When millions of tubes for toothpaste, cosmetics, and other consumer products are produced every year, quality, efficiency, and reliable delivery are essential throughout the entire value chain. For Ellco Etikett—a company with decades of experience in label printing—entering tube production was also an opportunity to challenge itself and expand its expertise

That challenge came from customer Skanem Rjukan AS, a manufacturer of laminated tubes looking for a new supplier to provide pre-printing on flexible packaging material supplied in rolls.

Hybrid technology opens new possibilities

Ellco Etikett met the challenge with its latest printing press—a hybrid production line combining digital inkjet and conventional flexographic printing in a single process.

By integrating these two technologies, Ellco Etikett can offer innovative solutions for both labels and tube packaging, delivering outstanding print quality together with efficient production.

"This technology is particularly well suited for applications where visual quality, production efficiency, and consistent repeatability are all critical," says Pål Nygaard of Ellco Etikett.

A key part of the tube manufacturing process

The printed laminate rolls produced by Ellco Etikett are delivered to Skanem Rjukan, where they are converted into finished tubes.

The tubes are available in both Plastic Barrier Laminate (PBL) and Aluminium Barrier Laminate (ABL), serving customers in industries such as food production and personal care.

Once the pre-printed laminate rolls have been converted into tubes and fitted with caps at Skanem Rjukan, they are ready to be filled by the brand owner or a contract filling company.

"Our collaboration with Ellco Etikett focuses on printing flexible materials that are integrated into our manufacturing process. It is important for us to work with suppliers who understand the requirements of quality, efficiency, and industrial-scale production," says Eirik Bergh, Group Director of Skanem AS and Managing Director of Skanem Rjukan AS.

Production powered by renewable energy

Production at Skanem's Rjukan facility is powered by renewable electricity generated from Norway's hydropower resources. At Ellco Etikett, rooftop solar panels generate electricity for the company's own operations.

Combined with other environmental initiatives at both companies, these investments provide a strong foundation for more sustainable manufacturing.

A partnership that creates value

The collaboration between Ellco Etikett and Skanem Rjukan demonstrates how specialized companies can combine expertise and technology to create efficient, competitive manufacturing solutions.

For Ellco Etikett, the project highlights how the company's printing technology can be applied to industrial packaging solutions well beyond traditional labels. The result is a value chain where modern technology, efficient production, and high quality go hand in hand.