UPM Raflatac takes linerless labeling to new heights with OptiCut™

UPM Raflatac aims to take the labeling industry to new heights with the company’s newly developed UPM Raflatac Linerless OptiCut™ solution. The in-house developed adhesive technology used in OptiCut is available for each of the primary direct thermal linerless end-use environments – from retailing and logistics, to quick service and takeaway restaurants.

OptiCut is the latest example in UPM Raflatac’s portfolio of benchmark-setting labeling innovations and product development. It prevents paper jamming and provides excellent adhesion with minimal adhesive build-up in a wide variety of applications: from rough surfaces to sub-zero temperatures.

OptiCut minimizes service time and offers customers a linerless product with maximum uptime of printer applicators, fewer reel changes, and a crisp barcode on the package.

“We have developed OptiCut in collaboration with our partners across the value chain. Our innovative and sustainable solution is the optimal choice when you are looking for clean cutting performance on the printer combined with excellent adhesion on the package,” says Mauri Suomela, Senior Vice President, Paper Laminates, UPM Raflatac.

Direct Thermal (DT) linerless labeling is an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional label stock as it brings up to a 40 percent reduction in material usage. Driven by sustainability trends and the need for increased efficiency, linerless has quickly gained ground alongside traditional labeling technologies. Boosted by growing demand in end-uses such as grocery labeling, logistics and quick service restaurants, the DT linerless market has seen approximately 15 percent year-on-year growth in recent years.

To strengthen its position in the fast-growing linerless labelstock market, UPM Raflatac is scaling up its production capacity and building a new production line in Nowa Wies, Poland. The 13 MEUR investment includes a new linerless coating line and increased slitting and packing capacity, thereby increasing the company’s DT linerless annual production capacity by 100 million m2. The new production line is expected to be operational at the end of 2021.