Hologram Industry News

Photopolymer holograms are set to be the most disruptive technology to impact on the security printing industry, according to a new Pira International study. “Ten-Year Forecast of Disruptive Technologies in Security Printing” identifies innovations that will have an impact in a way that is discernibly disruptive, as opposed to technolo­gies that simply bring about incremental changes within the security print industry.
Based on extensive primary research and expert feedback from a panel of senior executives across the security industry, the study identifies the top 25 most signifi­cant technologies with respect to their disruptive potential and their likely evolution over the next 10 years.
For more information, visit http://www.pira-international.com

JDSU, a leading provider of innovative optical solutions for brand authentication, medical/environmental instrumentation, semiconductor processing, display, etc. has introduced its HoloFuse polycarbonate film, a new highly integrated product that helps protect government-issued identity documents such as passports, national identity documents and driver’s licenses against counterfeiting and tampering.

HoloFuse is the first solution that includes a hologram that is integrated into a polycarbonate film without the use of adhesives. This fi lm in turn becomes the clear outer layer of identity documents, helping to reduce the ability of counterfeiters to separate card layers and tamper with their security. In addition, providing an integrated solution simplifies the manufacturing process for card and identity document makers.

The partially transparent and customized hologram within the polycarbonate film includes overt, covert and forensic security features that make it difficult to reproduce. JDSU’s patented technology also better preserves the hologram, making it brighter and
easier to identify. “The new HoloFuse product is based on JDSU’s years of expertise in optical science and provides a whole new way to protect the integrity of high security identity documents, while simplifying the manufacturing process for card makers,” said Garth Zambory, Document Authentication product manager for the Advanced Optical Technologies business segment at JDSU.

The polycarbonate material is also more environmentally friendly than plastics typically used for the creation of cards such as PET or PVC. JDSU has filed a patent for the new solution and expects to be shipping it during the second half of calendar year 2009.

Source: www.jdsu.com

23 September 2009: TSSI has acquired a portfolio of patents for specialist volume and true colour holograms including Biometrigram and HD-3D hologram patents from authentication security technology and consultancy firm Ver-tec.
The move follows the recent launch of TSSI’s Magnetics Solutions Division, which aims to drive growth across TSSI’s document security and brand protection products.
According to TSSI, counterfeiters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, producing highly realistic ID documents. Additional security measures are therefore required to provide the highest level of protection possible and ensure that ID documents such as passports, ID cards and access cards cannot be replicated. Hologram technology provides an effective security solution for all identity documents as each hologram is unique making it impossible to imitate.
HD-3D is a true colour hologram, meaning the images always maintain their original colours from any viewing angle, unlike embossed holograms which exhibit a rainbow effect. Each hologram is unique with different serial numbers and/or bar codes, which can also be encrypted for added security.
The Biometrigram, a volume hologram, can store multiple biometrics as well as analogue images and encrypted digital information. TSSI says these have a higher information density than electronic chips so are ideal for use on ID cards. Each hologram is unique so ensures the correct identity of the document holder and provides an effective security measure in the fight against identity fraud.
“The acquisition of HD-3D and Biometrigram follows the recent launch of our new Magnetics Solutions Division,” says Danny Chapchal, executive chairman, TSSI Systems. “Both of these products are a welcome addition to our portfolio of identity and document security offerings. Our customers want top quality security solutions and these new patents will meet this increased demand for fraud proof identity documents.”
“The creation of the Magnetics Solutions Division and the acquisition of Ver-tec patents along with our back to basics approach regarding contract coating sees us turning a corner,” says Ian Elver, Business Development director, TSSI. “It positions us as a serious contender in the supply of products to help fight counterfeiting and fraud.”
Source: www.securitydocumentworld.com

The 20th Holopack-Holoprint will be held on Nov 11-13, 2009 at Budapest, Hungry, the Birth place of Dr. Dennis Gabor (1900) who invented the hologram in 1947.

It’s 20 years since the first Holo-pack•Holo-print, during which time holograms have significantly developed and emerged as one of the most effective anti-counterfeiting and authentication devices used by public and private sector organisation the world over.

Holography is amongst one of the few industries which has tremendous opportunities, but is also subject to rapid advancement and innovation. The pace of change and innovation in holography has quickened in recent years, so the theme of this year’s event will be ‘Holography: the next 20 years’. This will allow the industry to look at new strategies that will sustain holograms as the pre-eminent document protection and brand anti-counterfeiting device, to develop and grow in other established applications and to find new applications in the face of the toughest economic downturn for more than 70 years.

