Top Tubes manufactures custom ABL (Aluminum Barrier Laminate) tubes for brands and contract manufacturers who need maximum protection for sensitive formulas. If your product is light sensitive, oxygen sensitive, or requires an extended shelf life, ABL tube packaging is the industry standard for pharmaceutical, oral care, and specialty cosmetic products.
What Is an ABL Tube?
An ABL tube is a laminate tube built around a thin layer of aluminum foil sandwiched between layers of polyethylene. The aluminum core gives ABL tubes a near total barrier against oxygen, light, and moisture, which is why they are the preferred choice for formulas that break down or lose potency when exposed to air or UV light. ABL tubes also hold their shape once squeezed, so the tube looks neat on a shelf or bathroom counter throughout its use.
The 5-Layer ABL Structure
Every ABL tube Top Tubes produces is built from five bonded layers: an inner layer of LDPE (low-density polyethylene) that contacts the product, an adhesive layer, a core layer of aluminum foil, a second adhesive layer, and an outer layer of LDPE that carries the printed decoration. This LDPE / adhesive / aluminum foil / adhesive / LDPE construction is what gives ABL tubes their combination of chemical resistance, structural rigidity, and barrier performance.
Barrier Properties
The aluminum foil core blocks oxygen transmission almost entirely, protects light sensitive actives from UV degradation, and prevents moisture vapor from entering or escaping the tube. For pharmaceutical actives, essential oils, and other formulas with sensitive chemistry, this barrier performance can be the difference between a product that holds its potency for two years and one that degrades within months.
Key Advantages
Beyond barrier protection, ABL tubes offer several practical advantages. Every tube can be fitted with a TESS (Tamper Evident Safety Seal) that shows customers the product has never been opened. Because the aluminum layer holds a crease, ABL tubes stay in whatever shape they are squeezed into rather than springing back, which many customers associate with a fuller, less used tube. Top Tubes also offers metallic and iridescent finish options on ABL tubes for brands that want shelf standout.
Industries We Serve
We supply ABL tube packaging to pharmaceutical companies, oral hygiene brands, cosmetic manufacturers, and food producers that need airtight, light blocking packaging. Common applications include prescription and OTC ointments, toothpaste, specialty creams, and condiments or pastes that require an oxygen barrier to maintain flavor and shelf life.
Decoration Options
ABL tubes can be decorated with offset printing, silk screen printing, hot stamping, and digital printing, and we offer matte, glossy, metallic, and iridescent finishes. Our team works with your artwork files to match Pantone colors and produce a proof before production begins.
MOQ, Lead Time and Shipping
Top Tubes’ MOQ for ABL tube packaging starts at 5,000 units per SKU, making it accessible for growing brands as well as established manufacturers. Standard lead time runs 10 to 12 weeks from art approval to completed production, and all orders ship FOB Los Angeles.
Quality and Compliance
Every ABL tube we produce is manufactured in an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility and is BPA free. Our Diamond Bar, California headquarters oversees quality control on every order, from raw material sourcing through final inspection before shipment.
See our laminate tube overview for how ABL compares to PBL, our tube packaging glossary for material definitions, or our FAQ for common ordering questions.
Ready to package your product in a tube built for maximum protection? Request a quote and our team will help you spec the right ABL tube for your formula.
Top Tubes | 1370 Valley Vista Dr #200, Diamond Bar, CA 91765