UPM Raflatac adds labelstock for prepacked foods

Part of the supplier’s Fit product range in the European market, Thermal Top Food Fit PEFC meets standard quality requirements for direct thermal printing, which means excellent print results and reliable scanning. It retains good strength to ensure reliable conversion and stable matrix stripping. It is suitable for vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging.

Compared to previous-generation products, Thermal Top Food Fit PEFC with RH9X adhesive and HG45 backing is thinner, allowing the use of longer reels, which translates to less reel changes, less downtime and increased efficiency, UPM Raflatac stated. RH9X adhesive has ‘exceptional’ adhesion performance on MAP and vacuum packaging surfaces, and helps labels remain in an optimum condition in cold, moist environments such as cold-chain delivery vehicles or in-store refrigeration cabinets.

Thinner face and backing materials also mean reduced raw material usage and label waste, lowering environmental impact over the product's life cycle. The HG45 backing is made of PEFC-certified wood raw material, originating from sustainably managed forests.

Jon Lenck, VIP and Prime business segment director at UPM Raflatac EMEIA, explained: ‘HG45 PEFC is thinner than the standard HG65 with excellent performance for conversion and end use. As well as reducing liner waste volumes and disposal costs, this also means a lower environmental impact over the whole lifecycle in terms of water and energy usage, as well as carbon dioxide emissions.’