Holopack∙Holoprint 2009 will see hologram producers, strategists, business development executives, artists and designers as well as origination, production and finishing equipment suppliers attending. Holo-pack•Holo-print 2009 will also host the annual International Hologram Manufacturers’ Association Excellence in Holography Awards. These recognise outstanding industry achievement and are given to those organisations that have introduced the most innovative or commercially viable hologram product or technique over the past year.

For more information, visit at http://www.holopackholoprint.info

Specialist publishers, conference organisers and consultants Reconnaissance International has purchased the annual Pan-European High Security Printing Conference and the Asian High Security Printing Conference from the Cross Group and BSC International.

Established in 2001 these conferences have become recognised as leading events within the government and related high-security documents arena. The conferences cover issues relating to banknote production and cash handling, passports, tax stamps, e-passports, e-ID card production and other areas involved in high security printing.

The next four conferences will be transitional, organised jointly by Cross Group, BSC International and Reconnaissance International, as the events are integrated into Reconnaissance’s existing conference business. This includes the Tax Stamp Forum, Optical Document Security, the Global Forum on Pharmaceutical Anti-Counterfeiting and the Holo-pack•Holo-print® conference among others.

Ian Lancaster, managing director of Reconnaissance International, said the acquisitions will be an excellent fit with the company’s existing portfolio.

“These conferences complement our existing operations and fit extremely well between our core currency and authentication activities,” he said.

The 6th Pan-European High Security Printing Conference will be held from 1 - 2 April 2009 in Warsaw, Poland, while the 8th Asian High Security Printing Conference will follow on 13 -15 October 2009, with support from the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

The 7th Pan-European High Security Printing Conference will be held in Berlin, German in spring 2010.
For more about this visit: http://www.reconnaissance-intl.com/

France, Paris, March 16, 2009: Hologram. Industries announced the purchase of 100% of the company ADVESTIGO, a French producer of software specialized in the fight against counterfeiting and the exchange of illicit content. Financing for this acquisition in the amount of €4.5 million will be based fully on cash available at Hologram. Industries which amounted to €10.0 million as of December 31, 2008.

Hologram. Industries designs, manufactures and sells high security optical solutions worldwide within three major markets:
- The authentication of identity documents;
- Vehicle identification;
- The protection of brand-name products.

For Hologram. Industries, this acquisition is part of a horizontal diversification strategy and, besides providing a presence in the high growth market for the fight against numeric counterfeiting, thus provides it:

* Access to a new innovative technology which, in particular, will permit it to widen its offer to authentication solutions and traceability over the internet, aimed at brand-name protection and identity documents.
* A new team of 14 persons of which 9 persons are dedicated to research and development.

Advestigo and Hologram. Industries have previously worked together successfully as partners in the development of the Global Checker product, an innovative solution for on-line verification of the authenticity of identity documents.

The combination of these two entities makes the fruitful collaboration of a promising future core business concrete. Thanks to the strengthened collaboration between experts with different scientific horizons aimed at the same objectives of fighting fraud, this will permit the creation of increasingly innovative products which are well adapted to the market. From a sales and marketing perspective, it will permit Hologram. Industries to carry the Advestigo product offering internationally, thanks to the Group`s know-how and international network.

A French producer of software conceived in order to:
* detect, measure and battle numeric counterfeiting over the internet;
* strengthen the fight against the physical counterfeiting of goods through the
operation of adapted internet based surveillance.

In particular, Advestigo capitalizes on a portfolio of patented technologies for content recognition (text, sound, image or video) based on numeric prints, and integrated software solutions which can respond to its customers` needs.

Its cutting edge solutions AdvestiSEARCH and AdvestiGATE are currently targeted towards the markets for numeric media (on-line music, TV, cinema, games and software….) and for national security (public sector and security services). The
AdvestiSEARCH solution which is used industrially by the main copyright holders in France most notably won the Grand Prize for the “Information Society Technology” under the auspices of the European Commission.

