Hologram Industry News

The history of holograms on banknotes can be traced to the 1980s when the Australian commemorative $100 and the Austrian 500 Schilling were issued in 1988. The latter – a paper note on which a hologram was applied as a hot-stamped foil patch - is credited with paving the
way for the subsequent development of the market.

These early successes were followed by Kuwait and Poland adopting holograms for their paper currencies before Bulgaria introduced the first holographic stripe on a banknote on its the 2000 leva note. Over the last 15 years growth has been steady with patches initially the preferred method of applying holograms to notes before being overtaken by stripes. Holograms can also be incorporated into the windowed security threads that are increasingly making an appearance in banknotes.

For complete article download: global-currencies-continue-to-bank-on-hologram.pdf

The results of election of Governing Body of Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI) were announced yesterday (Friday, June 11, 2010). The election for the governing body was held during the 10th Annual General Meeting at Hotel Claridges, New Delhi as per guidelines of HoMAI.

HoMAI established in 1998 to promote the holographic OVDs industry in India. The Association work closely with International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) and Counterfeit Intelligence Bureau (CIB) to fight against counterfeiting and providing extremely high security solutions to Governments, Brand Protectors and Owners.

The new Governing Body is now compromised as follows;

PRESIDENT:
MR. PRADIP SHROFF- PRESIDENT & MD (PRS – PERMACEL PVT. LTD
E-mail: pshroff@prs-permacel.com
Website: www.prs-permacel.com

VICE-PRESIDENT
MR. MANOJ KOCHAR – MANAGING DIRECTOR(HOLOFLEX LTD)
E-mail: manoj@holoflex.com
Website: www.holoflex.com

GENERAL SECRETARY & TRESURER
MR. LUV D SHRIRAM- SHRIRAM VERITECH SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD
E-mail: luvshriram@veritechindia.com
Website: www.veritechindia.com

MEMBER
MR. G S DHILLON – MANAGING DIRECTOR (ALPHA LASERTEK INDIA LTD)
E-mail: dhillon@alt.co.in
Website: www.alt.co.in

MEMBER
MR. R D. SURANA – MANAGING DIRECTOR (EVEREST HOLOVISIONPVT LTD)
E-mail: rajendra.surana@everestholovisions.com
Website: www.everestholovisions.com

CO-OPTED MEMBER
MR. ARUN AGARWAL – MANAGING DIRECT (KANTAS TRACK-PACK INDIA LTD)
E-mail: tpiltd@airtelmail.in
Website: www.tpil-kanta.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

AB Graphic International has announced a number of new developments for its Digicon Series 2 label converting line. These include modules for booklet insertion, foil hologram registration and twin flatbed die embossing/foiling (pictured).

The Omega Digicon series 2 is a modular label converting line for digitally printed webs and offers all the usual production options such as 100% camera inspection, hot foil stamping, embossing, over laminating and sheeting. The new modules expand the range of label applications possible.

The booklet insertion application is fitted to the Digicon on rails so that it can be pushed out of the way when the not in use. The machine can process booklets with a thickness of up to 32 pages and is PC controlled through a touch screen that also permits jobs to be saved. Digital servomotors ensure precise web tension and tracking.

The hologram module was recently supplied for a security application and is used in combination with an inkjet printing system. This particular converting line is unique in that it has three web movements all on the same machine; semi-rotary, intermittent and full rotary.

The twin flat bed die embossing module with semi-rotary die cutting is another innovation that also permits foiling. On this application, the web on the Digicon is briefly paused while it is going backwards and forwards in semi rotary mode, and kept stationary just long enough to permit foiling. Savings are realized through the use of flat bed tooling which is a fraction of the cost of rotary tooling.

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

Lucknow: Following the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet’s approval for implementing the high-security number plate scheme for motor vehicles in the state through public-private partnership, the state government has invited global tenders for the job. It has also arranged a pre-bid conference of manufacturers and vendors on February 7 in Lucknow.

With the total volume of work estimated to be close to Rs 600 crore, the scheme is likely to see most of the 18-odd players, who have been approved by the Centre, attending the conference.

