There are many security solutions available on the market to protect goods against counterfeiting, and it can be difficult for brand owners to decide which is the best solution for their products. One Austrian-based supplier now offers a comprehensive protection system.
When it comes to deciding which security product will offer the best protection for a product, there are many factors to consider. First of all, the brand owner must think about the existing production process as well as the available printing solution (at the printing house). Then the expense factor and the existing design must be considered.
Furthermore, the brand owner must deliberate the inspection of the security element. Who should be informed about the security feature? Who should have the option of checking the authenticity of the product - the wholesaler or perhaps the customer?
Each security element has its own advantages and disadvantages. The easiest way to find out which security element best fits a product is to define the categories (product, security element, security level, inspection and verification). Jura JSP works on the basis of the following security categories:
Category I products include pigments, holograms, varnish and optical variable inks. Security elements in this category include special screening solutions. This level (1st verification level) is dedicated to the human senses. These features are easy to verify with the human senses and can be explained to the consumer through press releases, advertisements or internet sites.
A typical category II product is UV-fluorescent ink. Security elements for category II include microtext, special screening solutions, covert and overt design elements. This level (2nd verification level) requires some equipment and knowledge. Customs, field agents and wholesalers use tools (magnifiers, UV-lamps and decoding lenses) to check these features.
Category III products include security substrates as well as optical variable devices. Security elements include special digital technology, which encodes secondary information (personal information, images) into a source image while keeping the secondary information invisible to the human eye. This level (3rd verification level) is reserved for in-house testing and laboratories. Specific equipment (such as microscopes, laser projection devices, spectrometers and special reading devices) enables the brand owner to verify his products on a forensic level.
It is important to use a combination or mixture from different categories/security levels to protect goods efficiently against forgery. Jura JSP recommends using security products and security elements from different categories on all parts of the package unit (box, blister and leaflet) to make it as difficult as possible for the counterfeiter.
Protection of the box can be realised via a category I product (such as a hologram or varnish) in combination with a category II security element (covert and overt security design element). The blister can be protected via a covert security element (category II) combined with varnish, ink or pigment (category I).
A category I or category II security element should be adequate to protect the leaflet. A special screening solution or variable microtext is recommended and a category I product, such as thermo chromic coating, would also be suitable.
A good security concept, therefore, always consists of a mixture of products and features. This guarantees a higher protection because the counterfeiter is forced to invest more time and money to counterfeit one single product.
