Application markets

The clients of the Tournaire Group operate in markets that demand the highest quality standards.

Read more

fermer fermer fermer

Omni Plus : la nouvelle gamme innovante en aluminium haute performance

Interview of Patrice Aubert, Design office & Development Manager

Can you introduce yourself and your job at TOURNAIRE?

I have been in charge of the design office / product development, as well as industrialization methods, for more than 10 years.

Tell us about the latest TOURNAIRE innovations?

The latest TOURNAIRE innovation is the Omni Plus range: Omni Plus 32 and Omni Plus 50. It has been designed for customers, and it is wide: from the small volume 50ml to the largest volume, 6L250.

Created in 2022, this new range has been optimized to take into account functions such as cleanliness, ergonomics, design, recycling, performance and anti-counterfeiting.

Likewise, we have worked a lot in recent years on technical solutions to meet performance and inviolability criteria.

We are talking about product innovations here, but with us, it cannot be done without innovating and our tools and industrial means.

What will the packaging of tomorrow be like?

For me, the packaging of tomorrow will be packaging that best respects our environment, so we are talking about sustainable development here, and I would say that the three “Rs” of COP21 really show what we need to take into account when we develop packaging whether today or for the packaging of tomorrow.

The three “Rs” stand for: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. They are important, and we really have to take this into account in the development of our new products.

The aluminum material is predisposed to meet these constraints. The aluminum material is a noble, durable material that really corresponds to the future. In addition, it can be recycled ad infinitum without losing its mechanical characteristics.

The packaging of tomorrow will also have to meet the requirements of our customers, who are changing rapidly in a rapidly changing world.

What is the best memory of your career at TOURNAIRE?

My fondest memory remains, witnessing the joy expressed by my colleagues and collaborators when we succeeded together in taking up the challenge for our client.

Why join TOURNAIRE?

In one sentence, I would say that TOURNAIRE is an industrial and therefore technical playground. It is an exciting playground internally but also externally with international challenges with our presence on all continents and t

 

A flexible production tool, adapted to customers’ needs

Interview with Eric Lefebvre, Supply Chain Director

Could you introduce yourself and your job at TOURNAIRE?

I am responsible for the Supply Chain. The Supply Chain consists of optimising incoming and outgoing flows. At Tournaire, the specificity is that the Supply Chain Manager is also in charge of the whole production aspect. In the end, it’s a question of making all the flows more fluid, whether they are incoming raw materials within production and finally, up to the delivery of the goods to our customers. I have been working for TOURNAIRE for 30 years, starting in 1994 as a trainee.

Tell us more about TOURNAIRE’s production tool.

The specific features of the production tool are that it is highly automated with standardised ranges. In spite of this automation, we wanted to keep a flexible production tool so as to respond as well as possible to the expectations of our customers, both in terms of finishes, types of closures and packaging. So it’s a state-of-the-art industrial tool, automated, but flexible to meet our customers’ expectations.
So the production tool, over all these years, has greatly evolved by integrating new technologies, such as robotics and vision. Vision: either at the level of the processes to allow the taking of our products, or at the level of the controls.
It is important to know that today each production line, whether it is for extruded or deep-drawn products, we have three in-line controls which allow 100% control of our bottles. In terms of figures, we carry out more than 60 million checks per year on our production lines.

What are the specificities of the TOURNAIRE supply chain?

The specificity of the logistics chain is that we are dealing with large structures upstream and downstream. We have relatively large suppliers, of considerable size, whether in aluminium or plastic. We have relatively low labour margins. We try, by setting up a substantial, targeted safety stock, with refined commercial forecasts, with a maximum of storage of raw materials to always provide our customers with more services and never be short of raw materials.
For example, during the COVID crisis, we can pride ourselves on having been a company that never stopped its production tool to deliver our customers.

Have you obtained any new certifications in recent years?

We are now aiming for ISO 45001 certification, to have a consolidated quality, environment and safety system. In addition to these ISO commitments, we are also committed to a CSR approach where we have obtained the Gold label of ECOVADIS certification.

Why join TOURNAIRE?

Working at TOURNAIRE means having the opportunity to explore many technologies, many techniques, much know-how, and to join a company on a human scale, with many projects and much dynamism. I recommend you to join us, it’s exciting.

