Label Insights

‘Performance Meets Precision’ with Mactac’s film labels

Kim Hensley and Ryan Pavlik discuss Mactac's cutting-edge film solutions with L&NW.

December 9, 2025

Editor

The demand for filmic label solutions has grown exponentially in recent years. With brands demanding optimum performance and enhanced sustainability, suppliers have been tasked with engineering new products to meet demand for the utmost brand performance. Mactac has invested significantly in developing the newest films on the market.

To learn more about Mactac’s cutting-edge film solutions, L&NW sat down with Kim Hensley, Senior Marketing Manager for Roll Label Prime Films, and Ryan Pavlik, Technical Applications Scientist.

L&NW: What operational capabilities give Mactac’s prime film label business a competitive edge?

KH: Mactac’s integrated North American manufacturing and distribution footprint is 50% larger than it was just a few years ago. We have grown and expanded with four industry-advancing acquisitions. In 2021, we acquired Duramark Products, formally Ritrama USA, making Mactac one of the largest, most diversified pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) suppliers in North America.

In 2022, we acquired Spinnaker Coating, LLC, creating a one-of-a-kind, world-class specialty labeling company. Then in 2023, we acquired Label Supply, adding capacity, specialty service capability, and talented employees in a geography where we identified a need and opportunity for growth.

We also have more advanced technologies, tools, and resources, as well as new state-of-the-art assets to provide overall manufacturing consistency, efficiency, and capacity redundancy.

Mactac is a hot-melt formulator, and our adhesives stand out and are industry leading. We have unique and proprietary solutions, as well as the most robust adhesives portfolio. We also offer a proprietary topcoat on our white, clear and chrome polypropylene film products. This robust top-coating has excellent print performance with water-based flexo, UV flexo, and digital printing technologies.

Mactac also delivers a vertically integrated metallization for chrome BOPP that gives us a competitive advantage, as none of our competitors do this. This high-end metallic appearance differentiates brands without the additional costs associated with foil stamping or metallic printing inks.

We provide inline silicone coating for paper and PET, unique film coating and finishing assets, and technical expertise to solve the most challenging problems in our industry.

L&NW: What is an example of a recent production challenge Mactac solved that demonstrates the team’s technical agility and problem-solving expertise?

RP: We recently had a die-cutting challenge at a customer plant, where the labels were offsetting onto the liner after being die cut. The die cut was not all the way to the liner, which caused adhesive to loop onto the face. When the rolls went to rewind, the adhesive that looped onto the face caused the labels to offset to the liner. The lesson: with hotmelt adhesive, the die cut needs to go to the liner. There should be a noticeable die strike in the liner for the labels to properly dispense.

Mactac has the technical expertise to look closely at die cuts. We use a Keyence microscope with 500X magnification to look at the die cuts to ensure accuracy in the cuts.

L&NW: When it comes to adhesives, what differentiates Mactac’s formulations from others in the market, especially for demanding or specialty prime film applications?

KH: Mactac is an innovator of adhesives. Our hotmelt adhesives are expertly formulated in-house and deliver:

High initial tack and secure adhesion
Great surface grip, especially on difficult or textured substrates and cold, wet, or oily surface
Adherence to low surface energy surfaces (HDPE, LDPE)
Superior performance across a wide range of service temperatures – from -65º F to +150 º F
Enhanced sustainability

Our hot-melt adhesives are industry renown. Customers look to our adhesives for trusted, reliable label solutions. They know labels with Mactac adhesives will stay put.

L&NW: What unique customer problems is Mactac helping solve with its current adhesive and film constructions, and how does the technical team support this?

RP: As an example, if a consumer buys a product from the refrigerated section of the grocery store and it is hot and humid outside, what happens? The label starts coming off before you even get the product home. And what is the reflection on the brand? The perception is of poor quality or a bad product, which hurts the image of the brand.

That is where CHILL AT comes in. CHILL AT is an all temperature hotmelt adhesive, designed for refrigerated and frozen food packaging, but it works just as well in a variety of other applications, including household cleaners and personal care products. It provides a quick, strong bond, even to cold, wet surfaces and low-energy substrates. It is also ideal for PP that might be pebbled, wet and hard to stick to.

CHILL AT delivers exceptional performance — protecting brand packaging and offering an edge in a competitive marketplace that customers can only get from Mactac.

CHILL AT is also sustainable. With sustainability requirements in place for 2030, customers are moving toward more sustainable options. Plus, CHILL AT is FDA approved for direct food contact.

L&NW: What areas of innovation is the team most excited about right now, be it materials, performance, sustainability, or something else?

KH: Environmentally friendly packaging has become the No. 1 trend. It has enormous potential to add value to products, shape a brand’s image, and develop customer loyalty.

For brand owners contending for leading market positions, sustainability and environmental responsibility have become a necessity. APR recognition on our hotmelt CHILL AT and CHILL AT FDA are key features. During the recycling process, clear and white polypropylene films with CHILL AT adhesive stay with the container without impacting the recycling process. The product works with HDPE, PP and PE Flexible.

In the future, Mactac is working on new films with strength and stiffness comparable to paper, while also allowing for full recyclability of container and elimination of film overlaminate. Stay tuned!