Digital Variable Embossing of Holographic Images Revolutionises Anti-Counterfeiting

by Dan Lieberman

Digital Variable Embossing of Holographic Images Revolutionises Anti-Counterfeiting

Nanografix Corporation/Hologramas de Mexico Group was founded in 1984 by Dan Lieberman to develop and market brand protection and document security solutions based on holographic and optical structures.

For over 30 years, major recurring questions with hologram applications have been:

• Is there a way to manufacture holograms or optical structures instantly in such a way that each one is unique and variable?
• Is there a way to manufacture holograms that is more effective and less expensive than embossing and UV casting?
• Can the production of holograms and optical structures be integrated within the printing process in a single pass to improve productivity and minimise supply chain disruptions?

In the last 15 years, Dan Lieberman has focused his R&D on finding the right answers, and he is now introducing a novel technology where a 3-dimensional optical structure is directly digitally ‘printed’ on a substrate (paper, board, polymer), with variable embossed digital holographic data embedded in the optical structure that can be read either with a proprietary scanning device or with a smartphone app.

With this technology, printers will be able to create their own variable embossed holographic images in-house and on the fly on their printing press. Digital variable embossing of holography just becomes one extra ink in the printing process, that falls in register with the other ‘inks’ in a single pass, thanks to a dedicated print attachment designed as an add-on to existing web- or sheet-fed presses.

Process steps are:

a. A proprietary software collects original images and prepares them in a special file that is stored on a database and is ready to be sent to the optical print attachment. The print attachment control system then feeds a different optical or holographic image together with different data to each printed document, at a printing speed compatible with that of banknote, security document or packaging presses. Images may also contain overt and covert optical security features that are also unique to each printed document.
b. Inside the print attachment the special file ‘prints’ a pattern on the substrate in register to the other inks already printed by the host press.

To fully understand the concept of the technology, optical structures must be thought of as a combination of patterned relief (similar to engraving, embossing or to the tactile effect of intaglio ink on paper) and tiny dots of inks (pixels) entangled in the patterned relief.

Being configured as an attachment, the optical print unit can be easily implemented as a retrofit on any offset, flexographic, digital, or numbering press, as well as on an inspection or finishing machine. Its operation does not require any extra handling and storage of printed security material.

That innovative technology achieves the long sought out physical-digital convergence of security features, reaching an all-new level of document security and counterfeit deterrence, whilst making holography affordable for the first time in a wide range of applications.

It is ideal for banknotes, ID documents, and brand protection, enabling instant authentication through machine-readable personalised features.

Dan Lieberman

English:
Dan Lieberman has 37 years in the security printing industry in the manufacture and development of many innovations related to holography and optical structures. Dan has been the CEO of Nanografix Corporation (www.nanografix.com) and Hologramas de Mexico (www.holomex.com.mx) since 1984.

Dan has around 20 patents that have been issued throughout the years in many countries in order to protect the IP of both corporations.

Dan has a Master of Science from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Boston. A Civil Engineering degree from U.I.A. University. Oceanography studies from McGill University and Physics from Brandeis University.

Español:
Dan Lieberman lleva 37 años en la industria de la impresión de seguridad en la fabricación y desarrollo de muchas innovaciones relacionadas con la holografía y las estructuras ópticas. Dan ha sido el CEO de Nanografix Corporation (www.nanografix.com) y de Hologramas de México (www.holomex.com.mx) desde 1984.

Tiene alrededor de 20 patentes que han sido emitidas a lo largo de los años en varios países para proteger la propiedad intelectual de ambas corporaciones.

Posee un Master en Ciencias por el Instituto Tecnológico de Massachusetts en Cambridge, Boston, además de una licenciatura en Ingeniería Civil por la Universidad U.I.A. y Estudios de Oceanografía en la Universidad McGill y de Física en la Universidad Brandeis.

Serial Numbers, Barcodes and Covert Security Features on Tax Stamps

by Erwin Wagner

Adding serial numbers and barcodes to revenue tax stamps creates a unique identifier for each individual stamp and is the basis for traceability. The further addition of covert UV fluorescent and/or IR security features provides hurdles and challenges for counterfeiters. These covert features can be applied as variable images, random patterns as well as alphanumeric codes and/or barcodes.

Advanced quality control solutions can inspect and verify both overt and covert features. The systems can create a special data file, combining the retrieved data from the features. This data can be used to track the stamps through the finishing and packing process. The final version of the data file can then become the basis for a unique and reliable track and trace solution.

Erwin Wagner

Erwin Wagner is the Global Sales Manager for Security Print at Baldwin Americas Corporation.

