David Savastano, Editor02.25.21
In the world of document protection, SICPA is the predominant formulator and provider of security inks, taggants and other solutions. It is estimated that more than 90% of the world’s banknotes use SICPA’s inks, as well as hundreds of passports and other security documents which are designed to be virtually impossible to counterfeit.
Naturally, brand owners are also interested in securing their products, whether to catch counterfeits or protect their supply chain. While luxury goods are a frequent target of counterfeiters, medicines are of extreme concern considering the life-and-death nature of the products. SICPA has leveraged its knowledge of document and currency security into state-of-the-art brand security systems.
The History of SICPA
Founded by Maurice Amon in 1927, SICPA initially produced milking grease for dairy farmers (today, SICPA is owned and managed by the third generation of the Amon family). However, Lausanne, Switzerland was the center of a thriving printing industry, and SICPA’s interest soon turned to printing inks, including black inks for newspapers and offset inks.
Founded by Maurice Amon in 1927, SICPA initially produced milking grease for dairy farmers (today, SICPA is owned and managed by the third generation of the Amon family). However, Lausanne, Switzerland was the center of the thriving printing industry, and SICPA’s interest soon turned to printing inks, including black inks for newspapers and offset inks.
SICPA moved into security inks, developing inks for banknotes and value documents such as postage stamps, passports, bonds and bank checks. Its first application was the Spanish Peseta banknotes in 1948. After Sept. 11, 2001, governments worldwide strengthened their security measures, including upgrading the security features on travel documents. As a result, OVI® became a standard feature on every new passport and ID.
Moving into Brand Protection
Towards the end of the 1990s, SICPA decided to also offer integrated security solutions for packaging, beginning with tobacco and pharmaceuticals in the US. SICPA works with and provides security for numerous brand owners and has seen this need continue to rise.
“SICPA’s growth throughout the years has been organic and an extension of the work and experience that has come before it, using our knowledge and expertise to expand into other areas and markets that are targeted for counterfeiting and fraud,” said Karen Gardner, SICPA Securink Corp.’s chief marketing officer.
“Our best-in-class solutions and services have been developed for governments and central banks to protect the currency and high-value documents and SICPA extends this knowledge into our security solutions for products and brands,” Gardner added. “We also understand that brand needs are unique and recognize that R&D and innovation are critical drivers of technical enhancements, customer satisfaction and business growth. As such, SICPA continuously invests in its core technology and in new technological fields, with the aim of delivering the most flexible, robust and cost-effective product and supply chain integrity solutions.”
SICPA’s brand protection solutions are used by industry leaders in a wide range of segments, including agrochemicals, apparel, fast moving consumer goods, food and beverage, health and personal care and more.
Gardner noted that SICPA continues to see increasing interest and need for brand protection solutions.
“As the world has become more globalized with increasingly complex supply chains as well as the increasing use of online shopping, so has the need for product and brand protection,” Gardner observed. “This is true even more so in today’s world, with the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the exponential rise in purchasing products online.”
Products utilize multi-layered protection incorporating both visible and invisible security features to provide consumers, brands, law enforcement and other stakeholders a means of authenticating genuine from illicit goods.
Visible security is the first line of defense in the fight against counterfeiting, such as eye-catching features that capture attention and enable clear-cut authentication. SICPA follows that with patented invisible authentication solutions; these play a role in product recall situations, preventing rogue warranty claims and defending the integrity of products.
“Visibility across complex, globalized supply chains is paramount in today’s connected world, with brand owners looking to track and trace products down to individual units,” said Gardner. “Digital technology is crucial but needs to be complemented by material-based security. Secure track and trace are based on marking legitimate product securely so as to guarantee authenticity and gives each item a unique identity so that it can be monitored through its life cycle from manufacturer to consumer.”
Recent Product Introductions
Keeping ahead of counterfeiters is a continuous challenge, and SICPAS has launched some new technologies that make brand authentication more advanced.
Recently, SICPA partnered with Project DNA, which uses KSI Blockchain technology in respect-code.org, a public platform dedicated to publishing and promoting traceability and transparency of consumer goods. Gardner noted that SICPA provides material-based security features, from overt to forensic as well as digital integrity services, while Product DNA brings e-platforms in product and supply chain traceability.
“The combination of SICPA’s and Product DNA’s expertise in their respective field has been demonstrated to be vital for many companies, in various industries, such as cosmetics, construction, food and beverages, luxury, textile, watchmakers, and leather goods,” Gardner observed.
On the ink front, SICPA introduced its QUAZAR® system, which uses bright colors and engaging visible effects that are quick and easy for end-users to authenticate. Delivered in the form of a unique product security label, QUAZAR® empowers consumers, businesses, and government officials to easily and reliably validate authentic goods and products, Gardner noted.
“The most effective features are designed with user preferences, experience and verification practices in mind and can be deployed without the need for prior training,” said Gardner. “Consumers themselves can be engaged in the authentication process.”
“The QUAZAR® label can be designed to feature visible messages or motifs that appear and disappear, motifs that turn on and off, or embedded texts that can be revealed or hidden,” Gardner added. “Bold colors and original design effects capture attention and bolster successful authentication. QUAZAR® product security labels can include tamper-evidence, secure 2D codes, as well as covert and forensic security features offered by SICPA. The solution can be easily integrated and applied on a wide range of packaging substrates. Produced using propriety technologies, and SICPA and partners', including Reynders in Europe and CB Printed Technology in North America, fully controlled supply chains, QUAZAR® provides customers with both unrivaled security features and unique customization opportunities.”