(PRWEB) June 22, 2006 -- A beautiful fur coat always sets one apart in a crowd, whether the owner is a celebrity or a Siamese cat.

Cardinal Laboratories, Inc., makers of Gold Medal shampoos for dogs and cats, appreciate the importance of a beautiful coat and recognize the value of marketing their high-quality products in packages that reflect the value pet owners place in the care of their companions.

That understanding was critical in Cardinal Laboratories’ decision to redesign its packaging for dog and cat shampoos.

“The formula for the shampoos had been improved, and we wanted new packaging to showcase our enhanced line,” Barbara Denzer, Cardinal Laboratories vice president, said.
TricorBraun, a leader in rigid packaging for the cosmetic industry, was selected to create a package that would appeal to women, the principal purchasers of pet care products.

The TricorBraun Design and Engineering division spent more than a year in the creation of the oval drawing that was used in Gold Medal’s five pet care shampoo products. The container won first place in the NACD Pet & Vet Category.

Ultimately, a panel of female consumers selected from eight final designs and chose a container with gently cambered sides that featured contrasting high-tech diagonal ridges that were added to distinguish the classically hourglass-shaped bottle and reduce slippage when wet. The 500 ml bottles will feature a broad shoulder to command shelf presence and a frost-white cap that will accentuate the luxuriant colors of the pet care products they contain.

The bottles will be manufactured out of PETE, a polyester resin recognized for its transparency and ability to take hard knocks.

“PETE is also the material of choice for a company concerned about the environment. Recycled PETE is sought after by the manufacturers of carpeting yarn and fleece clothing,” said Tony De Vos, Cardinal Laboratories president.

The bottle presented manufacturing challenges, according to Craig Sawicki, executive vice president, TricorBraun Design and Engineering. In order to effectively present the high tech ridges on the sides of the bottles, it was necessary to eliminate parting lines that appear on the sides of the bottles and reveal where they were joined in the molding process.

“We used stretch blow moulding to improve the strength of the bottle, in addition to accentuating the diagonal ridges,” Sawicki said.

“When the new formula Gold Medal products are poured from the bottle, the users will be impressed by their luxurious texture. From a manufacturing perspective, the thickness associated with the lavish feel can make the product difficult to pour from a nearly empty bottle. We used a Sequist cap that allows the bottle to be stored upside down in its final days,” Sawicki said.

“The bottle was designed to have a strong self presence at retail and to be elegant enough that it will be stored in a visible location in the home. When we looked at the completed container, we chose to name it the DIVA because of its commanding and graceful lines,” Ms. Denzer said.

TricorBraun is one of the nation’s leading suppliers of rigid packaging, with its primary focus on cosmetics; health and beauty aids; pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals; food, beverage and wine; as well as industrial and household chemicals. The company has 28 offices in the United States and Canada.

Cardinal Laboratories, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of pet grooming products, treats and food rolls that are sold in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. The company is located in Azusa, California, and was established in 1948.