Security Capabilities

Production Security

Security Materials

Slits/Embossments

Overlaminates

Security Codes/Numbers

The counterfeit production of, or tampering with products and/or documents has lead to the need for product security systems protecting products and documents from the point of production to end use/consumption. The key is to match the protection features against the perceived type of threat. What needs to be protected? Is protection against reproduction, alteration, and/or duplication needed? When this is determined, the appropriate features can be considered. Traditionally, layering a variety of security features is the technique for ultimate security. The challenge is to balance the cost of security against the cost of loss or damage. Security devices may be overt, covert, or both. Overt (O) features such as holograms are obvious. Covert (C) features are hidden or require training to see or an authenticating device such as equipment to validate.

A full spectrum of features including:

Photocopy deterrent features include artificial watermarks (O), pantographs (O), security varnish spots (O), thermo-chromic ink (C), holographic stocks (O), and prismatic designs (O).

Alteration deterrents include solvent sensitive inks (C), scratch off inks (C), security die cuts (C), security substrates (safety paper and tag-board, multi-layered board, and full or partial laminations including holographic laminates) (C,O); synthetic, voiding, destructible, and other tamper-evident substrates (C).

Authentication features include thermo-chromic inks (C), security substrates with fluorescent fibers and watermarks (C,O), and other print deterrent features including encrypted bar codes (C).

PRODUCTION SECURITY:
Shredded make-ready; locked waste bins; password data file storage, tape file and document storage in vault; facility security systems including motion detectors and night guards.

SECURITY MATERIALS:

1. label substrates:

Destructible film (O). Combined with aggressive permanent adhesive, this film will break upon removal, making such attempts obvious.
Tamper evident film (O) is a material in which selective patterns (either customized or standard) are left behind when the label is removed. For example, a label is removed, and the word "VOID" is left on the product or package identifying that the security label on the product or package has been removed or that removal was attempted.
Holographic films (O) cannot be copied and are difficult to reproduce because of the expensive equipment required to do so. Holograms are available with custom patterns or stock patterns.

2. TAGS:
Multi-layered stocks with colored cores or tear resistant cores.

3. PAPER:
All types of security paper.

4. PLASTICS:
Chemically reactive substrates.

5. INKS:

Thermo-chromic ink protects against copying, scanning, and chemical alteration. This ink becomes colorless when a target temperature is reached, thereby exposing a message hidden printed underneath it. The target temperature is reached by heat caused from the friction of rubbing the ink. When the ink cools below the target temperature, the ink appears, again hiding the message printed under it.
Bleeding Inks print as one color (i.e. black). When exposed to moisture the image will generate a red stain.
Chemical Reactive Inks react to attempted chemical alteration. Opaque/Transparent Inks are ink visible when viewed at an angle, but undetectable by scanners or photocopiers.
Dual Component Inks are combination inks composed of dies and pigments. The pigment (i.e. black) will appear on the printed surface while the dye (i.e. red) will "halo" the pigment (black) and bleed through the paper substrate.
Opaque/Transparent Inks are visible when viewed at an angle, but undetectable by scanners or photocopiers.
Metal Reactive Inks are opaque or transparent inks that turn gray when scratched by metals such as coins, keys, pens, paperclips, etc.
Photo-chromic Ink is a UV light sensitive ink which appears or changes color immediately when exposed to UV light. Upon removal of the UV light, the ink changes back to its original color, or becomes colorless.
UV Invisible Fluorescent Ink is colorless or transparent until exposed to a UV light source, under which it will appear fluorescent.

SECURITY SLITS/EMBOSSMENTS:
Security die cuts including edge lift protection as well as internal security cuts are available. Blind embossments are available.

OVERLAMINATES:
Clear holographic laminates provide protection against tampering and validate authenticity.

Black polyester laminate prevents the bar code from being seen by human eye or optical device like copier or scanner. The bar code can only be read by an infra-red scanner.

SECURITY CODES/NUMBERS:
2D bar codes can encrypt fingerprints utilizing image compression and encryption through a high-density symbology such as PDF 417.

Customized security modulus check digit numbering algorithms can authenticate documents through number verification.