The purchasing question
The thickest layer is not necessarily the largest cost contributor. Different substrates and adhesive systems have different prices and basis weights. A component breakdown shows which assumption changes the material subtotal and makes supplier comparisons easier to explain.
Calculation method
Layer cost per m² = layer GSM ÷ 1,000 × that layer price/kg. Sum all layer costs and properly priced adhesive, ink or coatings. An equivalent total price/kg can then be found by dividing total area cost by total finished kilograms per m².
Worked example
A 16.8 GSM layer at €2.50/kg costs €0.042/m². A 46 GSM layer at €1.80/kg costs €0.0828/m². Add adhesive costing €0.025/m² and the subtotal is €0.1498/m². With total finished GSM of 65.3, that is about €2.294/kg of finished laminate on this material-only basis.
The equivalent kilogram price excludes conversion labour, energy, supplier margin, freight and other charges not entered. Do not compare it with a finished-laminate quotation as though the boundaries were identical. Use it to inspect component economics or compare consistently scoped alternatives.
Checks before using the result
- Use a separate price for each substrate.
- Convert wet adhesive price through its solids fraction.
- Label the result material-only when converting charges are excluded.
Common questions
Can I average the two film prices per kg?
A simple arithmetic average ignores their different mass contributions. Calculate component cost and mass first, then derive a weighted equivalent.