Intaglio security code breaks into packaging

An Italian manufacturer entering the security printing market with an intaglio printing machine is offering a ‘totally new concept’ for the packaging industry. The high speed 4-colour I-4 by Nuova Gidue will open a field of ‘unexplored and exclusive’ opportunities using intaglio, a technique associated with bank note production, announced company boss Federico d’Annunzio at Labelexpo Europe in Brussels last month.

Univocal Sign technology uses the capability to print an infinite unique arrangement of dots, which in combination with alphanumeric and datamatrix codes outsmarts the counterfeiter and gives the end user a means to ensure products are traceable, it is claimed. The security label is activated only when the end user applies it. Target markets will be those in which consumer safety and branding are key: foods & beverages, computer software, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and engineering spare parts.

The I-4 costs €4 million, and is over 20m long. However, one sale in a country ‘is good enough for us’ said Mr d’Annunzio, and Labelexpo Europe had brought three ‘serious’ enquiries.

In principle, a Univocal Sign label (pictured) consists of randomly distributed particles on a 2cm² label, which is then covered by a transparent film and given a variable readable number. In addition, each Univocal sign is assigned a 2D alphanumericdatamatrix code, printed alongside.

Together they represent a single, personalised identification mark, or‘digital fingerprint’ of a product. The host product having been purchased, the label becomes interactive with the owner via phone camera, text and email.

A number of failsafe measures are built in to the system. The dispersal of the 1mm hexagonal black particles makes the probability of two identical labels estimated to be one in a billion billions. Printing is slightly in relief so photocopies are useless, and peeling off the film layer makes it void. A first interaction between the consumer and a dedicated website will make any subsequent reference to the same product suspicious.

Univocal Sign’s partners are Prati, Etipack, IBM, TUV, Ritrama, Nikka, Akerue, R D Sistemi and Eurolabel.

*Gidue SpA, the Italian manufacturer of printing and converting machines for the label and packaging industries, went into liquidation earlier this year, and made a comeback as Nuova Gidue Srl after Mr d’Annunzio won the right to use the name, logo and technology and to employ workers from the old company.