Coveris has invested a further £1 million at its Linerless Labelling Centre of Excellence in Spalding, Lincolnshire, bringing the total investment at the site to £2.5 million since late 2022.
The facility, which Coveris states is the UK’s only dedicated manufacturer of linerless labels, produces more than one billion labels annually for the UK and European fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors. The latest investment includes a new ten-colour MPS flexographic press, which became operational in June 2025.
The new press is designed to increase production capacity to meet growing demand for linerless labelling, particularly in expanding markets such as ready meals and food-to-go. It is capable of printing on both paper and film substrates and includes MPS’s E-Sleeve technology, which is intended to improve print accuracy, reduce material waste, and shorten setup times.
Additional features include full web inspection for consistent print quality and cold foil embellishment for decorative finishes. The equipment is compatible with a range of linerless formats, including Slidewrap, c-wrap, envelope, punnet labels, and contour-fitted designs used for Skinpack packaging.
Nigel Hewitt, business unit paper sales director at Coveris, described the investment as “another key milestone” for the company’s linerless strategy. “As demand continues to grow across traditional applications and newer categories like ready meals, our expanded capacity and technical capability ensure we remain the partner of choice for sustainable labelling innovation,” he said.
Linerless labels are promoted by Coveris as a more sustainable alternative to traditional self-adhesive labels, as they do not require a silicone-coated carrier backing. The company claims this results in less waste, more labels per reel, and fewer changeovers during production. Formats such as Slidewrap and envelope labels also offer a lighter-weight alternative to cartonboard sleeves.
Coveris said its linerless labels are designed to be used with Ravenwood Packaging equipment and are targeted at brands seeking to reduce packaging weight while maintaining visual impact on shelves.
