What Chicago Laminating does

Chicago Laminating, Inc. is a privately held B2B print-finishing service provider founded in 1987 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The company operates a single production facility on a two-shift normal schedule with 24-hour availability when required, serving regional printers and adjacent end users in the Midwest United States. Its core offering is post-press finishing — film lamination (polyester, polypropylene, and nylon variants), UV coating (flood, spot, and graphic spot), pressure sensitive lamination, sealed edge encapsulation, screen printing, and bindery services such as cutting, round cornering, drilling, and hand assembly. Capabilities span substrates from 60# litho through ½-inch rigid acrylic using thermal or pressure-sensitive processes.

The company's product line is anchored by the Biolam™ antimicrobial lamination film, launched in 2023, which uses Silver Ion Technology to inhibit bacteria, molds, mildews and fungi on laminated documents and is positioned for medical, food-service, and educational end-use environments. Pricing is quote-based, determined by sheet size, quantity, paper type and weight, film type and thickness, coating coverage, and edge detail, with antimicrobial film priced at a premium to standard films. The go-to-market is sales-led and direct: customers request quotes via the company website, phone, or email, with no public pricing and no intermediary distribution channels.

Chicago Laminating is member of three printing industry trade associations — Great Lakes Graphics Association, Foil & Specialty Effects Association, and Printing United Alliance — and self-describes as the "#1 choice of regional printers." No funding rounds, parent company, executive team disclosures, or financial filings are present in the available data.

Name

Chicago Laminating

Legal name

Chicago Laminating, Inc.

Website

https://chicagolam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago Laminating is a privately held, Midwest U.S. print-finishing service provider (founded 1987) offering film lamination, UV coating, pressure sensitive and sealed edge lamination, screen printing, and bindery services to regional printers, with the Biolam antimicrobial film line extending into medical, food-service, and educational end uses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Print Finishing Services

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Commercial Screen Printing (323113), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Paper Finishing & Coating Services (Calendering, Coating, Supercalendering) (IMAMAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multilayer Laminates & Composite Structures (Solvent/Water/Extrusion Laminated) (IMALABAD), Plastic Films & Laminated Packaging Structures Manufacturing (IMANAEAD), Paperboard Laminating & Coating (Extrusion/Film/Metallized) (IMAMAFAL), Bindery & Finishing Services (Binding, Laminating, Cutting, Folding, Collating) (EDAEAJAE)

Keywords

• Film lamination services
• UV coating services
• Pressure sensitive lamination
• Print finishing services
• Antimicrobial lamination films

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Film Lamination Services: Provides film lamination services including polyester, polypropylene, nylon, and specialty films applied to customer-supplied printed sheets. Revenue is generated through service fees based on sheet specifications, film type, thickness, and finishing requirements.
2. UV Coating Services: UV coating services applied to printed sheets for gloss and protection. Includes overall flood coat, spot coating, and graphic spot coating options. Pricing based on coverage area and sheet size.
3. Screen Printing Services: Screen printing services using specialty coatings and inks for enhancing printed materials. Applied through mesh screen technique for vibrant colors and precise details.
4. Pressure Sensitive Lamination: Pressure sensitive lamination with peel-off release liner for displays, decals, identification labels, and other applications. Available in various tack strengths.
5. Sealed Edge Lamination: Encapsulation process sandwiching printed materials between two layers of clear plastic film for protection against water, dirt, UV rays, and wear. Used for ID cards, menus, maps, instruction manuals, and outdoor signage.
6. Bindery Services: Cutting, round cornering, drilling, and hand assembly operations for print finishing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Chicago Laminating provides post-press finishing services for the printing industry, applying film lamination (polypropylene, polyester, nylon), UV coating, pressure sensitive lamination, and sealed edge encapsulation to customer-supplied printed sheets. It also offers screen printing and bindery operations (cutting, round cornering, drilling, hand assembly) and the Biolam™ antimicrobial lamination film utilizing Silver Ion Technology. Services are priced via custom quotes based on sheet size, quantity, substrate, film type, thickness, and coating requirements.

Product overview

Chicago Laminating is a print finishing service provider established in 1987, offering a comprehensive portfolio of lamination and coating services for the printing industry. The core product lineup includes Film Lamination (available in Polypropylene, Polyester, and Nylon variants), UV Coating (offered as flood coat, spot coating, and graphic spot coating), Pressure Sensitive Lamination, and Sealed Edge Lamination. The company also provides specialty Antimicrobial Film branded as Biolam™, utilizing Silver Ion Technology for protection against microorganisms. Supporting services include Screen Printing and Bindery operations. The company serves various industries from 60# litho to ½" rigid acrylic substrates, positioning itself as a one-stop solution for print finishing needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Biolam: Antimicrobial film product utilizing Silver Ion Technology that protects against growth of bacteria, molds, mildews and fungi on laminated documents.

