UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac is the pressure-sensitive label materials division of Finnish conglomerate UPM Kymmene, supplying self-adhesive paper and film label stock, proprietary adhesives, and sustainability-focused labeling solutions to printers, converters, and brand owners worldwide across food packaging, pharmaceuticals, wine and spirits, logistics, and industrial applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersHelsinki, Finland
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What UPM Raflatac does
UPM Raflatac, operating under UPM Adhesive Materials, is the pressure-sensitive label materials division of Finnish forest industry conglomerate UPM Kymmene, headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Founded in 1975, the company supplies self-adhesive label stock — paper and film face materials, proprietary adhesives, and release liners — to printers and converters worldwide, who transform these inputs into finished labels for brand owners in food packaging, pharmaceuticals, wine and spirits, logistics, industrial chemicals, and durables. The product portfolio is organized across a premium UPM Raflatac tier and a cost-competitive UPM Intercoat bulk tier, with application-specific adhesives (PharmaSure, Vetro, Endurance) and a sustainability portfolio anchored by Forest Film, Carbon Action, Ocean Action, RAFNXT+ (Carbon Trust verified), and the ForestGuard traceability system.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time B2B sales of label stock through direct sales engagement with enterprise accounts, supplemented by a self-service MyRaflatac portal and regional sheet merchants for graphics products. Marketing is conducted via industry events (e.g., Labelexpo Americas), content marketing (articles, case studies, newsletters), and online customer tools (product selector, efficiency calculator, digital printer recommendation tool). The company has pursued inorganic growth in the graphics solutions segment through the acquisitions of Grafityp (Belgium, 2024) and Metamark (UK, 2025), and supports a closed-loop sustainability ecosystem via the RafCycle liner recycling program and Label Life lifecycle assessment service. Operating geographies span EMEIA, Europe, North America, South America, and APAC, with sales of label stock to a global channel of printing and converting partners.
UPM Raflatac firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UPM Raflatac
- Legal name
- UPM Raflatac
- Website
- https://upmraflatac.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- UPM Raflatac is the pressure-sensitive label materials division of Finnish conglomerate UPM Kymmene, supplying self-adhesive paper and film label stock, proprietary adhesives, and sustainability-focused labeling solutions to printers, converters, and brand owners worldwide across food packaging, pharmaceuticals, wine and spirits, logistics, and industrial applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UPM Raflatac industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Self-Adhesive Label Materials
- NAICS
- Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)
- SIC
- Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Materials (labelstock, PSA labels, liners) (IMAMAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Label Stock, Inks, Coatings & Laminates (Materials Supply) (IMALAKAL)
Keywords
Where UPM Raflatac is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helsinki
- HQ country
- Finland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
UPM Raflatac business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Self-adhesive label material sales: UPM Raflatac generates revenue primarily through the sale of pressure-sensitive label stock — paper and film face materials combined with proprietary adhesives and release liners — to printers and converters worldwide. The business sells both premium UPM Raflatac products and cost-competitive UPM Intercoat bulk solutions across diverse end-use segments including food packaging, pharmaceuticals, wine and spirits, durable goods, logistics, and industrial chemicals.
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
UPM Raflatac product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UPM Raflatac manufactures and globally supplies pressure-sensitive self-adhesive label stock — combining paper or film face materials, proprietary adhesives, and release liners — to printers, converters, and brand owners. The portfolio spans two tiers: the premium UPM Raflatac™ line and the cost-competitive UPM Intercoat™ line, addressing food packaging, pharmaceutical, wine and spirits, logistics, durable goods, and industrial chemical end uses, with a strong sustainability-focused product line (ForestGuard, Carbon Action, Ocean Action, Forest Film, RAFNXT+) and recycling services (RafCycle, Label Life).
Product overview
UPM Raflatac, operating as UPM Adhesive Materials, is a leading global supplier of high-performance self-adhesive label stock. The company offers two main product lines: UPM Raflatac™ premium label materials delivering quality, performance, and sustainability innovation, and UPM Intercoat™ cost-competitive bulk solutions. Product portfolio spans paper labels (coated/uncoated, various finishes), film labels (PP, PE, PET, PVC), adhesives (permanent, removable, wash-off), direct thermal linerless labels, and sustainable label materials (PCR, wash-off, certified, linerless). Industry-specific solutions include ForestGuard traceability labels, PharmaSure pharmaceutical adhesives, Vetro wine/spirits adhesives, and Endurance industrial chemical adhesives. The company also provides sustainability services including Label Life and RafCycle liner recycling programs. Recent acquisitions include Grafityp (Belgium, 2024) and Metamark (UK, 2025) expanding graphics solutions capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- UPM Raflatac™: Premium label materials brand for quality, performance and sustainability innovation across end uses
- UPM Intercoat™
- UPM Vetro™
- PharmaSure
- Endurance
Products and services
- UPM Raflatac™ premium label materials Premium self-adhesive label stock line combining paper or film face materials with proprietary adhesives and release liners, engineered for quality, performance, and sustainability innovation across diverse end uses. Sold to printers and converters worldwide.
