UPM Raflatac opens Illinois labelstock manufacturing facility

Raflatac has opened a new North American pressure sensitive labelstock manufacturing facility in Dixon, Illinois, approximately 100 miles west of Chicago. The new USD 100 million (EUR 70 million) facility will offer UPM Raflatac's full product range of paper and film label products and features the company's latest proprietary technical solutions in both the coating and finishing areas.

‘Our mission is to continuously develop our product offerings and service concepts and provide substantial value to our label printer customers. The Dixon factory is one of the key strategic investments we have made to increase our capabilities and build capacity in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region,’ said Heikki Pikkarainen, president of UPM Raflatac. ‘With the new facility we're further enhancing our service capabilities to remain our partners' number one choice in the important North American market.’

‘We’re excited to bring our new processes, new technology and new people to the Midwest market,’ said Jouko Lhepelto, senior vice president, Americas.

‘The new Dixon factory will significantly enhance our capabilities to serve this marketplace and to further develop our business here.’

UPM Raflatac has been present in North America since the company began sales and slitting operations in Fletcher, North Carolina in 1985 – until 2001, when the company began production operations at its first North American manufacturing facility in Fletcher, North Carolina. The company further strengthened its North American product and service network by opening slitting and distribution terminals in Ontario, California and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 2001 and 2004 respectively. In 2005, UPM Raflatac opened its first US RFID tag and inlay production facility in Fletcher.

UPM has invested significantly in the global expansion of its self-adhesive label materials business in the past years. This new factory is an essential part of a nearly USD 270 million (EUR 200 million) worldwide investment program.