Innovia Films
Innovia Films is an international specialist manufacturer of biaxially oriented polypropylene and related packaging films, operating as a division of CCL Industries.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Innovia Films is a specialist flexible-film manufacturer whose products are used in packaging, labels, tobacco overwrap, industrial applications and selected security and banknote-related uses. The business is headquartered at Wigton in Cumbria, England, and operates production facilities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Poland and Mexico. Its principal technology is biaxially oriented polypropylene, commonly abbreviated as BOPP, a polypropylene film stretched in two directions to improve clarity, gloss, stiffness, strength and barrier performance. These properties allow the material to serve applications that historically relied on cellulose film while also offering the processing and cost characteristics of an oil-based polymer. The business has roots in the European cellophane and synthetic-film industries of the twentieth century. British production activity associated with the present-day group developed through several related companies, including British Sidac, British New Wrap and British Cellophane. The Wigton site began producing cellulose film in the 1930s and later became an important BOPP manufacturing location. In the 1960s, British Sidac entered a manufacturing partnership with ICI to produce BOPP at Wigton through Sidex. UCB, a Belgian industrial group, subsequently became the owner of British Sidac and later consolidated additional polypropylene and cellulose-film operations under UCB Films. During the 1980s and 1990s, the business expanded its film capacity and international footprint. It invested in coating and film-making equipment at Wigton, acquired British Cellophane and its Cellophane trade name, purchased the ICI Propafilm business in Ghent, and acquired cellulose-film assets in the United States and Spain. A new BOPP plant was also established in Melbourne, Australia. This period transformed the enterprise from a primarily British film producer into an international supplier with capabilities spanning both polypropylene and cellulose films. In October 2004, a management-led UK consortium backed by Candover Investments acquired UCB's polypropylene and cellulose-film business. The Innovia Films identity was then used for the independent specialist film group. As demand for cellulose film weakened because of substitution by petroleum-derived polymers, Innovia closed its Bridgwater, Somerset plant in 2005 in an effort to reduce costs and concentrate production. It later sold the cellulose-films business to Futamura Chemical in June 2016, leaving Innovia more strongly focused on specialty polypropylene films. CCL Industries acquired Innovia Films in December 2016 for £680 million. Under CCL, the brand continued to develop as a global specialty-film platform. CCL's acquisition of Treofan Americas' US operations in 2018 added a manufacturing facility in Mexico, and those operations were rebranded Innovia Films. In 2020, CCL acquired Flexpol in Plock, Poland, a producer with both tenter and cast polypropylene capabilities, and rebranded that operation under Innovia Films as well. Today, Innovia's portfolio is centered on specialty BOPP films and associated film structures rather than commodity packaging film. Its applications include decorative and functional labels, flexible packaging, tobacco products, industrial materials, shrink-film applications and security-related products. The company also supplies films used in banknote production in countries including Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The group has reported worldwide annual film capacity of more than 218,000 tonnes in the reference material, although no current independently verified capacity figure is provided here. Innovia's strategic role within CCL is that of a geographically diversified materials business serving converters, brand owners, packaging companies and other industrial customers.