- UPM Intercoat™ cost-competitive label materials Cost-competitive bulk label material solutions providing dependable performance and supply reliability with cost efficiency, complementing the premium UPM Raflatac™ line.
- Paper labels Self-adhesive label materials with paper face stocks including coated and uncoated, gloss, matt and textured finishes, in white and colored papers, plus specialty papers.
- Film labels Film-based self-adhesive label materials including PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and PVC labels for durability and specialized end uses.
- Adhesives Pressure-sensitive adhesive formulations available as permanent, removable, and wash-off options for various end-use applications.
- Direct thermal linerless labels Direct thermal linerless label solutions including paper and film DT linerless labels and DT linerless wash-off labels for variable information printing applications.
- Sustainable label materials Sustainable self-adhesive label solutions including PCR (post-consumer recycled), wash-off, certified (e.g., FSC), and linerless labels for environmentally responsible packaging.
- PharmaSure adhesive Trademarked purpose-built adhesive solution engineered for pharmaceutical labeling, addressing stringent regulatory, performance, serialization, and track-and-trace requirements.
- UPM Vetro adhesive Trademarked purpose-built adhesive for wine and spirits labeling, engineered to resist wrinkling, edge lifting, and greying in humid cellars, chilled retail displays, and full ice-bucket immersion conditions.
- Endurance adhesive Trademarked purpose-built adhesive for oil and industrial chemical labeling applications, designed to withstand harsh environments and challenging surface conditions including chemical exposure.
- ForestGuard label system Labeling system combining FSC-certified label materials with cloud-based forest data that links physical labels (via QR code or data matrix) to verified forest information including region, certification, species mix, and carbon metrics for product traceability and Scope 3 emissions communication.
- Forest Film (100% wood-based) Trademarked 100% wood-based film label material providing a bio-based alternative to conventional fossil-derived film labels.
- Ocean Action labels Trademarked label solution incorporating ocean-bound plastic content to address marine plastic pollution and support circular economy goals.
- Carbon Action plastic labels Trademarked sustainable label materials designed to reduce carbon footprint as part of UPM Raflatac's sustainability portfolio.
- RAFNXT+ labels Trademarked Carbon Trust-verified label material with verified lower carbon footprint compared to standard products, enabling brand owners to communicate verified environmental performance.
- Label Life sustainability service Trademarked sustainability service tool that helps brand owners and converters make more sustainable label choices through lifecycle assessment and guidance.
- RafCycle Partner Program Trademarked partner program that enables converters to offer label release liner collection and recycling services, creating a closed-loop sustainability ecosystem for liner waste.
Quantifiable outcome
- RAFNXT+ verified by Carbon Trust to have a lower carbon footprint compared to standard label materials
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use UPM Raflatac
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
UPM Raflatac technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
UPM Raflatac partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- DenominationcoreDesign agency Denomination collaborated with UPM Raflatac to create premium wine and spirits labels featuring Australian-inspired storytelling with advanced embellishment techniques (3D embossing, microembossing, gold hot foil). The partnership demonstrated global material consistency across regional paper variants for EMEIA, South America, North America & Mexico, and APAC markets, showcasing UPM Raflatac's premium paper performance capabilities.
- JR Cole IndustriescoreJR Cole Industries is a leading narrow web flexo and digital printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, describing a relationship built on reliable substrates and genuine collaboration to navigate printing challenges and deliver products exceeding customer expectations.
- Lattice Labels LtdcoreLattice Labels Ltd describes its partnership with UPM Adhesive Materials as built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to quality — a relationship that continues to strengthen and support business growth.
- BlueStone LabelcoreBlueStone Label is a customer partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, valuing the reliable, high-quality label materials and exceptional support including help choosing the right material and troubleshooting issues.
- Abbott LabelcoreAbbott Label describes UPM as an outstanding partner consistently delivering excellent service and high-quality products, with reliability and commitment giving them confidence to meet their customers' needs every day.
