Iridescent protection

Holograms are much more than simply fascinating, true-to-original, three-dimensional images of objects. In two of their most important application areas they are used today as security features and for data storage. Particularly in the packaging industry holography is often the preferred instrument in the battle against forgeries and product piracy.

“Holography”. The word is made up the Greek words “holos” and “graphein”, in other words “whole” and “write”. Holography is first and foremost a process designed to completely record the lightwaves emitted by objects, in other words, their three-dimensional depth data. The term hologram was coined in 1948 by Hungarian researcher Dennis Gábor, who was searching for a method of improving electron microscopes. So here the aim was not yet the three-dimensional imaging of objects. The first hologram as we know it today was produced in 1963 at the University of Michigan/USA.

Protection against forgeries and fakes

Today holography technology offers many more possibilities than just pretty three-dimensional images. Holograms offer relatively high protection particularly in the area of product piracy. Each year fake products worth many billions of Euros flood the market. This problem will become even worse in future, the market experts agree on this. Many industry companies are putting their faith in holograms. But the packaging and also the holograms are frequently copied fairly true to the original and can only be distinguished from the real thing through specific details. In this connection, 2D or 3D-holograms, which are laminated, embossed or additionally affixed as labels on primary or secondary packaging, can serve as an important security feature. However even greater protection is afforded in particular by a hologram positioned directly in the product itself, in other words as an invisible data hologram: concealed information, which can only be decoded using special reading devices. RFID solutions are often simply still too expensive.

New photo polymer films

Headlines were made by the special film recently presented by Bayer MaterialScience AG, which enables high-quality holograms to be produced cost effectively. The team around researcher Dr. Friedrich-Karl Bruder has developed a new basis for three-dimensional and coloured holograms. Compared to other holography materials, the new photo polymer films, which Bayer MaterialScience is planning to launch on the market in 2010, offer many advantages: they are easy to handle and can be “recorded” both in mono and multicolour versions using lasers. A plastic holder is thus coated in such a way that three-dimensional images or data can be stored on it using lasers. The special chemical composition of the photo polymer films simplifies the manufacture of the holograms and removes the need for the previously necessary chemical or thermal follow-up treatment process.

At the beginning of this November, in recognition of his development, Dr. Bruder was presented with the 2009 innovation Award of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the second most valuable prize for innovations in Germany worth 100,000 Euro. His research aims to not only set a milestone in optical technology, but also provide the potential for revolution in data storage.

Absolute security remains an illusion

Even if 100%-security cannot be achieved, there are however still numerous possibilities available today which make life difficult for the brand forgers. In individual cases every company must consider to what extent the technical possibilities should or can be fully exploited. COPACO for example has set itself the task of supporting its customers in terms of product and brand protection. Here the focal points are the situation analysis of the respective sector, checking the market supply of security features and assessment according to security level, production and cost-benefit aspects. Technical solutions and specific customer offers are then developed in cooperation with technology providers and organizations. As the “product’s safe”, the packaging is almost always the focal point of considerations aimed at confirming the originality of the product and, for this purpose, equipping it with corresponding identification characteristics or security features. But that of course is not sufficient. Comprehensive protection concepts are required which ensure that the packaging-based measures fit in with the manufacturer’s whole package of protection and counter measures and which also cover the entire logistics chain.

Source: interpack