Security logistics label honoured in World Label Awards
Global sales of fake goods are now estimated at $650bn per annum, making 'counterfeit’ the world’s biggest brand. As well as threatening the welfare of purchasers, fake goods negatively affect customer brand loyalty and, of course, the brand owner’s profitability.
It demonstrates ‘best practice’ in leading-edge layered security solutions for high-value and sensitive goods -- in this case, critical OEM automotive spare parts – and it has already found commercial success for authenticating BMW spares.
The Schreiner ProTech security logistic label’s specification brings together a complex cocktail of features – some of which require professional authentication, and all of which need brand owner involvement in developing and using their company’s own security labelling system. As Thomas Völcker, Director, Business Development and Marketing at Schreiner ProSecure, explains:
– Security is not just a matter of technology today. It’s a matter of educating the people who have to authenticate the product.
Visible tamper evidence
Such education will begin with checking entry-level packaging features like security seals, which will readily provide tamper evidence without the use of any tools except the naked eye.
Covert features
At the second level of security, covert features are added to the Schreiner security logistics label via the printing process, including two- and three-dimensional demetallized holographic stripes which produce different (and identifiable) optical effects when they are viewed from different angles.
Security inks deliver additional features. Thermochromic inks, which change colour at different temperatures, fade to show a ‘genuine’ message when the labelled pack is at body temperature. UV luminescent inks produce a hidden text line and other marks when viewed under a black light.
Additionally, a high-resolution random pattern, printed from an extra-high-resolution digital master, is printed on the label to enable authenticators to detect label copying. Anyone copying the pattern illegally will achieve less precision and technical detail in the image, since it is being copied from previous printed matter and not from the digital master. (It will in fact be slightly blurred). A simple scan with a handheld device or even a smartphone and will uncover this blurring and identify the fake.
Track-and-trace functionality
Finally, a unique track-and-trace security product batch code is added to verify the integrity of the logistics chain. As with all advanced authentication labelling solutions, customer-specific features can be added to order – and Schreiner ProSecure offers many additional options.
Foiling the fraudsters is now a major concern on high-value goods such as automotive spares, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and on wines and spirits. Multi-layer security labels from FINAT member companies such as Schreiner ProTech are contributing significantly to reducing the damage for both purchasers and brandowners.
