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Film thickness

The film thickness, also known as film thickness, is measured in micrometres (µm) and, depending on the application, is a decisive factor for film stability, product protection and printing and finishing options. Films are used in various areas such as logistics, packaging production and construction. Depending on the application, films have special properties such as:

  • Colour (white, transparent, natural look, opaque),
  • Haptic properties (matt, glossy, soft-touch),
  • Stability / Tear resistance,
  • Barrier (OTR / WVTR / MOH / UV radiation),
  • Recyclability.

Another important factor is the thickness of the film. This is divided into three simplified categories, as is customary in the industry: thin film, medium-thickness film and thick film. The following table shows the corresponding classification for each category:

Up to 25 µm Thin film e.g. cling film
25 – 100 µm Medium-strength film e.g. bar packaging
Ab 100 µm Strong film e.g. large coffee packaging

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Lasse Harder

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