Pre-coated gloss film is a BOPP roll factory-coated with an EVA hot-melt adhesive. You feed it through a laminator with printed paper, and heat activates the glue to form a clear, glossy protective layer — no on-site glue mixing needed.
What is pre-coated gloss film
A pre-coated gloss film is a two-layer material. The upper layer is a clear, high-gloss BOPP film that gives the surface shine and protection. The lower layer is a thin EVA hot-melt adhesive, applied at the factory under controlled conditions.
Unlike wet lamination, where you mix glue on the machine, this film arrives ready to run. You just set temperature, pressure and speed, then feed the roll and the printed sheet through. This is why it is also called thermal lamination film or heat-activated lamination film.
Why converters choose it
The main reason is the finish. For one, the gloss layer makes printed colors look deeper and more vivid. In addition, it adds water, grease and scuff resistance to book covers, menus and packaging. Meanwhile, it runs cleanly on thermal laminators without solvent odor or messy glue baths. Furthermore, it works well on both manual and high-speed roll-to-roll lines.
Key parameters to set
- Thickness. Standard pre-coated gloss film runs 18–27 microns total. The BOPP base is typically 12–18 μm, and the EVA adhesive layer is 6–12 μm. Thicker grades feel stiffer on hard covers; thinner grades fold more easily on brochures.
- Activation temperature. The EVA layer activates at 85–110°C on the laminator nip. For PET paper or heavier stock, raise the temperature by 5–10°C.
- Pressure. Normal roll pressure is 8–15 MPa. For thicker or textured paper, use 16–25 MPa.
- Speed. Typical line speed runs 5–30 m/min for manual or semi-auto machines, up to 70 m/min on high-speed commercial laminators.
Pre-coated vs wet lamination
Pre-coated film differs from wet (solvent or water-based) lamination in a few practical ways. Wet lamination applies glue on the machine, then dries the sheet in a heated tunnel. Pre-coated film skips that step — the glue is already on the roll, so the process is shorter and cleaner.
In practice, pre-coated film is more common for short-run digital print and on-demand finishing. Wet lamination still competes for very long runs or specialty adhesives. However, for most commercial print shops, pre-coated gloss film is the simpler, lower-odor choice.
Common applications
This film shows up in several everyday print formats. For example, it covers book covers and soft-cover textbooks. In addition, it finishes menus, calendars and greeting cards. Meanwhile, it protects packaging inserts, hang tags and promotional brochures. Furthermore, it works on folding cartons and label stock where a glossy, moisture-resistant face is needed. It also adds a premium feel to product packaging and promotional materials.
How to choose the right grade
Start from your end product. Hardcovers and rigid boxes prefer a sturdier 24–27 μm film. Foldable brochures and flyers work better with a lighter 18–22 μm grade. In addition, send your laminator model, paper type and typical run length to the supplier, and ask for a trial roll before bulk ordering.
Tell us your machine width, paper stock and application, and we will recommend the right pre-coated gloss film grade and roll length.
Note: final bond strength depends on temperature, pressure, dwell time and paper coating. Confirm the full lamination window with your machine and our technical team.
Browse ourmatte BOPP film product rangeand read more aboutOPP transparent packaging film applications. Learn more aboutethylene-vinyl acetate on Wikipedia.