 

Regulatory constraints: a complex aspect no to take lightly when choosing appropriate packaging for your sensitive products

Technical and economic requirements are often put at the forefront when looking at difficulties penetrating international markets. Regulatory requirements and the various rules that all add up from one state to another, one administration to another, and one industrial sector to another are sometimes underestimated. You may think that industrial packaging for sensitive products is not affected by this as much: this is far from the case, especially for the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors and the food industry. Overlooking these constraints can have serious consequences.

types de contraintes pour les contenants industriels

 I/ What types of constraints are there for industrial containers?

Tests to ensure the product’s compatibility and stability with its packaging are often standardised, especially for active ingredients in medicines: the various pharmacopoeia require standardised test procedures (for example, in terms of duration, temperature, humidity, etc.) with precise objectives for non-interaction between the contents and its packaging.

To guarantee its safety, packaging in contact with food must meet increasingly strict requirements that vary according to the region. So, some components cannot be used during manufacturing.

For the pharmaceutical markets, the authorities in some countries require a registration document (DMF or Drug Master File) for primary packaging in direct contact with APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients). This very substantial and detailed file is registered by the packaging manufacturer with the appropriate administration (FDA in the USA[1]).

Most industries now require thorough traceability of packaging and its components, as well as its manufacturing cycle.

Sealing and physical integrity tests must guarantee that no packaging logistics or use constraints will alter the product’s properties when it is used.

Hazardous products and their transportation are subject to strict regulations requiring suitable labelling and UN approved This guarantees that the packaging has gone through a series of stacking, drop, and pressure tests approved by an official laboratory – see the article “Choosing the right packaging to transport your dangerous materials”.[2]

Environmental constraints vary from one region to another and for one packaging material to another. Europe has enacted several decrees to encourage and make it easier to reuse and recycle packaging. This starts with identifying the packaging materials, forbidding or limiting certain components, as well as requiring a certain recycling rate or even forbidding single-use plastic packaging by 2040 as stipulated in the AGEC law.

Customs, health or logistical constraints top off the list of obligations, often requiring additional documentation or the processing of pallets.

 

II/ How to meet all these regulatory requirements?

At multinational corporations experienced in exporting sensitive products, a multidisciplinary team is often set up to address these constraints. These teams also rely on their packaging suppliers and their in-house services to anticipate all national requirements or those specific to their sector.

Average-sized companies can call on independent consultants, administrations, or their local correspondents to handle some demands. A good partnership with a reliable packaging supplier well used to international requirements will however help avoid discrepancies and the use of external service providers.

The reliability of your packaging manufacturer is key to ensuring compliance with all regulations throughout a product’s use: packaging material compatibility, reliable and certified manufacturing process, trusted organisation and effective support for packaging and regulatory issues.

respecter les exigences réglementaires

 

III/ Tournaire helps you comply with regulatory requirements 

With over 180 years of experience in industrial packaging, Tournaire helps you to choose and design your packaging right up to its qualification and, of course, throughout the sale of your sensitive products.

With Tournaire, you can rely on:

– A multidisciplinary team to help you choose or develop your packaging, from the development of your product: choice of materials, finishes, types of closures, types of outer packaging, etc.

– A laboratory that can conduct content-container compatibility tests and various stacking, drop, and leak tests among others.

– Direct access to our files (DMF), UN certification and approval to help you approach regulated markets more easily.

– Complete documentary support: detailed information about the packaging materials, seals, varnishes, procedures, etc.

– Recommendations for outer packaging suited to your logistics requirements: pallets, boxes, various protections – see the article “Protecting your sales packaging to provide maximum satisfaction for your clients”.[3]

– A Quality Hygiene Security Environment organisation certified ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 with a high level of social commitment confirmed by a gold Ecovadis medal in 2022.

Tournaire can assist you during your regulatory proceedings and help you to access all your markets faster and with greater peace of mind.

Feel free to contact our teams via this contact form.[4]

 

________________________

[1] https://www.fda.gov/

[2] https://www.tournaire.fr/choisir-lemballage-le-plus-adapte-au-transport-de-vos-matieres-dangereuses/

[3] https://www.tournaire.fr/bien-proteger-vos-emballages-de-vente-pour-la-plus-grande-satisfaction-de-vos-clients/

[4] https://www.tournaire.fr/produits-services/emballage/contact/

Governance, CSR, support: TOURNAIRE’s HR objectives

Interview with Stéphane Nicolas, Human Resources Director at TOURNAIRE.

Can you introduce yourself?