Advestigo, which is based in Saint Cloud, France, is a member of the Microsoft IDEES program, of IBM PartnerWorld and the Cap Digital competitive pole. It`s supported by OSEO Innovation, the SGDN and the DGA, the National Agency for Research and the Ile-de-France Region through the PM`UP program. The SACEM, the SCPP, the National Police Force, the ALPA, the SPPF, Canal+, SonyBMG, Merlin, M6 and France Télévision are among its main customers.

www.hologram-industries.com

With industries and government waking up to piracy and counterfeits, the business of holograms has a promising future. Piracy regularly eats into the profits and reputation of big businesses. So much so that goods worth $600 billion are counterfeited every year. International alcohol brands lose approximately $300 million a year due to piracy.

In 2006, India lost $1,250 million to software piracy. This has made several businesses sit up and take steps to protect their interests. The use of holograms is one such measure.

Although the use of holograms in developed countries started in 1947, it started to gain popularity in India in the early 1990s. Brand identification and security were the main reasons behind their use. Each hologram is unique and one cannot recreate the same even with the same manpower and machinery. A hologram cannot be replicated, scanned, photocopied, or printed. That makes it an excellent security proof for brands. Holograms, thus, assure consumers about the quality of the brand. The government of India is one of their biggest users in the country. Voter ID cards, driving licenses, and passports carry security holograms; and with car theft on the rise, holographic security number plates are likely to be used for new vehicles.

Read the complete story at www.dare.com

January 16, 2009[Vrindavan, U.P., India] - Giriraj Foils announced today the introduction of a new range of Hot Stamping Foil for the hologram industry & film for making holographic tape. The new foils are designed specially for the hologram industry, available in thickness of 19 & 23 microns. The foil is suitable for spot holography & continuous Strip transfer applications and gives effective result for scratchable & non-scratchable applications. The company has launched its new product with an eye to attract security hologram industry, which requires new & innovative product line to keep themselves ahead against counterfeiters. According to Ashish Narula, General Manager (Marketing) “Beside this GFPL have also specialized in producing sophisticated security featured film for making holographic self adhesive tape. The newly developed holographic tape provides” two tier security” features to brand owners. With this film ,making of holographic tape becomes very easy as no separate release paper is required. To begin with, introduction is being made in 24 micron thickness & 170 mm width, but the same can be made as per need of the customer also.

For further technical and pricing information on Giriraj Foils New product line, please contact at (91) 565 – 2443822 , 2442276, 6534422 FAX (91) 565 2455822 or giriraj_vbn@rediffmail.com / ashish@girirajfoils.com.

About Giriraj Foils Pvt Ltd
Incorporated in 1993, GFPL is India’s leading manufacturer of premium grade films for holograms. GFPL specializes in manufacturing of a broad range of specialty coated films and foils.

Continuous research and development is a major part of KURZ’s philosophy. The company has extended its range of foils and developed a new product line - BlackLine Magnetics®.
Kurz’s focus during the design development was to produce a black magnetic foil with a modern grey or silver overprint in three different shades, which is intended to elevate card designs and/or simply replace a black magnetic stripe with a superior one.
The foil is available in three grades for three varied creations: Grade 1 is the most restrained version, which is only visible at close inspection for discreet decoration. Grade 2 is a filigree pattern creating a high-end look, while grade 3 is the real eye-catcher with exciting design. Sources: www.kurzin.com

About Kurz
KURZ is a major international supplier of hot stamping technology. The company has more than 3,500 employees as well as nine production facilities located throughout Europe, the United States, and the Pacific region. It also has 19 international branch offices and 70 exclusive distributors with the ability to provide full-service solutions that match the requirements of each individual customer.

Toronto, Canada, November 20, 2008; Technical excellence and innovative applications were the overarching themes of this year’s International Hologram Manufacturers Association’s (IHMA) Excellence in Holography Awards, which were presented at the conference dinner of the annual holography conference Holopack•Holo-print® in Toronto on Wednesday November 19.

The Brian Monaghan Award for Business Achievement was made to Umendra Kumar (Ukay) Gupta, the founder and CEO of Holostik India, the country’s first, largest and most diverse hologram producer. He is also one of the founders of the Hologram Manufacturers’ Association of India (HoMAI), serving as its first and current President. According to the IHMA, the Indian hologram industry owes much to his vision and energy and probably wouldn’t exist in its current vigorous form without his contribution.

The ‘Best New Holographic Product Award’ went to Liechtenstein’s U-NICA Global Security Solutions for its intraGRAM™ injection mould-embedded hologram.

