Engineering Services for Automotive & Aerospace Industries

Today, industries need to act proactively in order to constantly meet delivery deadlines and customer expectations. In the manufacturing sector two industry domains that need to take control of their engineering divisions, to remain competitive, are the Aerospace industry and the Automotive industry.

 

Aerospace and Automotive industries are growing significantly in India and other nations. Both the industries have to source components faster and cheaper in order to meet international market standards as well as the expanding domestic market. This is one of the prime reasons for the rapid growth of engineering services sector in India and across the globe.

 

Both the industries require high-end and sophisticated machinery like 3/4/5 axis milling and turning machines for metal cutting, SPMs (Special Purpose Machines), EDM (Electro discharge machining), Wire cutting/Laser cutting/Waterjet cutting machines, Spark erosion machining, Chemical etching machines, Bending & Forming machines, etc. So, there is a constantly increasing demand for their products in India.

 

Engineering services are also mushrooming in different cities to cater to this growing demand in aerospace and automotive verticals. Over time industry leaders have realized that getting engaged with the right Engineering Services Outsourcing (ESO) company adds greater value in helping them sustain and improve their cost structures.

 

In India, there are leading engineering services outsourcing companies that aid industries to leverage the cost advantage and engineering resource availability in low cost and high cost areas. These service companies offer a framework for engineering that leverages labor arbitrage and time zone differences to develop products fast, better and cheaper.

 

Outsourced engineering services are able to work on high end projects as well as export controlled / ITAR projects for all geographical locations. These companies provide global engineering services using CAD/CAM/CAE tools and help companies to identify their core and non-core engineering processes within their company and move non-core engineering processes and work packages to Indian locations for offshore execution.

 

The Special Economic Zone that is set up in various cities in India caters to aerospace and automotive industries to not only provide reliable offshore engineering processes, but also a high level of domain knowledge in the machine tool area (which is a highly critical component in product development).

 

SEZs provide services ranging from concept design through product re-design, drafting, detailing and modelling, engineering analysis and simulation, verification and validation, application engineering, machine layout detailing, design of tools and gauges, fixture designs, process planning, CNC programming, cost excellence programs, cycle time estimation, VA/VE, off-field troubleshooting, HMI-MMI controls, manufacturing and vendor management.

 

Collaboration with a reliable engineering services division can surely enhance productivity and timely deliveries in both the domains. Companies can also enjoy high cuts in engineering and manufacturing costs.

Applying Healthy Practices in Cosmetic Packaging for Ready Acceptance

Grooming is essential for exuding a presentable and well developed physical appearance. A well-attired person is received easily by others. Cosmetics are essential for grooming purposes, and women especially have come to rely on cosmetics. Thus the boom in the cosmetics market is not surprising, and this market will never face any downslide. However customers have become more knowledgeable about the types of cosmetics they should use and those that suit them the best.

In a world of enhanced awareness about healthy living, more people are opting for natural and eco-friendly products that are less harmful to the environment. Cheap, low quality plastics that were once a convenient proposition are no longer in demand. Customers have wizened with the after effects of the cheap stuff and now want natural products that will not cause them any harm.

Manufacturers realize that attractive cosmetic packaging is an effective way to tempt customers and urge them to buy. Thus they try using unique packaging techniques such as curiously shaped geometrical and abstract designs, vibrant colors, etc. It is the power of packaging that helps the manufacturer get a step closer to their target audience. In the excitement of trying to woo customers with attractive packaging they should not forget that people will be drawn more towards environment friendly products.

The use of harmful chemicals has made people more alert and more picky. So if a lipstick or a lip balm is encased in a natural product it will be snatched up without a second thought. The idea is truly a creative one — the product looks beautiful and can be used without concern that rashes or other side effects will develop. Numerous products have been developed for serving different purposes. Some, like trigger sprayers, are used for the purpose of even distribution of liquid. Others, such as treatment pumps, are used for the application of perfumes. Products are also developed for convenience and to save time, as is the case with foamers, lotion pumps and liquid dispensers.