Speaking to The Financial Express, sources close to the development stated the bidding process is likely to be completed by May and the scheme will be started from June this year.

“While all new vehicles, both two and four-wheelers, will have to come equipped with these sophisticated number plates, the job of getting all existing and old vehicles fixed with the new high-security number plates will be completed within two years from the date of implementation of the scheme.”

The scheme, it may be mentioned here, has had a chequered past. After being notified by the ministry of shipping, road transport and highways, the High Security Registration Number Plates (HSRNP)-billed as one of the best anti-theft system for vehicles-underwent many litigations and finally, the Supreme Court gave its go-ahead in May last year.

Now, almost seven months later, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre, the states and the Union Territories to work out the modalities for the implementation of the Centre’s decision to make it mandatory for all vehicles to have high-security registration plates.

The Apex Court said the use of stolen vehicles to commit crimes, especially terrorism-related offences, could be controlled to a large extent by implementing the HSRP scheme.

However, only a handful of states have started conforming to the new system, namely Rajasthan, Karnataka and Meghalaya. “The tamper-proof number plates will sport a uniform font and a unique hologram that cannot be counterfeited and will display the vehicle registration number along with other information such as the engine and chassis number,” an official stated.
Sources: The Financial Express

Download: Tender Document up-high-security-number-plate.pdf

January 16, 2009, [United Kingdom]; The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) has elected a new Board following its recent AGM - and the end of a successful year marking the 60th anniversary of the invention of the hologram.

Optaglio’s Philip Hudson becomes the new Chairman. Fellow Board members are Khalid Khanani of Metatex (Pakistan) and Rob Levy of Holo-Source (USA). Simone Foine of Centro Grafico (Italy) becomes the new regional representative for the EU/EFTA, while Manoj Kochar of Holoflex (India) is the new deputy regional representative for Asia.

The Board is now comprised as follow:
• Philip Hudson – Optaglio (UK/CzechRepublic) – Chairman
• Khalid Khanani - Metatex (Pakistan) - Board member
• Rob Levy - Holo-Source (USA) – Board member
• G S Dhillon - Alpha Lasertek (India) – Asian representative
• Manoj Kochar - Holoflex (India) – deputy Asian representative
• Laurence Holden - JDSU (USA) - North American representative
• Pedro de Eguiluz Selvas - Fast Forms (Mexico) - deputy North American representative
• Simone Foine - Centro Grafico (Italy) - EU/EFTA representative
• Goran Milinovic - System Intelligence Products (Serbia) - East Europe/CIS representative
• Dmitry Paltsev - First Print Yard Holographics (Russia) - deputy East Europe/CIS representative

At the IHMA, Chairman Philip Hudson said: “2008 was a year of remarkable technical achievement and progress.

“The industry is a very strong position, with innovation being driven not only by established hologram companies but also those new to the industry.

“New ideas and investment is allowing the holography industry to expand rapidly – borne out by the membership of the IHMA, which stands at an all time high with more than 90 and is expected to reach 100 soon.”

About IHMA:
The IHMA is made up of 90 of the world’s leading hologram companies, including leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world.

Indian hologram Industry has reached new heights during conference HOLOPACK-HOLOPRINT held in Toronto, November 19-20, 2008 . As the President of HoMAI & CMD of Holostik India Ltd Mr. U K Gupta received the Brian Mogahan Award 2008 for business innovation. He is the first Indian national to be bestowed with such a prestigious international honor. 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.

Two other HoMAI members are elected on IHMA board. Mr. G S Dhillon, MD of Alpha Lasertek India Ltd was re-appointed in the position of IHMA Asia Director. Mr. Manoj Kochar, Director of Holoflex, Kolkatta was also appointed as the IHMA Asia Deputy Director. The Indian Supplier of Hologram industry also makes a strong presence during at HOLOPACK-HOLOPRINT, as Giriraj Foils & Rasik Products successfully exhibit at HOLOPACK-HOLOPRINT 2008. Mr. Rasik Khandelwal, Director of Rasik Products Pvt Ltd also present a paper on High Resolution Indexing film during the conference.

For more news, visit at www.ihma.org