When a printed piece becomes a true experience, foil lamination is often behind it. Whether glossy, matte, soft-touch, or metallic – lamination is more than just a protective layer. It elevates your print products visually and tangibly. With decades of expertise, cutting-edge materials, and state-of-the-art technology, we make sure your print not only looks premium – but performs that way, too.
High-quality lamination films
Where Protection Meets Impact
First impressions start with lamination
Foil Lamination
Foil lamination is at the core of our craft. Thanks to our multi-site strategy, we offer not only high capacities and fast turnaround times but also maximum flexibility – no matter the size or complexity of your project.
We offer a wide range of options:
-
Classic gloss and matte films
-
Textured finishes like embossed or Forchheim films
-
Specialty foils such as PET silver or PET gold
-
Holographic effects like Rainbow or Pillars-of-Light
-
Special-purpose films for indirect food contact – ideal for the food supply industry
Choose foil lamination when you want to:
-
Protect your print products from moisture, dirt, and wear
-
Ensure durability and resilience
-
Create targeted gloss or matte effects
-
Develop high-end packaging and presentation tools
Our scratch-resistant specialty films – such as X-treme matt, X-touch, and X-treme gloss – are exclusive Achilles innovations. Developed in-house. Available only here.
Types of Foil Lamination
Gloss foil
With a gloss foil lamination, you protect your print and enhance the brilliance of the inks. Thanks to the good bonding properties, further processing in screen and flexo printing is possible.
Good abrasion protection. Increases the brilliance of the inks. Resistant to dirt, moisture and chemicals.
Foil lamination
Matt foil
Matte looks particularly elegant. With Matt foil from Achilles, books, book covers, ring binders, business reports, city maps, catalogs, menus, etc. get a real velvety character. Our matte foil is also glare-free and suitable for varnishing and hot foil printing.
Our matte lamination convinces with its strong matte appearance
Foil lamination
X-treme Matt®
One disadvantage of many matte foils is the high susceptibility of the surface to scratches. Previous scratch-resistant matte foils had a lower matte degree. So you had the choice of scratch-resistant or matte. We now have the perfect solution for you: X-treme Matt®.
With X-treme Matt®, you get the highest quality matte foil from our portfolio.
Foil lamination
X-treme Glanz®
Discover a new generation of high-quality gloss foils with X-treme Glanz®! Now scratch-resistant!!! Thanks to its particularly resistant surface, X-treme Glanz® offers optimal protection against annoying scratches. This gives your print products a longer optimal and error-free appearance.
Maximum protection against scratches and abrasion - X-treme Gloss® from Achilles makes it possible.
Foil lamination
X-touch®
With X-touch®, Achilles has once again improved the possibilities of high-quality finishing in the matte foil segment in several quality features. Velvety soft surfaces continue to enjoy increasing popularity. Unfortunately, not always with the processors of such products. Because these so-called soft foils were often too sensitive to fingerprints and scratches.
X-touch® is now our innovative service for processors who appreciate high productivity with low risk of complaints.
Foil lamination
PET-Silver foil
The metallized PET foils from Achilles are characterized by a variety of optical variants. Whether silver, gold or hologram foil, the range leaves nothing to be desired. By overprinting the metallic foils, you can make your product an eye-catcher and get a mirror effect. The aluminum coating significantly increases the barrier effect of the PET foil.
With metallized PET foils, you can combine excellent optics with protective and barrier functions. Our metallized PET foils are also available in gold, which also gives your print product that certain something.
Foil lamination
PET-Gold foil
Our PET-Gold foil can be overprinted in offset or screen printing, resulting in a metallic shine. In screen printing in a weakened form. If you do not want a metallic effect partially, the color fastness can be restored with white ink. Furthermore, the barrier effect of the PET foil is significantly increased by the additional aluminum coating.
Excellent shine. Excellent barrier against flavors, gases and water vapor. Resistant to oils and fats.
Foil lamination
Versatility that Makes a Statement
Lamination may be the foundation – but true magic unfolds in the mix. Whether UV coating, embossing, or transfer metallization: we choreograph every finishing step with precision to create unique brand and product experiences that truly resonate.
Sustainability, Thoughtfully Engineered
Yes, we use plastic films – but we do so mindfully, sparingly, and with a clear focus on recyclability and resource efficiency. Where limits still exist today, we’re already developing tomorrow’s solutions. For us, responsibility begins not at the product – but at the very first idea.
Frequently asked Questions to Foil Lamination
Foil lamination – also known as cellophaning – refers to the surface bonding of paper or cardboard with various films: glossy, matte, scratch-resistant, metallic, or textured. The goal? Not only to protect the printed piece but also to enhance its look and feel with a premium touch.
Technically speaking: a wafer-thin film is applied to the usually printed substrate using heat and pressure. Sounds simple – but achieving the perfect balance of look, feel, and function takes real expertise. That’s where we shine.
Lamination means bonding two or more layers – for example, paper and plastic film – into one durable unit. The result: a print product that’s tougher, longer-lasting, and visually upgraded. Protection and enhancement in one go.
With single-sided lamination, only one side of the sheet – typically the printed one – is refined with film. The advantage: targeted enhancement and protection where it matters, without wasting material.
Lamination offers several clear advantages:
-
Protection from moisture, dirt, and wear
-
Extended durability of print products
-
Enhanced visual appeal through gloss, matte, or specialty films
-
A premium tactile experience
-
Barrier properties – ideal for packaging in the food sector
In short: almost all. We frequently laminate:
-
Brochures, flyers, and catalogues
-
Books and dust jackets
-
Displays and packaging
-
Posters, menus, instruction manuals
If your product needs to stand out – lamination is the way to go.
Compared to varnishing or embossing, foil lamination is far more robust and durable. It not only offers better protection but also improves further processing – making it ideal for premium products that need to last.
Simple: our expertise, our technology – and our own products. At Achilles, we develop and produce our scratch-resistant matte and soft-touch films in-house. Plus, with multiple locations across Germany, we ensure high capacity, fast turnaround times, and maximum flexibility.
Absolutely! The magic often lies in the mix. A matte lamination paired with spot UV varnish, gold or silver foil embossing, or even a blind embossing is just one example. We’re happy to advise you on the most effective combinations for your project.
Beyond the production itself, we offer:
-
Expert consultation from experienced professionals
-
Samples of different finishing options
-
Customized mock-ups tailored to your needs
Because we believe: Only those who know what’s possible can truly make the most of it.
Matching Products
In addition to our wide range of services, we offer a broad selection of custom, high-quality packaging – tailored precisely to your needs. From folders to boxes, we cover almost every packaging format in various sizes and colors.
