Chilled or frozen packs
- Face stock
- PP or PE film, frozen-grade BOPP
- Adhesive
- Freezer / sub-zero
- Finish
- Gloss or matt laminate
Label materials & finishes
Engineered substrates and finishes for every surface.
Materials & finishes
Specified together, not chosen in isolation.
Start with the right paper, film or specialty stock, then choose the finish and adhesive your container and environment demand. QTEK supplies the materials and applies the embellishments in-house.
Material certifications are held by our suppliers and applied according to the job. QTEK selects the appropriate material and adhesive combination for your application.
- 3 substrate groupsPaper, plastic film, functional specialty
- 5 finish familiesLamination, foiling, embossing, varnish, technical
- Supplier-certifiedWhere the application requires it
01 · Materials
Materials & substrates
Whether you need high-visibility retail branding, cryogenic durability or a technical security film, QTEK supplies an extensive portfolio of paper, film and specialty stocks — paired with the adhesive your surface demands.
Paper substrates5 options
Cost-effective, high-print-fidelity options for prime packaging, retail and logistics.
- Machine coated paper (semi gloss & special grades) — the industry standard for vibrant FMCG and food packaging labels. Available with removable, high-tack (HiTac), silver-back and tag-stock options.
- Cast coated paper — an ultra-smooth, mirror-like gloss finish for high-end cosmetic and promotional labels.
- Uncoated & fluorescent papers — woodfree stocks plus high-visibility fluorescent green, yellow, red, orange and pink papers for warning tags, colour-coding and retail promotions.
- Thermal papers — high-sensitivity direct thermal and thermal transfer rolls for crisp, smudge-proof scanning at POS and in logistics.
- Specialty paper stocks — holographic and metallised silver papers for an eye-catching, reflective metallic edge.
Plastic & film substrates5 options
Durable, tear-resistant and weatherproof solutions built for demanding environments.
- Polyethylene (PE) films — flexible clear and white films that conform to squeeze bottles and deformable containers.
- Polypropylene (PP) films — clear, white, silver, frozen-grade or removable BOPP films with crystal-clear transparency or brilliant opacity and superior moisture resistance.
- Polyester (PET) films — heavy-duty clear, white, grey, silver matt and silver gloss films with exceptional resistance to tearing, high temperatures and harsh chemicals.
- Advanced security & void films — blue, white and non-transferrable void polyester films for tamper-evident warranty seals and asset protection.
- Synthetic papers — tear-proof synthetic stocks, including thick release variants and synthetic tags, combining paper printability with plastic durability.
Functional & specialty films2 options
Specialty face stocks for tamper evidence and security.
- Foamtac — a foam-based, tamper-evident face stock for security seals and asset protection.
- Self-destructive & ultra-destructive vinyls — engineered to fracture instantly on tampering, making unauthorised removal evident.
Adhesives5 options
The face stock and adhesive are specified together. The right combination depends on the container material, surface energy, temperature, moisture, oil and chemical exposure, and whether the label must stay permanent or peel cleanly.
- Permanent — general-purpose bonding for paper and film labels on glass, PET, HDPE and metal.
- Removable — clean removal for promotions, short-life labels, reclosure and retail applications.
- HiTac (high-tack) — maximum chemical adhesion on hard-to-stick, low-surface-energy (LSE) materials.
- Freezer / sub-zero — stays bonded through chilled and frozen storage and application.
- Oil- and chemical-resistant — for lubricant, chemical and industrial containers exposed to oils, solvents or harsh cleaning.
Material certifications are held by the material suppliers and applied according to the job. QTEK specifies the face stock, adhesive and finish for your container and environment.
02 · Finishes
Special finishes, coatings & advanced specialities
Beyond standard printing, QTEK offers a comprehensive suite of high-end embellishments, protective coatings and technical printing capabilities designed to make packaging stand out while withstanding demanding environments.
Gloss
Matt
Foil
Spot UV
Premium lamination & protective finishes2 options
Protect label graphics while tailoring the tactile and visual experience of the packaging.
- Gloss lamination — a high-shine transparent film that intensifies colour, deepens contrast and shields against moisture, oils and scuffing. Ideal for retail, FMCG and beverage bottles.
- Matt lamination — a glare-free, velvety finish that communicates understated luxury. Suited to premium cosmetics, speciality food and high-end retail packaging.
Luxury & special foiling3 options
Capture attention with metallic highlights and multi-dimensional visual effects.
- Gold & silver foiling — a classic metallic sheen for logos, borders and key text, used on luxury goods, spirits and gifting lines.