To introduce myself professionally, I have 30 years of experience as an HR manager. Since I started working, I have been in the HR field. I have worked in large French and international groups. I also have experience in small, fast-growing structures, such as start-ups. But also in family businesses. The context of the family business is not a new context for me when I joined TOURNAIRE.

Can you give us some representative figures of the HR activity at TOURNAIRE?

The TOURNAIRE Group employs about 300 people, spread over 4 sites, the main site of which is in Grasse, the historic site. This is where most of the production is carried out. There is also a relatively large site in Chalon-sur-Saône. The company also has a subsidiary in the United States and a subsidiary in Asia with a presence in Vietnam in particular.

300 employees with an average age of 45 years, 15 years of seniority. Moreover, there are problems with the transmission of knowledge because a certain number of employees are going to retire. This is an important HR issue for the company to ensure its long-term survival.

We have an internal school within TOURNAIRE with which we train operators and production staff. This is where it is important, because it is thanks to this training that we can keep the know-how in-house. It is a real know-how of the company, very specific. You don’t go to school to learn how to work at TOURNAIRE.

As far as recruitment is concerned, there are about fifteen positions to be filled, as well as work-study positions. These positions are linked to the retirement of employees. They are replacements. There is also growth in the company with the search for new profiles.

What are your objectives and HR strategy at TOURNAIRE?

I have 3 main HR objectives. The first objective is one of support and transformation. We are going to deal with subjects such as governance, the company’s strategic plan, but also subjects such as CSR. The company is obliged to transform itself on these subjects and change its operating methods a little. How do we make decisions? How do we involve all managers in the decision-making process?

The second objective is to modernise HR practices in all areas of the HR function: from recruitment to integration, from welcoming new employees to e-learning, from the implementation of an HR information system with a digital tool that allows access to more information, that is more collaborative and intended for managers, but also open to all employees.

The third objective is really to create managerial support. This is an important subject. Training is not enough. We also need to provide personal support to all managers so that they can change their attitude. This means that it has an impact on the system in which they are, on the culture of the company and on the way we operate within the company.

What do you say to a candidate to convince them to join the TOURNAIRE team?

What I really like about TOURNAIRE is that it is a family business with good human values. It is a company that is financially solid, that innovates, that is in the new technologies, that is growing, that is transforming itself and that has a playground for those who like technology, but also in the support functions. It’s a very dynamic playground with good values and a company that has a bright future ahead of it.

Perfumery at the core of TOURNAIRE’s commitment

Interview of Jeanne Lions, President and Laurent Zeller, Member of the supervisory board

What innovation(s) have you presented?

Jeanne Lions: The first innovation that we presented, and we are very proud of it, is the Omni Plus range, which is a one-piece aluminium range. It allows us, above all, to have a competitive advantage over our current competitors. In particular in the recyclability of our products, in safety, in the ease of opening and closing these drums.
The second innovation that we presented today is our intelligent packaging. We are trying to add intelligence to packaging to enable our customers to benefit from this intelligence to better store and transport their precious materials.
Finally, among all these innovations, there is everything we call the Ecopack with our eco-responsible commitment through our cans, and aluminium is the very illustration and personalisation of this eco-responsibility.

Laurent Zeller: I would like to add something that is particularly aimed at our fragrance customers, which is all our wide-opening product ranges, our storage ranges and also a certain number of innovations in our processes at TOURNAIRE, in particular our quality laboratory, obviously our automated stamping lines, and I think I’m forgetting one that is very important, Jeanne, I’m sure you can help me…

Jeanne Lions: Yes, absolutely. This is the vitrification line that we have developed and that we have installed in a new building with an extremely clean environment to meet our customers’ need for cleanliness.

Aluminium: the best packaging solution

Interview with Frédéric Braud, Managing Director of SOZIO

 

Would you like to introduce yourself and your activity?

I’m Frédéric Braud, I’m the Managing Director of the company SOZIO. We’re a fragrance blending company. We have been in existence for 260 years, with several businesses and facilities in France, the United States and Asia.

Why are you here?

TOURNAIRE is an interesting company with whom we work a lot. We have a lot of business, especially in the Middle East, and our customers only ask for TOURNAIRE packaging. We also use TOURNAIRE for all our fragrance samples. We have tried other companies, but we always come back to TOURNAIRE. I was interested in visiting the factory, especially with regard to CSR.

What are the advantages of aluminium packaging?

