Plastic lotion pumps are one of the most popular dispensing methods for viscous (thick liquid) products in the personal care and beauty industries, and they come in various shapes and sizes. When used as designed, the pump dispenses the correct amount of product again and again. But do you want to know what function in the lotion pump makes it work? Although there are hundreds of different designs on the market today, the basic principles are the same.

　　Generally speaking, a lotion pump consists of the following components:

　　Actuator: The actuator or pump head is a tool that the consumer presses to pull the product out of the container. The actuator is usually made of PP plastic and can have many different designs-and often has a lock or lock function to prevent accidental output. This is one of the component designs that can separate one pump from another in terms of appearance design, and it is also a part where ergonomics plays a role in improving consumer satisfaction.

　　Bottle cap: The component that screw the entire assembly to the neck of the bottle. It is identified by common neck dressing destinations, such as 28-410, 33-400. Usually made of PP plastic, usually designed as ribbed or smooth sides. In some cases, a shiny metal casing can be installed to give the lotion pump a high-end, elegant appearance.

　　External gasket: The gasket is usually fixed on the inside of the bottle cap by friction fit, and acts as a barrier to the gasket on the joint area of ​​the bottle to prevent product leakage. According to the manufacturer's design, the outer gasket can be made of a variety of materials: rubber and LDPE are just two of the many possible options.

　　Housing: Sometimes referred to as the housing of the pump assembly, this component holds all pump components in place and serves as a delivery cavity that sends the product from the dip tube to the actuator and ultimately to the user's hand. This part is usually made of PP plastic. Depending on the output and design of the lotion pump, the size of the housing may vary greatly. Please note that if you pair the pump with a glass bottle, because the side wall of the glass bottle is thick, the width of the bottle mouth may not be large enough to accommodate the casing-be sure to check its installation and function first.

　　Stem/piston/spring/ball (internal parts inside the housing): These are parts that vary according to the design of the lotion pump. Some may even have additional components to assist the flow of the product, and some designs may even have additional housing components that separate the metal spring from the product channel. These pumps are often referred to as having a "metal-free channel" function, and the product will not interact with the product. Metal spring contact-eliminates potential compatibility issues with metal springs.

　　Immersion tube: a long plastic tube made of PP plastic, which extends the range of action of the emulsion pump to the bottom of the bottle. Depending on the bottle paired with the pump, the length of the dip tube will vary. You can learn about a three-step immersion tube measurement method here. A correctly cut dip tube will maximize product use and prevent clogging.