G+D Unveils New Solution to Protect Brands

The relaunch of Authentication & Brand News™ in January of this year came, to a large extent, as a response to a set of market trends triggered by the effects of COVID-19 which have been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine and widespread inflation.

Disrupted supply and distribution chains, the accelerated shift to online retail and tighter household budgets, have made it easier than ever for counterfeiters and fraudsters to abuse intellectual property and attack brands.

It is widely accepted that sales losses due to counterfeiting and product and brand piracy equate to billions of dollars across all industries, which is why Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has developed a new authentication solution, SIGN®, that uses modern micro- optics technology to provide simple and rapid product authentication.

From pharmaceuticals, alcohol and tobacco to luxury goods, the problem of brand and product piracy affects manufacturers in almost every industry. To protect against counterfeiting, some producers use labels with integrated security features on their products.

However, these can be cost-intensive and difficult to integrate into the manufacturing process which deters many manufacturers from deploying physical anti-counterfeit devices.

G+D – best known for its banknote and payment solutions – is taking a different approach with SIGN. Based on what it terms innovative, micro-optical technology with dynamic effects and developed using its special software, SIGN is applied directly to packaging with high precision embossing tools, doing away with specially printed labels.

Removing the need for offline manufacture and application of labels helps to reduce cost and materials usage and, says G+D, aligns strongly with its commitment to ecological and socially sustainable development.

The SIGN solution applies 3D elements on to the product packaging, including depth and height effects, dynamic structures and information that changes depending on the viewing angle – all of which are individualised according to the customers’ requirements. And so, the anti-counterfeiting element can be customised to integrate seamlessly into the packaging design.

The authenticity of a product can be verified easily and quickly with SIGN across every part of the supply chain – from the brand owner through the various distribution channels to the end customer. No additional device is needed to authenticate SIGN, as the dynamic, unique effects are clearly visible to the naked eye by simply tilting the security feature. The combination of anti-counterfeiting properties and attractive design effects can also help brands ensure their products stand out.

SIGN is based on established G+D technology that has long provided protection against counterfeiting for high-security products. These include banknotes and passports, whose authenticity can be verified by unique security features.

The patented SIGN solution is exclusively used in security applications. As an independent not-for-profit testing institute, Fogra conducted an investigation into possible counterfeiting attacks and confirmed that the solution has a high level of security.

G+D has also built a service element to support the take-up of SIGN, which includes consultation, simulation, manufacturing and implementation. For example, G+D advises manufacturers on design selection and integration as well as production processes, before a realistic digital feature animation including an individual design is simulated.

In addition, G+D develops all necessary manufacturing components such as the embossing tool in a high-security environment and supports manufacturers with the process-neutral integration of SIGN with their packaging printer.

SIGN can also be combined with another G+D feature, MOVE™ (Micro Oriented Variable Effect) to create additional dynamic effects, bold colours, and relief- style embossing.

‘With SIGN, we offer an effective solution that can be fully integrated into production processes and protects products against counterfeiting. And it does so with a high level of security, a wide range of design options and optimised costs at the same time,’ explains Oliver Paul, Security Features Sales at G+D. ‘With our SIGN offering, we are pursuing the clear goal of combating brand and product piracy, which is becoming a worsening problem globally.’