A customer who has been fooled once by an attractive package without any flexible and useful attributes will think twice before making their next purchase decision. New entrants and those willing to join the group have endless opportunities to market their products with the help of natural packaging. These materials are not only eco-friendly but also long lasting and make a good impression. The experienced players can double their profits if they toe the line and make transitions to natural packaging.

The green revolution is everywhere. And it works wonders in the field of cosmetic packaging. This is not only the current fad but also a positive step towards a safe and healthy future. Considering the demand for eco-friendly products, manufacturers can be assured of pronounced gains when they steer towards more acceptable and desirable practices.

Tips to Reduce Cosmetic Packaging Waste

Just as the clothes you wear express who you are, packaging expresses what a product is about, what it is for, why you would want it and what the company‘s values are. Society is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of eco friendly practices. Businesses that do not invest in eco friendly materials may find themselves losing out on market share. Today’s cosmetic packaging is no longer about a simple container inside a plain box, it is much more than that. The cosmetic industry witnessed stupendous growth as people are becoming more and more conscious about using environmentally friendly products.

There are many types of packaging used to wrap our cosmetics and makeup, including cardboard and paper boxes, disposables (such as airless pump bottles, puffs, sponges, spatulas, tweezers, curlers, sharpeners and swabs), fabric makeup cases, glass and mirrors, metals, plastics of various types, ribbon, shopping bags, etc. Commonly used cosmetic packages, like cardboard boxes, can easily be recycled with other packaging materials, but many makeup containers are made from less common recyclable plastics (plastics #1 and #2 are the easiest to recycle). Unfortunately, due to the fact that many types of plastics aren’t labeled with a resin number, community recycling programs will often refuse things like cosmetic compacts and lipstick cases.

Reducing your cosmetic packaging waste

The simplest way to reduce your cosmetic packaging waste impact is to choose better packaging before you bring your makeup home from the drug store or makeup counter. To make more sustainable cosmetic choices, look for these eco-friendly packaging characteristics:

  • Biodegradable

  • Recyclable (with a plastic resin number imprinted on the package)

  • Recycled (made with post-consumer recycled plastic or cardboard)

  • No extra wrapping (like ribbon, cardboard or film plastic)

Another piece of advice:

  • No shopping bags (take your own reusable shopping bag!)

  • Buy only what you need (don’t stock up on cosmetics you can’t consume before they expire)

  • Choose refillable makeup containers that you can add different colors to as your style changes

  • Take care of your brushes and makeup applicators by cleaning them so that they last a long time

Cosmetic packaging should have a huge amount of influence over what and why you buy things, whether it is made from eco packaging materials that are friendly to the earth or common traditional materials. After all, when you're in a store surrounded by a deluge of products, how do you know what to pick? The package is your biggest source of that information. Your first impression, and how it makes you feel when you glance at it, is the most important and deciding factor.

The Impact of Cosmetic Packaging on the Environment

The deterioration of the environment and its potential impact on life on this planet is a hot topic for discussion these days. Natural resources are being exploited at unsustainable rates, and this has contributed to the issues of oil depletion, extinction of species, soil erosion, ozone depletion, desertification and deforestation that we are currently facing. Continuing to be oblivious to the impact of these actions on the environment can have negative repercussions, and it won’t be long before nature’s fury will force us to realize our folly.

The Impact of Cosmetic Packaging

It has been discovered that cosmetic packaging has a considerable impact on three crucial dimensions, namely economic, social and environmental. It can be a potent source of competitive advantage, social reputation and public good, and what seems superficial is in fact fundamental. Cosmetic packaging can also deliver added functionality, distinguish a product in an overcrowded market, and reduce that product's environmental impact. As consumers are increasingly hostile toward wasteful, misleading and hard-to-use packaging, it is natural for cosmetic packaging manufacturers to become more aware about the complex ecological and social effects of the products they produce. If businesses are more intelligent and perceptive, well, so are their markets.

