Press release from Cotek Papers November 2025:
Only 5% of companies founded in the UK reach the milestone of 60 years. Cotek, based in the Cotswolds, is proud to be one of them and to celebrate this extraordinary achievement.
As the UK’s leading producer of double-sided and differential release liners, Cotek looks back on six decades of technical innovation. Founded in the 1960s by Stuart Hazel, who pioneered silicone-coated materials, Cotek quickly established itself as a market leader.
Key milestones in our journey:
- 1980: Introduced solvent-based silicone release liners – setting a new industry standard.
- 1990: Became the first UK company to use solvent-free silicone coating.
- 1999: Pioneered double-sided silicone coatings applied in a single operation – still unique in the UK today.
- 2002: Developed radical-curing UV silicone coatings and expanded into the pure film coating market.
- 2021: A new chapter began with Laufenberg GmbH acquiring Cotek, bringing greater technical expertise and global reach.
“Our business values are perfectly aligned. Together with the dedicated UK team, we create unique solutions for our customers,” says Jorg Soding, owner of Laufenberg GmbH.
Investing for the future:
Recent years have seen significant investment – from a new narrow roll slitter to the installation of a 196 kWh solar power system at our Cotswolds site.
Karl Gater, Cotek’s Managing Director since 2023, emphasizes:
“Our team is at the heart of our success. With colleagues who have been with us for over 40 years working alongside new talent, we have the perfect mix of experience, knowledge, and ambition to drive our global business forward for the next 60 years.”
Karl Gater, ©Cotek 2025
