The typical plastic tube manufacturing process is composed of the following steps:

• Extrusion
• Heading
• Decorating
• Capping

The first phase of the manufacturing process is extrusion. A mixture of resin and color concentrate is placed into an extruder hopper. The extruder is temperature controlled as the resin is fed through to ensure proper melt of the resin.

The material is extruded through a set of sizing dies that are encapsulated within a right angle cross section attached to the extruder. At this point, the sleeve is water-cooled and ready for cutting. The sleeve is fed through a set of dies at which time it is sliced to a given length by a rotating knife. The balance of the manufacturing process can be accomplished in one of three ways.

The most common method is the "downs" process of compression, molding the head onto the tube. In this process, the sleeve is placed on a conveyor that takes it to the heading operation where the shoulder of the head is bound to the body of the tube while, at the same time, the thread is formed.

The sleeve is then placed on a mandrel and transferred down to the slug pick-up station. The hot melt strip or slug is fused onto the end of the sleeve and then transferred onto the mold station. At this point, in one operation, the angle of the shoulder, the thread and the orifice are molded at the end of the sleeve. The head is then cooled, removed from the mold, and transferred into a pin conveyor.

Two other heading methods are used and found extensively worldwide: injection molding of the head to the sleeve, and an additional compression molding method whereby a molten donut of resin material is dropped into the mold station instead of the hot melt strip or slug.

The beaded tube is then conveyed to the accumulator. The accumulator is designed to balance the heading and decorating operation. From here, the tube goes to the decorating operation where, with offset printing, it is decorated with up to six different colors. Inks for the press are premixed and placed in the fountains. At this point, the ink is transferred onto a plate by a series of rollers. The plate then comes in contact with a rubber blanket, picking up the ink and transferring it onto the circumference of the tube. The wet ink on the tube is cured by ultra-violet light or heat. A similar method is used to apply a protective coating to the tube.

After decorating, a conveyor transfers the tube to the capping station where the cap is applied and torqued to the customer's specifications. The tube is then transferred to a conveyor belt and packed into a tray. The trays are packed into cartons that are sealed and ready for shipment.

Ф16mm and 19mm tubes are suitable for lip-gloss, lip essence, eye essence, cream, lotion, fluid candy, sauce and oils packaging.

Ф22mm and 25mm tubes are suitable for eye essence, hand cream, lotion, cream, washing form, personal care products, household products, adhesive, fluid candy, sauce and oils packaging.

Ф30mm and 35mm tubes are suitable for body lotion, shower gel, face cleanser, make-up foundation, hand cream, hare care products, anti-sun cream, jam and ointment packaging.

Ф38mm, 40mm and 45mm tubes are suitable for facial mask, facial cleanser, hand cream, hand washing form, hair care products, household products, personal care products and industrial oils packaging.

Ф50mm, 55mm and 60mm tubes are suitable for shampoo, hair care cream, body scrub, body lotion, shower gel, personal bathe products and massage cream packaging.