Film lamination

Film lamination is the full-surface coating of a wafer-thin film to a substrate, such as paper, cardboard, self-adhesive film or rigid plastic films.

Colloquially, in Austria the term "Cellophanierung", i.e. cellophaning is also often used for film lamination.

The plastic coating creates a composite material with new technical properties.

Technical advantages of film lamination

Film lamination is often intended to extend the life of a printed product, such as books. Film lamination protects the printed surface against moisture, dirt and abrasion.

Transparent laminating films are so crystal clear that they are not even noticeable as film when viewed. They are available in high glossmatt standard, matt scratch-resistant and the velvety soft, almost rubbery matt soft-touch.

Many laminating films also bring increased tear resistance to the material compound and thus support further processing like bookbinding, transport and use.

barrier effect against grease or moisture in food packaging may also be desired. Most of our laminating films are therefore certified as safe for foodstuffs according to FDA and EU standards.

In addition, window lamination with a viewing window into the interior of the packaging is also possible in this area.

Although film lamination is basically full-surface, under certain conditions we can also leave the glue flaps of folding boxes uncoated, by means of cut-out lamination or strip lamination. In parallel, there is also the possibility of using special glueable laminating films.

Decorative added value with laminating films

In addition to the technical improvements, decorative requirements can be added, for example in the case of colored films, metallized laminating films or laminating films with tactile textured surfaces.

Metallized lamination foils are available in gold matt or glossy, silver matt or glossy, aluminum brushed silver, hologram effects and metallic chromatic colors such as copper or red.

Overprinting silver cardboard

Full-surface metallic foil laminations can also be easily overprinted. With thin ink application, the metal shines through the inks. Spot matt-gloss effects with UV coating can also be used to create very attractive designs on silver and gold.

Tactile surface structures

Laminating films with tactile surface textures include linen texturesand grainbrushed texture with linear orientation, and leather texture.

Sustainability & Environment

There is also increasing demand for biodegradable, compostable films. We also have these in matt and gloss in our range. These films are made from renewable raw materials such as wood cellulose or corn starch. However, their significantly lower tear strength must be taken into account here.

In the course of the increasing discussion on the subject of plastics, we are more and more being asked about the environmental aspect of film lamination. Our opinion: Film lamination is justified if it is indispensable for a technical solution or if it extends the life of a product and thus makes sense in the overall ecobalance. Most lamination films, with material thicknesses between only 0.012 - 0.03 mm, are also only a small part of the printed product. Based on these considerations, film laminations are even partially approved by the Austrian Eco-label . However, please do not film laminate disposable products, such as short-term advertising flyers.

Film laminating sizes & thicknesses

We foil laminate for you from a minimum sheet size of 220x220mm to 1,020x1,420mm and on paper grammages from around 100 to approx. 450g/m².

We can also laminate materials up to 35mm thick, although only semi-automatically and slowly, but in infeed widths of up to 1,600mm and lengths of around 3,000mm.

Materials for laminating films

We mainly process PP (polypropylene) and PET. Both are food safe and groundwater neutral. In the area of biodegradable films, made from renewable raw materials, we offer acetate, i.e. films based on wood cellulose, as laminating films.

Quality control of a foil with hologram effect Machine operator on a large-format film laminating machine