Hologram Industries picked up the ‘Best New Holographic Technique Award’ for HOLO ID®, a new technique for reproducing an individual’s photo or other unique images as a photopolymer hologram on ID cards.

The ‘Best Industrial Award’ went to Sitech (Spatial Imaging Technology) for its new Fastrack™ system. A development of its Lightgate computerised origination system, , Fastrack enables dot matrix holograms to be mastered in a fraction of the time previously required, making it practical to originate very large masters and bringing the production of digital holograms in line with the fast-turnaround requirements of the print industry.

German hot stamping specialist Leonhard Kurz, together with design and origination partners OVD Kinegram, scooped the ‘Best Authentication and Security Award’ for their innovative Kinegram recolor® feature. This has been developed for use as a laminate in conjunction with a window or aperture in the banknote substrate, and provides fundamentally different, and unexpected, effects depending on whether the note is viewed from the front or reverse of the note.

A promotional hologram used by Imperial Tobacco to distinguish its Lambert & Butler brand from others won the ‘Best Promotion Award’. API Holographics and its sister company API Laminates created the new eye-catching hologram, featuring a ‘starburst’ visual effect, to ensure the Lambert & Butler brand stands out at the point-of-sale.

A holographic packaging concept developed by US firm Vacumet Corporation to ensure boxes of Hasbro’s Trivial Pursuit 25th Anniversary Edition stood out on retailers’ shelves in the crowded toys and games market was also highly commended.

A creative and production team from Toppan Printing, Hitachi Ltd and Hitachi Chemical Co Ltd walked off with the ‘Best Packaging Award’ for their innovative RFID Crystagram label. This is the world’s first combination of hologram and contactless integrated-circuit (IC) chip, and uses the aluminium of the metallised hologram as the antenna for the RFID. One facet of the hologram is that it can be demetallised, providing an intricate, customised design without any detriment to the antenna function. In addition, the Crystagram can have covert image elements, so creating a product authentication feature which combines overt, covert and traceability functions.

Organised by the IHMA, the 16th annual Excellence in Holography Awards - sponsored by industry newsletter Holography News® - recognise outstanding industry success and achievement.

The awards go to those organisations that have introduced the most innovative or commercially viable hologram product or technique over the year.

Delegates from the worldwide holography community attended this year’s presentations at the Holopack•Holo-print® conference. A display of products from the winners and runners-up was also on show at the conference, signalling the breadth and depth of the technology’s applications and commercial span.

Presenting the awards, IHMA chairman Philip Hudson said: “We have seen a record level of entries for this year’s awards.

“Innovation and quality were again to the fore and congratulations to the winners for their outstanding contribution to the holographic industry over the past year.

“They have demonstrated the highest technical expertise to design and deliver extremely effective, eye-catching and cost effective holographic solutions.”

The winners and companies that were highly commended each received as their award a handsome desk trophy in holographic glass, designed, produced and sponsored by Canadian-based creative holographic specialists Hspace.

The full list of this year’s awards and commendations for outstanding projects follows. For additional information on the projects and photos, please visit the website for the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (www.ihma.org).

LIST OF AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS

BRIAN MONAGHAN AWARD FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION
Award: Umendra Kumar Gupta, Holostik India

SECURITY/AUTHENTICATION
Award: Leonard Kurz and OVD Kinegram for the Kinegram recolor® feature for currency
Commended: Optaglio and SFDI Czech Republic for the Czech Republic Road Tax Stamp 2009

PACKAGING
Award: Toppan Printing, Hitachi Ltd and Hitachi Chemical Co Ltd for the RFID Crystagram
Commended: Holography Industry JSC and the Smolensk Gemological Certification Center for their Certified Diamond Blister Pack ,

PROMOTION/ILLUSTRATION
Award: API Holographics, API Laminates and Imperial Tobacco for Lambert & Butler cigarette packs
Commended: Vacumet Corporation and Hasbro for the 25th anniversary edition of Trivial Pursuit

INDUSTRIAL
Award: Sitech for the Fastrack dot matrix origination system

NEW HOLOGRAPHIC PRODUCT
Award: U-NICA Global Security Solutions for the injection-moulded IntroGram
Commended: Optaglio for OVDot holographic microparticles

NEW HOLOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUE
Award: Hologram Industries and Hologram Industries Research for HoloID

About IHMA: The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) - www.ihma.org - is made up of 90 of the world’s leading hologram companies. IHMA 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. IHMA member companies actively cooperate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.