- CoveriscoreCoveris is a leading label printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials for self-adhesive label production, featured in the company's industry partner showcase.
- AsteriacoreAsteria is a label printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, featured in the company's industry partner showcase for self-adhesive label solutions.
- All4LabelscoreAll4Labels is a global label printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, featured in the company's industry partner showcase representing international reach in the converting network.
- SatocoreSato is a label printing and technology partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, featured in the company's industry partner showcase.
- Prakolar SatocorePrakolar Sato is a Brazilian label printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, representing regional coverage in South America.
- HiscocoreHisco is a printing industry distribution partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, featured in the company's industry partner showcase.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
UPM Raflatac competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sappi: Global paper and packaging group with self-adhesive label face stock and release liner capabilities. Comparable as a paper-based materials supplier into the same label value chain, with broader pulp/paper exposure analogous to UPM Kymmene's role.
- 3M: Diversified industrial conglomerate with a meaningful specialty adhesives and tapes portfolio that overlaps with UPM Raflatac's PSA adhesive and label stock technologies. Competes in industrial/automotive label and tape end markets rather than branded consumer label printing.
- Henkel: Global adhesives powerhouse whose Adhesive Technologies division competes with UPM Raflatac's pressure-sensitive adhesive formulations (PharmaSure, Vetro, Endurance). Overlap is strongest in industrial and packaging adhesive supply rather than finished label stock.
- Multi-Color Corporation: Global label converter serving premium spirits, food, and consumer brands, comparable to UPM Raflatac's converter customers. Recently acquired by Platinum Equity; provides perspective on the consolidated converter end of the label stock market.
Direct peers
- Avery Dennison: The global #1 pressure-sensitive label stock manufacturer, directly competing with UPM Raflatac across food, beverage, pharma, and industrial label materials. Identified alongside UPM Raflatac as one of three global label market leaders in multiple market reports.
- CCL Industries: The world's largest specialty label company, offering pressure-sensitive and specialty labels across healthcare, consumer, and industrial end markets. Directly comparable to UPM Raflatac in label stock and finished label solutions across all primary verticals.
- Lintec Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of pressure-sensitive adhesive papers and films, specialty papers, and label materials. A direct peer in PSA label stock with comparable product breadth and global footprint, particularly strong in APAC.
- Coveris: Major European self-adhesive label converter and packaging solutions provider, listed as both a customer partner and a competitive converter. Provides perspective on the converter side of the value chain that UPM Raflatac supplies into.
- All4Labels: One of the world's largest label converters, featured as a UPM Raflatac channel partner. Provides scale comparison on the converter side and insight into the global converting network that consumes UPM Raflatac's label stock.
- Asteria Group: European self-adhesive label converter featured as a UPM Raflatac customer partner. Provides regional (European) converter perspective and insight into mid-market label converting demand dynamics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UPM Raflatac social profiles
Digital presenceUPM Raflatac financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UPM Raflatac leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
UPM Raflatac subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
UPM Raflatac funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UPM Raflatac M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UPM Raflatac
What does UPM Raflatac do?
UPM Raflatac manufactures and globally supplies pressure-sensitive self-adhesive label stock — combining paper or film face materials, proprietary adhesives, and release liners — to printers, converters, and brand owners. The portfolio spans two tiers: the premium UPM Raflatac™ line and the cost-competitive UPM Intercoat™ line, addressing food packaging, pharmaceutical, wine and spirits, logistics, durable goods, and industrial chemical end uses, with a strong sustainability-focused product line (ForestGuard, Carbon Action, Ocean Action, Forest Film, RAFNXT+) and recycling services (RafCycle, Label Life).
Is UPM Raflatac a public or private company?
UPM Raflatac is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was UPM Raflatac founded?
UPM Raflatac was founded in 1975. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is UPM Raflatac based?
UPM Raflatac is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, in the Europe region.
How does UPM Raflatac make money?
One revenue line is on record: self-adhesive label material sales.
Who are UPM Raflatac's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sappi, 3M, Henkel and Multi-Color Corporation. Direct peers are Avery Dennison, CCL Industries, Lintec Corporation, Coveris, All4Labels and Asteria Group.
Does UPM Raflatac have an API?
No public API is recorded for UPM Raflatac.
What industry is UPM Raflatac in?
UPM Raflatac's product category is Self-Adhesive Label Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAHAE, Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Materials (labelstock, PSA labels, liners), with a secondary code of IMALAKAL, Label Stock, Inks, Coatings & Laminates (Materials Supply). Its NAICS code is 326112 and its SIC code is 3081.