A leading player in the holographic technology industry, Dr Glenn Wood, has said it is only a matter of time before China becomes an “internationally recognised holography powerhouse”.
US-based Dr Wood – president and chairman of the board of Wood & Associates International, as well as US media representative for the International Hologram Manufacturers Association – predicts China will play a “seminal role” in 2012 in packaging holography, as interest in export markets and new technology drives growth.
“Chinese hologram manufacturers have lacked internal coherence and never had a voice on the world stage,” says Dr Wood.
“This, coupled with related challenges of language, distance and size of domestic market, has meant manufacturers have had little direct outreach to the west.”
With some of the world’s widest holographic embossing machines (up 2.7m wide) now being made in Beijing for domestic and export markets, however, 2012 could see a “sea change”, he says, as China’s rapidly growing interest in exporting its technology is reciprocated by western companies.
“Recent visits to China have confirmed the feeling that it is opening itself up to meet the west’s interest in its technologies,” he says. “This includes UV embossing technology for packaging, an area in which China is several years ahead of the west.
“On the grounds that ‘nature abhors a vacuum’, it ‘s not unreasonable to suppose that this cost reducing UV embossing technology – for example, cast and cure – will encourage more holographic packaging to appear on consumer goods in western supermarkets.
“Such an extension in the volume requirements will bring with it renewed interest in design and origination services for packaging, perhaps incorporating security features.
“So, we can expect to see increased participation by Chinese companies in international events and increasing interest in joining organisations like the IHMA.”
With offices in Pennsylvania, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China, Wood & Associates International claims its objective is to: “form a cultural bridge of communication between technology companies in China and the west.”
The IHMA is made up of 90 of the world’s leading hologram companies. Members are the leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world.
Holograms provide security for cigarette brands Dr Glenn Wood
