing. This arrangement speeds up the filling stage in manufacturing and promotes smoother product flow for the end user. It also works well with thick creams and viscous gels that could otherwise block standard single-opening tubes.
At Hongyi we manufacture double open squeeze tubes according to individual brand specifications. These specifications cover diameter, length, cap type, material, and surface finish. The resulting tubes serve skincare, makeup, personal care, and pharma products that require accurate dosing and hygienic application.
Advantages:
Faster filling during production
Controlled dispensing for consumers
Compatible with multiple formulas and viscosities
The Manufacturing Process
Manufacturing squeeze tubes demands careful attention to detail. The process integrates material science, advanced machinery, and continuous quality oversight. Hongyi operates a production facility certified under ISO9001 and ISO45001. Fully automated lines within this facility maintain uniform quality and support large output volumes.
Material Selection
Material selection affects every performance aspect of the finished tube. Typical options include PE or PP for single-layer tubes, EVOH or nylon for co-extrusion layers, aluminum for high-barrier constructions, and PCR or biodegradable PLA for environmentally conscious options. The chosen material decides flexibility, long-term durability, barrier effectiveness, and suitability for printing. Hongyi obtains materials from established global suppliers. This practice helps ensure consistent safety and chemical stability across all production batches.
Extrusion and Tube Forming
Plastic tubes take shape through extrusion. Molten material passes through a specially designed die. Multi-layer tubes depend on co-extrusion. This process forms separate layers. It also keeps strong adhesion between them. Aluminum-plastic tubes need lamination. They also require careful processing. These steps help achieve even thickness.Hongyi employs precision machinery and more than 35 automated units. These resources maintain tight tolerances for wall thickness and overall dimensions even across high-volume runs.
Printing and Decoration
Surface decoration contributes significantly to brand recognition.
Hongyi matches printing methods to each brand’s visual identity. The process achieves high resolution and lasting durability. Technicians also verify chemical compatibility between inks and the formula stored inside the tube.
Filling and Sealing
Filling procedures vary according to product viscosity and tube construction. Standard nozzle systems handle single-layer and multi-layer tubes adequately. Double open squeeze tubes often need specialized filling equipment. This equipment ensures uniform distribution and prevents air pockets from forming.
Sealing applies heat or pressure depending on the tube material. For double open squeeze tubes both ends receive secure seals. These seals protect formula integrity and support hygienic standards. Hongyi’s GMPC-grade workshops reach daily outputs of 100,000 units through automated lines.
Quality Control
Quality control runs continuously throughout production. Key inspection points include material verification, dimensional measurement after extrusion, printing accuracy checks, filling precision, and leak tests combined with tail sealing evaluation.
Hongyi applies strict QC protocols supported by ISO certifications and proprietary technology. This commitment ensures that each squeeze tube performs reliably in real-world conditions.
Applications Across Industries
Squeeze tubes demonstrate versatility across several sectors.
Skincare
Facial creams, serums, and masks
Sun protection lotions
Moisturizers and anti-aging formulas
Double open squeeze tubes deliver controlled dispensing that reduces waste and maintains product hygiene.
Makeup
Lip gloss, concealers, and primers
Sample-size or travel tubes
Packaging that combines aesthetic appeal with practical use
Personal Care
Hand creams, body lotions, and gels
Hair care products and travel toiletries
Thick or viscous formulas benefit from double open squeeze tube designs
Pharma
Topical ointments and medicated creams
Hygiene-focused gels and formulations
Tubes that protect sensitive ingredients from oxygen and contamination
Sustainability Considerations
Sustainability now influences packaging decisions at every level. Hongyi supplies tubes containing PCR content and PLA alternatives. We also develop designs that reduce overall material consumption. Double open squeeze tubes further limit waste by improving both production filling efficiency and consumer dispensing accuracy.
Conclusion
The production of squeeze tubes relies on careful material choices, precise forming processes, detailed printing techniques, accurate filling methods, and dependable sealing solutions. Single-layer plastics, multi-layer co-extruded tubes, aluminum-plastic tubes, and double open squeeze tubes each meet specific product needs and support different brand goals. Multi-layer co-extruded tubes provide enhanced barrier properties that protect sensitive contents from external factors. Aluminum-plastic tubes combine strength with flexibility, making them suitable for premium formulations. Double open squeeze tubes enable convenient access from both ends, which improves usability in certain industrial and consumer settings.
Hongyi provides complete customization services. Every tube we produce satisfies strict quality, functional, and sustainability criteria. Our integrated OEM/ODM capabilities enable brands to launch products that offer superior usability, distinctive shelf presence, and dependable manufacturing results.
FAQs
Q：What types of squeeze tubes does Hongyi produce?
A：Single-layer, multi-layer co-extruded, aluminum-plastic, and double open squeeze tubes.
Q：Can double open squeeze tubes be customized?
A：Yes. Diameter, material, cap, printing, color, and sealing are customizable.
Q：What is the typical production capacity at Hongyi?
A：Up to 100,000 units per day using automated GMPC-grade lines.
