The Evolution of Lotion Pumps!
A pump is a mechanical device that uses the principle of creating a vacuum through pressure to release the contents in a predetermined form while maintaining sealing performance.
After decades of development, pumps have become deeply integrated into various aspects of daily life. Their functionality, appearance, and practicality have significantly improved. The following provides a brief overview of the development history, working principles, and testing standards of various types of pumps.
Guangdong Hongyuan, after over a decade of development, has become an outstanding plastic shampoo pump bottles supplier and plastic lotion pump supplier, and is also a manufacturer of plastic lotion pumps and plastic bottles.
The History of Pumps
According to historical records, as early as 500 years ago during the Ming Dynasty's Zhengtong 14th year (AD 1449), China was already widely using such dispensers, which were then referred to as “water dragons.” .
“Water dragon” was the colloquial term for fire extinguishers in ancient times: it consisted of a wooden barrel approximately 0.8 meters in height and width, and 1 meter in length, along with several water buckets, water hoses, and spray nozzles. A cross-shaped wooden pad was installed at the bottom of the barrel to ensure stable placement. Two copper-cast syringes were placed side by side inside a large wooden barrel. Each syringe contained a piston that could be moved up and down, with inlet and outlet valves inside. The piston was connected to a lever above it; pressing the lever caused water to spray out. On either side of the barrel walls are two movable iron rings, allowing two people to carry the water cannon while two others assist by holding the handles with one hand, reducing the load on the carriers and accelerating the response time to save water.
The development of distributors also reflects the contrast between the modern history of China and the West. Industrial production and consumer demand drove the rapid development of distributors in Europe and America. The earliest innovation was the valve.
The concept of the aerosol valve originated in 1790 with the introduction of a pressurized carbonated beverage in France.
In 1837, an inventor named Perpigna created an aerosol bottle containing soda water.
In 1899, inventors Herlbling and Pertsch applied for the first patent for an aerosol can using methyl and ethyl chlorides as propellants.
In 1930, French cosmetics giant L’Oreal invented lotion. However, at that time, there was no convenient dispensing device like a lotion pump, and lids (such as screw caps, butterfly caps, or even aluminum cans) were commonly used. To this day, a significant portion of the market in Europe and the United States still uses lids for large-sized shampoo and shower gel products. The main reasons are: first, traditional usage habits, and second, environmental considerations.
In 1966, an eighth-grade student in Quebec, Canada, invented the first lotion pump during a science experiment using a ballpoint pen and a tube. A major hand sanitizer company later utilized this design to develop a lotion pump head that could be mass-produced (and out of respect, did not apply for a patent), which became the prototype for the pump head structure we commonly see today.
In 1996, a company in Europe and the United States faced litigation due to a design flaw in the lotion pump head used in baby products, which caused water ingress issues. As a result, three global companies began developing the waterproof pump head that would lead the trend for decades. The lotion pump head entered a new era.
In 2013, a domestic manufacturer in China responded to the new market demands of the global consumer goods giant Unilever and launched the world's first lotion pump specifically designed for e-commerce channels.
Use Case Analysis and Prospects
Lotion pump products are widely applied in packaging for daily chemical products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, including beauty, hair care,like snap bottle,snap on sprayer, and cleaning products. Their main features include simple structure, stable functionality, ease of use, environmental friendliness and aesthetic appeal, high quality at affordable prices, broad applicability, significant market potential, and strong demand.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, China's personal care and packaging industries have faced unprecedented development opportunities. The personal care product packaging industry is also evolving into a rapidly advancing, high-value-added, and increasingly large-scale emerging industry!
Guangdong Hongyuan's production lines for lotion pumps, PE bottles, and PET plastic bottles are now highly mature. The company not only possesses advanced technical equipment but also a stable and reliable team.