Products and services

• Film Lamination Physical bonding of plastic-based film to press sheets through adhesives, heat, and pressure. Available in polypropylene (economical, foldable, moisture barrier), polyester (hardest, abrasion/chemical resistant), and nylon (curl-resistant for one-sided applications such as dust jackets and annual reports). Used by commercial printers and print shops across the Midwest.
• UV Coating Liquid coating applied by roller and bonded through UV curing lamps, offering appearance and durability approaching film lamination at lower cost. Available as overall flood coat, spot coating, and graphic spot coating for commercial printers.
• Pressure Sensitive Lamination Pressure sensitive film with peel-off release liner applied to the back of press sheets, available in various tack strengths. Ideal for displays, decals, clock faces, and identification labels.
• Sealed Edge Lamination Encapsulation process sandwiching printed materials between two layers of clear plastic film, creating a smooth glossy finish with protection against water, dirt, UV rays, and wear. Used for ID cards, menus, maps, instruction manuals, posters, and outdoor signage.
• Antimicrobial Film (Biolam™) Lamination film enhanced with antimicrobial protection using Silver Ion Technology that prevents the growth of bacteria, molds, mildews, and fungi on laminated documents. Targeted at medical and scientific settings, restaurants and food service, schools, and day care facilities.
• Screen Printing Printing technique using mesh screen to transfer ink or coating onto substrates, also known as silk screening or serigraphy. Used for marketing materials, signage, and promotional items with specialty coatings.
• Bindery Services Finishing operations including cutting, round cornering, drilling, and hand assembly for print finishing projects.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA)minorOthersTrade association representing the printing industry in the Great Lakes region. GLGA celebrated its 135 year anniversary in 2021 and is the oldest print trade association in North America, representing approximately 13% of total print market in the US with combined annual shipments of nearly $19 billion in its three-state region.
• Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA)minorOthersIndustry association serving as a resource and educational platform for decorating technologies including foil stamping, embossing, cold foil technologies, specialty coatings, laminates and laser cutting. Founded in 1992.
• Printing United AllianceminorOthersTrade association built by and for printers and professionals in industrial, graphic, garment, textile, electronics, packaging and commercial printing markets. Provides connections, resources, content and education for industry growth.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• ACCO Brands (GBC): ACCO Brands owns the GBC laminating equipment and film brand, serving both retail and commercial print finishing markets — a much larger incumbent in the broader lamination space.
• 3M: 3M manufactures a wide range of laminating and protective films including antimicrobial-coated films using silver-ion technology, directly competing with Chicago Laminating's Biolam product line at the materials level.
• Henkel (Loctite): Henkel, via its Loctite and industrial adhesives portfolio, supplies laminating adhesives and related specialty chemicals used in commercial film lamination — relevant adjacent incumbent in lamination supply chain.

Direct peers

• D&K Group: D&K Group manufactures lamination films and equipment and provides contract lamination services — a direct competitor in film lamination services to commercial printers, with overlapping product lines.
• Transilwrap: Transilwrap is a converter and distributor of lamination films, pressure-sensitive adhesives, and printable substrates — overlapping with Chicago Laminating's film and pressure-sensitive product categories.
• Drytac: Drytac manufactures pressure-sensitive lamination films, mounting adhesives, and print finishing materials — directly comparable product portfolio to Chicago Laminating's film and pressure-sensitive offerings.
• Dunmore: Dunmore is a converter and coater of specialty films, including laminated structures for industrial and graphics applications — comparable converting/laminating capabilities to Chicago Laminating.
• FLEXcon: FLEXcon manufactures pressure-sensitive films and laminates for graphics, industrial, and print applications — direct overlap with Chicago Laminating's pressure-sensitive lamination and surface film offerings.

Emerging players

• Presto Tape / Presto Lamination: Presto offers consumer and small-business lamination films and pouches with antimicrobial options — overlaps with Chicago Laminating's antimicrobial product direction, though oriented toward smaller-format users.

Regional players

• Tape Express / Lamination Depot: Regional and online retailers of lamination films and equipment serving small print shops — overlapping customer segment with Chicago Laminating but without the contract service model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-laminating-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Laminating