Foil is one of the most important packaging materials and is used in many industries. Packaging foils are used particularly frequently in the food industry, as they enable light, space-saving and hygienic direct packaging of food products. Foils – often shrink films – are also often used as secondary packaging when food or non-food items are combined into larger units. Examples of this are six-packs of drinks bottles or products on pallets. The type of foil and its properties vary greatly. Multilayer foils (composite foils) made of several layers of material are used, as are mono-material foils, for example made of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). All these plastic films, as well as bioplastic films, have two properties in common that need to be taken into account when printing, lasering and labeling: film packaging is generally not absorbent and often has an uneven surface if it is marked while still packaged.

Markings, codes and labels on packaging foils transport information for the traceability and quality assurance of products, serve to protect consumers and are required for internal logistics and the transportation of goods to the customer. When choosing a coding and marking solution for film labeling, it is also important to consider whether the marking has to be forgery-proof or is exposed to special stresses such as weathering or chemicals. Depending on the industry, legal labeling norms or industrial standards may also be prescribed.