History
Innovia Films developed from a network of European cellophane and synthetic-film businesses. Société Industrielle de la Cellophane was established in Ghent, Belgium, in 1926 and formed a UK distribution company six years later. British Sidac opened a production plant at St Helens in 1934. In the same year, British New Wrap began cellulose-film production at Wigton, a site that later became the central location for the modern Innovia business. British Cellophane, formed through cooperation between Courtaulds and La Cellophane SA, began production at Bridgwater in 1937. The industry's major technological transition began after ICI developed biaxially oriented polypropylene in 1961. BOPP combined the visual qualities of cellulose film, such as clarity and gloss, with the properties of a synthetic polymer. British Sidac and British Rayophane merged in 1963, and four years later the combined business entered a joint venture with ICI to manufacture BOPP at Wigton through Sidex. A new factory was built for the project. British Sidac became wholly owned by Belgium's UCB Group in 1973. The partnership with ICI ended in 1987, after which UCB Films assumed full ownership of Sidex and invested in expanding Wigton's production capacity. The 1990s brought extensive investment and consolidation. UCB invested in coating and film-making equipment at Wigton, acquired British Cellophane and the Cellophane name in 1996, and purchased ICI's Propafilm business in Ghent in 1997. It also acquired a cellulose-film plant in Tecumseh, Kansas, from Flexel and bought La Cellophane Espanola in 1987. The Burgos plant was later closed after the acquisition of the Mexican company Cydsa in 2000. A new BOPP plant opened in Melbourne, Australia, in 1999. In 2002, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair opened a purpose-built research and development center at Wigton. In October 2004, a UK consortium led by Dennis Matthewman and financed by Candover Investments purchased UCB's polypropylene and cellulose-films business. The independent company operated under the Innovia Films name. Because cellulose-film demand was declining as oil-based polymers gained market share, Innovia closed its Bridgwater plant in 2005. It subsequently sold the cellulose-films business to Futamura Chemical on 30 June 2016. CCL Industries acquired Innovia Films in December 2016 for £680 million. The transaction placed the business within a larger international group focused on labels, packaging and specialty materials. CCL continued to expand the Innovia platform through acquisitions. Its purchase of Treofan Americas' US operations in July 2018 brought a Mexico-based manufacturing operation into the network, and the acquired operations were renamed Innovia Films. In 2020, CCL acquired Flexpol in Plock, Poland, which contributed both tenter and cast polypropylene production and was also rebranded Innovia Films. The resulting business is an international specialty-film manufacturer with sites in Wigton, Melbourne, Merelbeke, Schkopau, Plock and Zacapu. Its products are used in packaging, labels, tobacco overwrap, shrink applications, industrial products and security-related materials. The reference material identifies banknote-film applications in Canada, Australia, Britain and other countries. Innovia's historical development therefore reflects the industry's movement from cellulose toward polypropylene, combined with continuing specialization in high-value film applications and geographic consolidation under CCL Industries.
- 2020
Flexpol joins the Innovia network
[1]CCL acquired Flexpol in Poland, adding tenter and cast polypropylene capabilities under the Innovia Films name.
- 2018
Treofan Americas operations join Innovia
[1]CCL's acquisition of Treofan Americas' US operations expanded the Innovia network and added a Mexican manufacturing facility.
- 2016
Cellulose-film business sold to Futamura
[1]Innovia completed the sale of its cellulose-films business to Futamura Chemical on 30 June.
- 2016
CCL Industries acquires Innovia
[1]CCL Industries bought Innovia Films for £680 million.
- 2005
Bridgwater plant closes
[1]Innovia closed the Bridgwater cellulose-film factory amid declining demand for cellulose materials.
- 2004
Innovia becomes an independent film group
[1]A UK consortium backed by Candover Investments acquired UCB's polypropylene and cellulose-films business, which operated under the Innovia Films identity.
- 2002
Wigton research and development center opens
[1]A purpose-built research and development center at Wigton was opened by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- 1999
Melbourne BOPP plant opens
[1]A new BOPP manufacturing plant opened in Melbourne, Australia.
- 1987
UCB Films assumes full Sidex ownership
[1]The BOPP partnership with ICI ended, and UCB Films took full ownership of Sidex before investing in Wigton expansion.
- 1973
British Sidac becomes part of UCB
[1]British Sidac became a wholly owned subsidiary of Belgium's UCB Group.
Products and positioning
A global specialist in high-performance polypropylene and other specialty films, emphasizing differentiated applications, film functionality, international manufacturing coverage and technical support rather than commodity-volume production.
Packaging and industrial films
Specialty BOPP films
Biaxially oriented polypropylene films are Innovia's core materials. The film is stretched in two directions to improve optical appearance, stiffness, strength and resistance to grease and handling. These properties support packaging, labeling and industrial uses where appearance and consistent converting performance are important.
Label materials
Label films
Innovia supplies polypropylene films for label constructions and decorative applications. The films can provide gloss, clarity, dimensional stability and printability for pressure-sensitive, wraparound and other label formats. They are used by converters serving consumer-packaged goods and industrial markets.
Tobacco packaging
Tobacco overwrap films
Specialty films for tobacco overwrap applications are designed for high-speed packaging and presentation requirements. Their optical qualities and mechanical performance support the wrapping of tobacco products and related packages.
