French closure specialist Novassu manufactures premium cosmetic closures with recycled content for brands such as Chanel and Estée Lauder on KraussMaffei’s CXZ 250/1000-750 Multinject, which combines 2K sandwich and index plate technologies, enabling recycled layers and ensuring consistent quality with APCplus.

The machine has a sandwich plate that offers the possibility to inject a layer of recycling material inside skin material. It is also a flexible solution that allows easy switching between sandwich and standard 2K processes, as well as the use of mono-material. The index plate also allows the cavities to be rotated for overmolding and multilayer processes.

The CXZ 250/1000-750 Multinject features a sandwich platen, allowing recycled material to be injected as a core layer within skin material.

Higher recycled content and greater design freedom

The current project uses sandwich injection molding – recycled material on the inside, new material on the outside. Novassu developed the crystal-clear cube cap itself and, in addition to contract manufacturing, also relies on its own design.

Novassu creates premium closures for the world’s leading luxury cosmetic brands.

The 2K closure contains 30% recycled material. Thanks to the machine's preparation for a third component, other creative effects, such as marbling through multicolor injection, are also conceivable.

At its site in Molinges, Novassu operates around 20 KraussMaffei machines from the CX and PX series (500-4,000 kN). These machines produce components ranging from 10 to 100 millimeters in size. In addition to pure injection molding, Novassu also offers various finishing steps such as hot stamping.

Shifting from ionomer to classic thermoplastics

Novassu is currently shifting from ionomer to classic thermoplastics. Ionomer can only be recycled chemically, whereas mechanical recycling is possible with PET that is hardly contaminated. This change in material also opens up the possibility of using KraussMaffei's all electric PX machines.

Since 2019, all machines have been equipped with the APCplus function, which automatically adjusts the switchover point and holding pressure according to the melt viscosity, ensuring a constant shot weight. This is particularly beneficial for recyclates, which often come in batches with varying properties.

“With APCplus, we’ve significantly reduced scrap and improved our product quality. This is a clear benefit also in terms of cost-efficiency,” said Gérald Paris, Managing Director of Novassu.