Simons Security Systems Unveils Legally Binding Counterfeit Protection

Simons Security Systems GmbH (Nottuln, Germany) recently released a new industry solution for legally binding product security and traceability of packaging. The Secupack system, through the combination of track and trace features, provides the traceability of packaging and products throughout the entire production and delivery process.

“Many anticounterfeit systems are on the market,” said Angelina Rayak, Sales Manager for anti-counterfeiting technologies at Simons Security Systems. “When talking with the pharmaceutical industry as well as other sectors, we found that companies implement systems that either have to be replaced by new systems after a very short period of time, or that need at least to be altered. This causes extra costs for brand owners, confuses the customs and customers, but offers no effective and reliable help against the counterfeiting problem. With Secupack, we intend to offer overall counterfeit protection that is legally binding, easy, and secure.”

Secupack was developed on the basis of the Secutag small color-coded particles. These color codes are made of melamine alkyd polymers, manufactured in different sizes ranging from 8 to 90 µm.

Like a genetic fingerprint, Secutag identifies a product as original. The different color components are layered on top of each other. The selection of the colors and their sequence make up over 4.35 billion individual company codes.

The color codes are applied onto different materials by established printing processes, directly added to the products or applied by means of a dispenser. The dispenser offers the possibility of easy application during the packaging process, and no major changes to the manufacturing route are required. The application is accomplished in-line with the packaging of the product, such as in blister packaging lines.

Color-code protection is invisible to the naked eye, as a standard pen microscope is sufficient for identification. The Secutag color-code technology has remained forgery-proof for more than a decade, according to the company.

Said Rayak: “This is something we are not going to change in the future. Close contact with our customers gives us the opportunity to continuously adapt our solutions to our customers’ needs. This in particular applies to how the micro color codes are applied. Here, we will to continue to offer our customers new and easy-to-implement solutions in the future.”

The company states that the codes are accepted as evidence by international courts, support the defense of industrial property rights, and assist the fight against unjustified product liability and damage claims. In the case of border seizures, the system supports targeted intervention and accelerates procuring decisive evidence on the identity of a product. 