UPM Raflatac

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.

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

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

• Self-adhesive label materials
• Pressure-sensitive labels
• Label stock supplier
• Adhesive label solutions
• Sustainable label materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DenominationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Design 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 IndustriescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJR 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 LtdcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLattice 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 LabelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlueStone 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 LabelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAbbott 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.
• CoveriscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoveris is a leading label printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials for self-adhesive label production, featured in the company's industry partner showcase.
• AsteriacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAsteria is a label printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, featured in the company's industry partner showcase for self-adhesive label solutions.
• All4LabelscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAll4Labels 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.
• SatocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSato is a label printing and technology partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, featured in the company's industry partner showcase.
• Prakolar SatocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrakolar Sato is a Brazilian label printing partner of UPM Adhesive Materials, representing regional coverage in South America.
• HiscocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHisco 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/UPMGlobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upm-raflatac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UPM Raflatac