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UPM’s Raflatac celebrates the completion of the new coating line in the USA

10.11.2005

UPM’s Raflatac has today celebrated the completion of the new coating line at its pressure sensitive labelstock production facility in Fletcher, North Carolina. With the new coating line, second at the Fletcher facility, Raflatac will expand its product offering. The new coater will especially focus on manufacturing high quality thin films and hot melt adhesive labelstocks for the North American market.

Since 2000, Raflatac has developed from an importer of pressure sensitive labelstock to the second largest local manufacturer of pressure sensitive label materials in the USA. The investment further strengthens Raflatac’s position in the North American labelstock market, which is expected to grow by 4-6% annually.

“Raflatac is currently implementing a strong global expansion strategy with major investment projects in North America, Europe and Asia. With our global investment program we want to leverage our production and service capabilities to all major markets globally and our target is to be the number one choice for label converters everywhere we operate”, says Heikki Pikkarainen, President of UPM Labelstock Business.

“This technology investment, coupled with the recent establishment of UPM Rafsec’s new state-of-the-art RFID tag production facility in Fletcher, demonstrates our commitment to creating best-in-class production and distribution for the North American labelstock market”, concludes Pikkarainen.

Raflatac employs over 300 people in the USA. Raflatac's US operation concentrates on manufacturing pressure sensitive labelstock for prime and VIP labeling.

For further information please contact:
Mr Heikki Pikkarainen, President, UPM Labelstock Business, mobile +358 40 760 5758
Mr Jouko Lähepelto, Senior Vice President, Raflatac Americas, tel. +1 828 651 4834, mobile +1 828 275 0243

UPM
Communications
November 10, 2005

Raflatac in brief
As one of the world’s leading suppliers of paper-based and film pressure sensitive labelstock, Raflatac develops and manufactures label materials for prime and VIP labeling. Raflatac has around 2,200 employees and its turnover for 2004 was about USD 990 million. The company has factories on five continents and a wide network of terminals and sales offices worldwide. Raflatac is part of the UPM Group, one of the world’s leading forest products companies. UPM shares are listed on the Helsinki and New York stock exchanges.