News in Brief

LEAF Watermark from Vizille Paper Mill

Security and speciality paper manufacturer Vizille Paper Mill, part of the Vicat Group, has introduced LEAF, a new watermark intended to offer enhanced security and marketing appeal to its range of papers for certificates, cheque papers, civil status documents, diplomas, stamps, correspondence papers, tickets, vouchers, passports.

Clearly visible at a glance, with aesthetical design, it’s the most reliable security element since it cannot be reproduced, removed, altered or duplicated, says Vizille. At the same time, the company commented, it offers an elegant eco- friendly touch and unique distinction to security documents or business stationery.

LEAF Watermark can be positioned all over in a wallpaper effect and shows a multi-tonal 3D pattern in with deep contrast that mix white, black and grey shades. (wallpaper). It can be produced on paper in weights ranging from 70gsm to 150gsm, and is visible in all orientations.

According to Pierre Bonnet, MD of Vizille, ‘with the launch of the LEAF watermark, we will continue to differentiate the Vizille paper mill portfolio with new innovative world-class products and services. Our goal is to enhance the leadership position that our customers have to expect from us.

Polyart and EDGYN Form Security Label Partnership

Polyart Group, a supplier of film and paper substrates for the specialty label market, and EDGYN, a security solutions specialist (and former subsidiary of Arjowiggins Security), have announced a partnership for the Asia Pacific region.

The collaboration is an extension of a partnership for the European region that has lasted more than 15 years, and that combines Polyart Group’s tamperproof substrates with EDGYN’s solutions for brand protection and tax marking.

One of the security features developed by EDGYN is the SpotTag® proprietary taggant, a chemical marker detected with a dedicated reading device.

Security labels and tax stamps combining EDGYN features and Polyart substrates have to date protected more than 1 billion products against illicit trade, and this successful collaboration looks set to continue in Asia Pacific.

Authentix Signed Up for Green Fuel Study

Fuel marketing specialist Authentix has been selected to partner with Safetytech Accelerator and Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub in a feasibility study on the assurance of green fuel in the maritime industry.

Safetytech Accelerator describes itself as ‘the first fully dedicated technology accelerator focused on safety and risk in industrial sectors and critical infrastructure’, focusing on digital technologies that include analytics, artificial intelligence, AR, VR, sensors and wearables, drones and robotics.

According to the company, the global maritime industry currently contributes 3% of global CO2 emissions. While the industry has taken steps in recent years to reduce its carbon footprint, major change is still needed to meet the industry’s goal of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Recognising the need for the global maritime industry to transition to fuels with lower greenhouse gas emissions such as green ammonia and hydrogen, Safetytech Accelerator and Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub identified approximately 30 companies with technologies that could play a role in assuring the well-to-tank supply chain for green fuels. Authentix and the sustainability software solutions provider TYMLEZ were selected for the partnership.

TYMLEZ will focus on the feasibility of guarantee of origin solutions to verify the production of green fuels for the maritime industry. In parallel, Authentix will concentrate on the tracing of these fuels throughout the maritime supply chain using their chemical markers.

Digimarc Banknote Contract Extended

Digimarc Corporation has announced a five-year extension of its agreement with the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group (CBCDG), comprising 35 of the world’s central banks. The agreement, which was renewed two years early, is effective from January 2023 through to the end of 2029.

The CBCDG was set up to investigate emerging threats to the security of banknotes and to propose solutions for implementation. One such solution is Digimarc’s digital watermark technology, which is at the heart of the Counterfeit Deterrence System (CDS). This thwarts the digital reproduction of banknotes by embedding the watermark in the artwork. Through a series of agreements with manufacturers of colour reproduction equipment, when a user attempts to reproduce a protected banknote, the process is stopped, the user alerted by means of a dialog box stating that the application does not support the unauthorised processing of the banknote design, and the user is directed to the CBCDG website, www.rulesforuse.org.

‘Digimarc has been a key, long-term partner in the central banks’ worldwide effort to deter counterfeiting of currency and a major contributor to the program’s success. We are pleased to have renewed our agreement with Digimarc two years before expiry and to have Digimarc’s continued support for this important work,’ commented Erick Lacourrège, Executive Committee Chairman, CBCDG and Director General of Cash Services at the Banque de France.

Alcohol Tops List of Operation Opson Seizures

Enforcement agencies from 26 EU countries have detained dozens of people and seized around 27,0000 tonnes of fraudulent and potentially hazardous food and beverage products under Operation Opson, coordinated by Europol in the EU and Interpol elsewhere, which took place between December 2021 and May 2022.

Europol’s report on the enforcement action records around 74,000 checks by the authorities, which resulted in 80 arrest warrants, 137 individuals being reported to judicial authorities, more than 175 criminal cases being opened along with over 2,000 administrative cases.

Alcoholic drinks were the most-seized item in terms of quantity (15 million litres), followed by cereals, grains and derived products; fruits/vegetables/legumes; food supplements/additives; sugar and sweet products; meat and meat products; seafood; dairy products; and poultry products.

‘Operations against food fraud target criminal networks that can seriously harm consumer health and safety,’ said Europol in a statement.

‘From rotten tuna to fake vodka with methyl alcohol and counterfeit vitamins, illegal food and beverages are a serious threat to EU citizens, who are often unaware that they are consuming poisonous products,’ it continued. ‘To detect criminal activities, the national authorities conducted checks in customs areas, in physical and online market places, and across the food supply chain.’