Eco-design can be defined as the incorporation of environmental considerations into any design. The main intention is to reduce overall lifecycle impacts while maintaining performance and value for money. For the cosmetic packaging sector, this means design for resource minimization (material, energy and water), reduced hazards (such as heavy metals), reuse, recycling and waste reduction.

Let’s look at some packaging materials and the impact that they have on the environment.

  • Plastic - This is the most widely used material in the packaging of cosmetic products. Most plastic bottles, tubes, lotion pumps, etc., come in attractive shapes and colors, making people overlook their impact on the environment. What makes plastic dangerous is its chemical composition that prevents it from going through the natural process of degradation. It is usually the most preferred cosmetic packaging because of its flexibility and light weight. But in reality, it is a dangerous material because its wide scale use results in pollution, accumulation of wasted plastic in the environment, consumption of fossil resources, high energy use in manufacturing and migration of polymers and additives into food and other places.

  • Paper and Paperboard - Another widely used material for cosmetic packaging is paper and paper wood. A leading factor in deforestation is the large consumption. In manufacturing one pound of paper, three and a half pounds of wood is required. And the cosmetic industry alone consumes large amounts of paper, thereby contributing a good measure to deforestation.

Is Recycling the Answer?

Recycling has been touted as the most effective solution for minimizing environmental degradation. And to a certain extent, yes, recycling does help. Though recycling plastics and paper does help in reducing the damage, it is only to a small extent. Plastic recycling involves increased processing costs and has limited benefits in minimizing environmental degradation and diverting resources from waste. And as for paper recycling, the water and energy consumed during the recycling process causes water depletion and increased levels of greenhouse gases.

Recycling coalesced with consumption reduction is the best and most effective approach in such a situation. Cosmetic manufacturers need to come up with good replacements that can pave the way to reducing paper and plastic consumption.

Choose the Right Cosmetic Packaging to Create Brand Awareness

A distinctive style based around unique packaging is key in gaining a customer’s attention. Cosmetic packaging has become more innovative as consumers continue to demand convenience and performance in their cosmetic purchases. Consumers today shop across various channels in search of positive experiences, challenging manufacturers to deliver new and innovative packaging.

As today's cosmetic consumer is sophisticated and demanding, manufacturers must understand their targeted consumer and the trends that impact brand success. It is not only how the brand is positioned but what sets it apart from the competition. Packaging should be created with a brand personality in mind. Emerging lifestyle brands are licensed across all categories, and product packaging not only portrays the brand’s personality but also often enhances it. It could be the way it is used, performs or simply looks, but packaging should strengthen brand awareness.

Cosmetic packaging is used as an important marketing tool to draw the attention of customers. Attractive packaging of products creates a superior mind share amongst the target audience and is hence regarded as an integral part of the business. Cosmetic packages, like liquid dispensers or airless pumps, for instance, need to not only catch the attention of a consumer, but also need to reflect the essence of the product at the same time. It is important to make the product visually appealing for effective marketing, and, as each brand has its own identity, it helps in ensuring continuation in the long term recognition of a product.

One of the main reasons why packaging helps products stand out primarily comes down to shopper psychology. We associate certain colors with particular ranges. We are attracted to things that are new or different, encouraging us to investigate further. But we are also often creatures of habit, looking for the same or similar products each time we shop. And cosmetic companies these days are reacting to this change in customers’ purchasing habits. They are trying to position several brands to many different classes of trade. Today manufacturers face these challenges while forever keeping pace with the wants and needs of this newly defined consumer base.

Cosmetic packaging designers who have worked within the industry have the experience to know exactly what consumers are looking for and will also ensure that any brand identifiers are carried through. The key to ensure success for any brand is a good team of packaging experts who have insight into today's consumer needs. The presentation of your product greatly affects the value of your product, and therefore choosing the righ cosmetic packing is an important decision and should not be taken for granted.