- Special colour foiling — metallic and pigmented foils including rose gold, copper, holographic, blue, red and green, matched to the brand palette.
- Printing over foiling (overprinting) — specialised inks printed directly over metallic foil create iridescent, translucent and multi-toned effects that shift in the light, adding visual complexity and anti-counterfeiting value.
Dimensional embossing1 option
Add a physical dimension that consumers can feel instantly.
- Embossing — raises brand crests, typography or borders above the label surface using precision-engineered metal dies, creating a tactile, high-end interaction on shelf.
Advanced varnish coatings5 options
Protect, enhance and texture labels with inline and offline varnish applications.
- Gloss & matt varnish — cost-effective clear coats that seal the ink, prevent smudging and provide a polished sheen or smooth non-reflective finish.
- Full varnish — an unbroken protective layer across the entire label face for maximum resistance to wear, friction and moisture.
- Spot UV varnish — a high-gloss, crystal-clear coating on targeted areas such as a logo or graphic accent, contrasted against a matte background.
- Drip-off varnish — a chemical reaction between gloss and matte coatings on a single press pass creates dual-texture contrast without offline tooling.
- Ductile varnish — a high-elasticity coating that stays flexible without cracking or flaking, ideal for squeeze tubes and labels wrapped around narrow or curved containers.
Technical specialities & variable data4 options
Engineered for functional performance, traceability and unconventional applications.
- Gum side (reverse) printing — mirror-image graphics or text printed on the adhesive side of transparent face stocks for clear window decals, see-through bottles or hidden security notices.
- Sequential numbering — batch control, asset tracking and promotional ticketing.
- Barcodes (1D) — high-contrast linear barcodes for warehouse and retail POS scanning.
- QR codes (2D) — static or dynamic codes linking packaging to digital experiences, loyalty programmes or compliance portals.
Finishes are specified per label and container. Share your artwork, substrate and application and we will confirm the right combination before production.
03 · Specification
Choosing the right combination
Finding the correct face stock and adhesive pairing for low-surface-energy plastics, oily metals or sub-zero environments requires technical precision. Start with these four questions.
1. Container & surface
Glass, PET, HDPE, metal or a low-surface-energy plastic? The surface decides the adhesive.
2. Environment
Chilled, frozen, hot-filled, wet, oily or chemical-exposed? The environment decides the face stock and laminate.
3. Removal & security
Permanent, cleanly removable, void-evident or destructible? The removal requirement decides the construction.
4. Shelf & finish
Gloss, matt, foil, emboss or spot UV? The finish should support the brand position and the budget.
Request a finish & material sample pack Talk to a specialist
04 · Starting points
Typical starting points
A quick reference for common containers and environments, combining the substrate, adhesive and finish. These are starting points, not fixed specifications.
Squeeze bottles and tubes
- Face stock
- PE film
- Adhesive
- Permanent flexible
- Finish
- Ductile varnish
Oily metal and industrial parts
- Face stock
- PET or synthetic paper
- Adhesive
- HiTac
- Finish
- Matt laminate
Chemical drums and containers
- Face stock
- PET or synthetic film
- Adhesive
- HiTac / chemical-resistant
- Finish
- Matt laminate
Tamper-evident seals
- Face stock
- Void or destructible film; Foamtac
- Adhesive
- Permanent
- Finish
- No overlaminate or spot UV
Retail promotions
- Face stock
- Paper or fluorescent paper
- Adhesive
- Removable
- Finish
- Gloss varnish
Premium cosmetics
- Face stock
- Cast coated paper or clear PP
- Adhesive
- Permanent
- Finish
- Foil, emboss or spot UV
Typical starting points only. The final construction is confirmed against your container, application and testing requirements.
05 · Questions
Materials & finishes questions
Which substrate is best for chilled or frozen products?
PP and PE films with a freezer-grade adhesive are the usual starting point. QTEK confirms the construction against the container, fill temperature and storage conditions.
What is the difference between PP, PE and PET?
PP films offer moisture resistance with clear, white or silver options; PE films are flexible and conform to squeeze bottles and deformable containers; PET films are heavy-duty and resist tearing, heat and harsh chemicals.
What are HiTac and Foamtac used for?
HiTac is a high-tack adhesive for maximum chemical adhesion on hard-to-stick, low-surface-energy materials. Foamtac is a foam-based face stock used for tamper evidence and security.
Can I get a sample pack?
Yes. Request a finish and material sample pack to inspect papers, films, adhesives and finishes before specifying production. Request the sample pack.
Ready to specify your label?
Send your container, application, size and quantity, or request a sample pack.