Packaging films
Shrink films
The Innovia portfolio includes shrink-film operations, including the former German shrink-films site that was rebranded after CCL acquired the business. Shrink films are used where controlled heat response and close-fitting packaging are required.
Security materials
Security and banknote films
Innovia's films have been used in security-related applications, including banknote production in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries. The cited material does not identify individual product names or specifications, so this entry describes the application category rather than a named product.
Polypropylene films · 2020
Cast polypropylene films
The Plock, Poland operation added cast polypropylene capability to the Innovia network alongside tenter-produced BOPP. Cast polypropylene films broaden the manufacturing platform for packaging and industrial applications that require different forming and performance characteristics.
Controversies
2013
Securency bribery controversy
The business acquired the remaining half of Securency International in February 2013. Securency and Note Printing Australia had faced allegations involving bribery of officials to obtain currency-printing contracts. The available reference describes the controversy as involving the associated Securency business and does not attribute the alleged conduct directly to Innovia Films.
Brand decisions
2020
Integrate FlexpolM&ABackground
CCL expanded its polypropylene-film capabilities and geographic coverage through the acquisition of Flexpol in Plock, Poland.
Action taken
Flexpol was rebranded Innovia Films and brought both tenter and cast polypropylene production into the network.
Aftermath
Innovia gained additional European manufacturing capacity and a broader polypropylene technology base.
2018
Integrate Treofan Americas operationsM&ABackground
CCL acquired the US operations of Treofan Americas to increase its geographic and manufacturing presence in specialty films.
Action taken
The acquired operations were rebranded Innovia Films, including a manufacturing presence in Mexico.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Innovia's North American production footprint.
2016
Sell the cellulose-films business to FutamuraM&ABackground
The company had been repositioning itself as demand for cellulose films contracted and specialty polypropylene became more central to its business.
Action taken
Innovia completed the disposal of its cellulose-films business to Futamura Chemical on 30 June 2016.
Aftermath
Innovia became more focused on specialty polypropylene films before being acquired by CCL Industries later in the year.
2016
Join CCL IndustriesM&ABackground
CCL Industries sought to expand its specialty packaging and materials platform through the acquisition of an international film producer.
Action taken
CCL Industries acquired Innovia Films in December 2016.
Aftermath
Innovia became a CCL division and subsequently expanded through the integration of acquired film operations in Mexico and Poland.
Acquisition price. £680 million (December 2016)
2005
Close the Bridgwater cellulose-film plantStrategyBackground
Cellulose-film demand was declining as oil-based polymer films displaced some traditional cellulose applications.
Action taken
Innovia closed the Bridgwater factory and concentrated production to reduce costs and improve operating efficiency.
Aftermath
The closure reduced the company's cellulose-film manufacturing footprint and formed part of a longer-term shift toward polypropylene specialty films.
Recent events
- 2020
Flexpol acquisition adds Polish polypropylene capacity[1]
M&A · Product generation
CCL Industries acquired Polish BOPP producer Flexpol and rebranded it Innovia Films. The site added both tenter and cast polypropylene production capabilities.
- 2018
Treofan Americas operations rebranded Innovia Films[1]
M&A
After CCL Industries acquired the US operations of Treofan Americas, the operations were rebranded Innovia Films and expanded the group's manufacturing footprint to Mexico.
- 2016
Innovia sells cellulose-films business to Futamura[1]
M&A
Innovia completed the sale of its cellulose-films business to Japan's Futamura Chemical, sharpening the remaining business's focus on polypropylene and other specialty films.
- 2016
CCL Industries acquires Innovia Films[1]
M&A
CCL Industries acquired Innovia Films for £680 million, bringing the specialty-film manufacturer into its international packaging and labeling group.
- 2005
Innovia closes Bridgwater cellulose-film plant[1]
Other
Innovia closed its Bridgwater factory as cellulose-film demand contracted and production was consolidated to improve cost efficiency.
- 2004
Management-backed consortium acquires UCB Films business[1]
M&A
A UK consortium led by Dennis Matthewman and backed by Candover Investments acquired UCB's polypropylene and cellulose-films business. The Innovia Films identity was subsequently used for the independent business.
Sources1 sources
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