Aluminium packaging has many advantages. The first is protection. We have never found anything better. We have had a lot of problems with plastic packaging, for example, or metal that rusts. Aluminium is the most protective material. The second advantage is an environmental one. Aluminium is recyclable, so we are currently in the middle of a CSR process. Packaging is obviously an integral part of this approach.

What are the challenges you face when it comes to packaging your formulations?

For us, packaging is above all product safety. This is the number one criterion. The second criterion is recyclability. This is really important for us. And then of course the practicality and the aesthetic aspect. We are in the perfumery business, and we have quite a few customers in the Middle East who often resell in 1kg, 5kg, 10kg. So, there is an attractiveness in aluminium packaging that cannot be found in other types of packaging.

TOURNAIRE’s qualities: product quality and sense of service

Interview of Philippe Gladieux, Supply Chain Director at Argeville

Would you like to introduce yourself and your activity?

My name is Philippe Gladieux, I am Supply Chain Director at Argeville, a Grasse-based company specialising in fragrant compositions, food flavours and ingredients. We’re a family-run company and we celebrated our centenary last year.

 

Why are you here?

Because TOURNAIRE has been a partner of Argeville for a long time. We have always had a very good relationship with TOURNAIRE and we really appreciate the quality of its services, its innovation and the quality of its products.

 

Is packaging strategic to protect your sensitive materials?

80 to 85% of our turnover comes from exports, from large-scale exports. Mainly air transport. So, it is essential to have this transport safety and the preservation of our products throughout the world.

 

What image do TOURNAIRE aluminiums have with your export customers?

TOURNAIRE aluminiums are the standard for our customers, in every respect. Both on the European and international markets.

 

What do you think of the new products in the TOURNAIRE range?

The OMNI PLUS range is very attractive. It is still under review with us. We are going to study the scheduling to switch the current standard range to the OMNI PLUS range. What we find very attractive is the recyclability of the solution we are being offered. 

The TOURNAIRE ‘estagnon’, the emblem of Fragonard

Interview of  Françoise Fabre, General Manager of Fragonard

Would you like to introduce yourself and your activity?

I am Françoise Fabre, and I direct Fragonard, a company created in 1926, which is now run by the great, great grand-daughters of the creator Eugène Fuchs. We are Anne, Agnès and Françoise Costa, the fourth generation. Historically, Fragonard has mainly manufactured perfumes and subsequently we have developed extensive ranges of cosmetics, eaux de toilettes, and for some years now a whole universe based on the art of living in Provence, hence fashion, articles for the home and products that we brought back from our travels, particularly in India. It’s a country that has always been very close to Provence and which is part of our culture.

Why are you here?

We have come today with a whole team from our company to see the evolution of TOURNAIRE, a magnificent company with which we have maintained a relationship of loyalty and friendship. We know the products we buy but certainly not the production tool. We were astonished by the investment, the quality of the machines, the technologies that I could not even have imagined. And then the possibilities of customisation. Moreover, we are currently working to improve a product which is an emblematic product of Fragonard: a small metal canister, or ‘estagnon’. Perhaps we are the last company to use the name ‘estagnon’, but it is an important name for us. It is part of the history of Grasse and our common history with TOURNAIRE.

What are the challenges you face when it comes to packaging your fragrances?

We have products that have always been refillable. This was not the market trend 20 years ago. Everyone was using crimped products. We have always been keen to offer our customers refillable products and we buy 600ml refills from TOURNAIRE which are refills that no one else on the market does today. The sizes of Fragonard perfumes are 100ml, 200ml and 600ml in aluminium refills. It is certain that we all have the same objectives, namely, to have products that have the least impact on the planet and that are recyclable and refillable. That’s what’s at stake.

What advice would you give to a company looking for barrier packaging to protect its sensitive products?

In our business, which is a niche perfumery business, the use of aluminium is atypical. Generally speaking, companies use glass. We work a lot on the weight of the glass, the bottoms of the bottles, the luxury with the transparency that glass gives. It’s a real challenge to use aluminium to sell perfumes. This is our case, it is emblematic, the ‘estagnon’ is really the flagship of Fragonard. I don’t know if it can be duplicated that easily in terms of the finished product for a client. As far as refills are concerned, for all the products that are used in larger quantities, aluminium has an extraordinary added value. In terms of product quality, because it can be recycled very easily, because it does not pollute, it does not break, and because it is impervious to light and heat. These are all features that we have consistently valued in this product.

close