Packaging security from a world away
Brand owners need to think hard about developing appropriate anti-counterfeiting strategies, Gadi Hoenig told a group of packaging professionals at PackExpo Chicago 2002. Hoenig is general manager of Tadbik Advanced Technologies, an Israel-based sister company of Logotech, which is a converter of pressure-sensitive labels in Fairfield, N.J. Working together, the two companies produce security packaging for some of the largest national and international names in the world.
"Logotech represents all of Tadbik's technology in the United States," says Hoenig. "And one trend I've noticed is an increased use of latent images in packaging." He explains that latent images are embedded in graphics or the substrate, and they typically require a decoder such as a magnifier, lenticular lens, or a polarizer for detection. "They are often more difficult to replicate than holograms and not as showy," he concludes.
"Our latent image labels are made in a secure plant in Israel," says Logotech's Vice President Leslie Gurland. "Those for U.S. customers are then shipped here, where we complete the package. We produce other technologies here in New Jersey."
Logotech's most recent development has come in the form of a patent pending new security label called Pin Zip. The technology can be used to replace scratch-off applications such as on phone cards or lottery tickets and to alert consumers to tampering.
"The traditional way of doing security/PIN number labels is with a specialty scratch-off ink formulation printed on a clear substrate, which is then applied over a pre-printed card," says President Rami Molcho. "However, one industry-wide problem is that after these cards sit for two to three months, the ink locks down and it becomes very difficult to scratch off. We addressed this issue with a new construction that does not require any specialty ink formulations, and thanks to our patented peel-off combination, scratch-off lock down could be a thing of the past."
Molcho says they plan to run most of these applications on one of their two Gallus L200 letterpresses: "Flexo technology is improving; it's definitely closing the gap. However, there are a lot of products we could not produce on a flexo machine. You can see that large printers are buying new equipment—most of which are combination letterpress/flexo presses. This gives them access to fine type for applications requiring lots of information on a small label but still allows them to take advantage of all flexo has to offer."
In addition to the six-color and eight-color Gallus letterpresses, Logotech's equipment roster also includes a Xeikon digital press, and its most recent acquisition is a Gallus (Arsoma) EM280. "We are really enjoying all our machinery," Gurland says. "Customers like to have options, and we now cover the span. As long as we can continue to keep it all busy, the recent investment was well worth the money."
-by Kate Tomlinson, Associte Editor