Educated in both Europe and the USA, Erwin worked as an Electronic Engineer in Germany developing software for automatic production lines, robots and robotic vision systems. Returning to the US in 1991, Erwin began his career in Security Print as a Support and Development Engineer for Camera Based
Quality Control Systems. His most notable achievement was the design and development of the world’s fastest Document Imaging Scanner in 1999. Please view https://www.visionsystems.com/articles/print/volume-5/issue-5/technology-trends/document-scanner-races-at-600-sheets-per-minute.html for details.

After a management buyout of the Inspection Systems manufacturing division by Erwin and two British colleagues, Erwin worked with Verification Systems Limited (west of London, UK) as an owner and Sales Director for more than ten years. Verification Systems Limited specialized in Variable Data Inspection for the Security Print Industry and merged with PC Industries, specializing in Print Quality Inspection, in 2016. The merged companies combined the two technologies, each leading in their specific field, with the goal to develop the best and most versatile Inspection Technology worldwide. PC Industries was then acquired by Baldwin Technology Company, together with QuadTech and Web Printing Controls, to form Baldwin Vision Systems

Erwin currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia and can be reached at [email protected].

Phygital Security Feature Innovations on Tax Stamps in India

by Chander Shekhar Jeena

In India, TAX Stamps were introduced in the 1990s. Since then, tax stamps playing a robust authentication solution used by various State Excise Department authorities to curb the illicit trade, protect consumers, and increase excise revenue. Today, more than 22 States (including Union Territories) in India use approximately 22 billion tax stamps per annum. Over the year, there has been an evolving upgrade in tax stamps security features & many of them are now adopting a phygital approach. The presentation will provide an overview, trends, statistics, and updates on India’s latest phygital security features and innovations on tax stamps.

Chander Shekhar Jeena

Mr Chander S Jeena is the Secretary of Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA), a self-regulated non-profit organization formed in 1998 with a mission to drive the development, promotion, and adoption of authentication and traceability solutions as effective tools to curb counterfeiting and illicit trade.

Mr Chander is the Secretary of the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) since 2006 and responsible for overall operation & building up authentication eco-systems in India. Also, he is editor of The Authentication Times and an Advisory member at Tax Stamp & Traceability News, UK. He is a frequent speaker on Anti-Counterfeiting Solutions & Tax Stamps and has represented ASPA at various national and international forums, including The Holography Conference (Shanghai, Budapest), Tax Stamp Forum (Berlin), High-Security Printing Conference (Malaysia) and others. He was also a part of the team which started brand protection awareness initiatives and tools in India, including The Authentication Forum, Brand awareness Seminars, and Counterfeit Repository.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations from Delhi University and a master’s degree in Mass Communication and Public Relations.

Q-ID: A Simple Solution to Tax Stamp Security Using Quantum Technology

by David Howarth

Through a mix of software and hardware solutions, the tax stamp industry has seen significant technological advancement in security, authentication and track and trace capabilities. Within this, there has been a renewed focus on using secure unique identifiers in an overarching system to provide a multifunctional tax stamp to 150 jurisdictions globally. Despite the stellar advancements in unique identifiers used in the tax stamp industry, a recent study by Kurti et al (2019) found that over 23% of New York City cigarette tax stamps from 2,357 tested were fake, citing mismatches in the microscopic features on the stamp.

Here, we present Optical Q-ID as a simple, cost-effective solution to the problem of anti-counterfeiting, authentication and track and trace supply chain management, leveraging quantum mechanics. At the atomic scale, everything is unique; Q-ID tags employ materials, whose external properties are defined by nanoscale, macroscopic imperfections. A smartphone, with no additional hardware, reads a unique ‘quantum fingerprint’ identity from the tag and verifies it was generated by a quantum material, making cloning and simulation impossible. In essence, the world’s first quantum secure tax stamp technology, empowering all in the global supply chain to be the custodian of product security, armed with just a smartphone.

David Howarth

David is the Director of Engineering at Quantum Base, where he specialises in the application and integration of cutting-edge quantum technologies for information and product security. David joined Quantum Base from BAE Systems in 2019, where he was the senior Engineering Manager responsible for Performance and Strategy across Maritime Submarines. Prior to that, he was a senior Engineering Manager in the Specialist Engineering Capability Group, driving Group strategic direction and delivering complex facilities investment cases. His earlier roles included systems engineering on nuclear submarine projects, and systems, software and electronic design in the subsea oil and gas industry.

David is a Chartered Engineer who holds an MEng (1st Class Hons) in Computer Systems Engineering, an MPhil, and MSc (Distinction) in Systems Engineering. His key skills include engineering project management across complex systems, systems architecture and integration, software development, electronic design and the application of quantum technologies in information security.