These news pages are provided by the Product & Image Security Foundation

Product & Image Security Foundation

For full details of news items, articles and features please refer to the current isssue of magazine. Click for subscription details.

LATEST NEWS in the WORLD OF PRODUCT & IMAGE SECURITY 22-10-2001 (taken from our magazine and newsletter).

Infineon Enters Fast Growing "Smart Label" Market with 'my-d'.

Product defines new paradigm for cost-effective RF Identification solutions says company

Infineon Technologies, a world leader in integrated circuit identification and security products, today introduced "my-d", the first chips in the IdentSystem product family. Marking Infineon's entry into the market for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solutions compliant with the global standard for Vicinity Cards and Smart Label applications (ISO 15693), the my-d ICs feature flexibility for writing user data to the chip, large memory capacity, and enhanced security features.

The my-d chips have the capability to support a new paradigm in the implementation of RFID systems, which Infineon calls the "Chip Sharing Approach". The concept uses secure memory sectors on a single chip to enable different stakeholders to handle data that is accessible only in compliance with defined access rules. Because this approach enables manufacturers, logistics service companies and retailers to use my-d for multiple purposes, it dramatically improves the potential economic benefit of the technology.

The Identsystem IC family and the "Chip sharing approach" arises from Infineon's experience in design and production of high security and large memory capacity smart card ICs. The my-d IC is a 13.56 MHz RF device with a unique ID code and up to 10 Kilobit of secure, write enabled memory that can be divided into multiple sectors for different users, including sectors protected by cryptographic keys. A my-d chip can be attached to physical goods in a variety of form factors and, when accessed by a standard com-pliant reader device, the chip memory provides data about that specific object or asset.

In the year 2000, the global market for RFID technology grew to nearly $898 million in supplier revenue, including all hardware, software and services to provide organisations with systems used for asset management, tracking and tracing of goods in logistics supply chains, and security.

back to top of page

Motorola and MicroTag-Temed create a 'breakthrough' solution in anti-counterfeiting

Imagine there is a magic substance that may be integrated into most of the common engineering materials in the printing and packaging industry.

Then, imagine you have a magic wand that may sense the minute amount of this substance, whatever its "carrier" materials.

Now, keep dreaming that you can detect that substance through almost each visible obstacle - dirt, oil, paper or glass sheet, thin foil and even from inside a sealed package.

MicroTag and Motorola Israel have recently launched a product-authentication and identification technology that does not belong to any of the currently known authentication technologies, e.g., optical, magnetic and microchip-based RFID, thus creating a step-function increase in the resistance to both forgery and counterfeiting.

The system consists of a proprietary substance and a portable, radio transceiver-based detector. The technology is based on sophisticated physical effects at sub-molecular level (similar to those used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging - MRI). By way of tagging material, it uses specially developed substances in the form of very fine micron-sized mineral powders (1-2 microns).

Due to its small particle size, the tagging material may be easily applied to almost any kind of ink, paper or plastic ingredients of the ready product, and, respectively, to practically each and every one of the materials involved in the packaging hierarchy. For example, the incorporation of the tagging material into polycarbonates, ABS, polypropylene, polyethylene and PET takes place without deteriorating the colour, strength or other important product properties. The material has been reliably incorporated into bulk paper, linen labels, fabrics, and various inks used in most of the industrial printing methods.

back to top of page

European Union implements Digital Signature Directive

Almost all member states of the European Union have met the target of implementing the EU Digital Signature Directive by the July 19, 2001 deadline. The EU Directive 99/93 on electronic signatures specifies minimal requirements for certificates, certification service providers and signature creation and verification devices. The cornerstone of the law is the advanced electronic signature, which requires the use of "qualified certificates" to have the same legal effect as a hand written signature.

back to top of page

WESTVACO ENTERS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS

Global Leaders in Packaging and Supply-Chain Management and Security Solutions Will Collaborate to Develop and Commercialise Next-Generation RF Technology Applications

Westvaco Corporation entered into a joint development, manufacturing and distribution alliance with Checkpoint Systems, Inc. The alliance establishes a framework for collaborative development and commercialisation of next-generation radio frequency (RF) technology applications and will enable Westvaco to offer its customers cost-effective and versatile solutions to their source-tagging, brand-protection and supply-chain-management challenges.

Westvaco is the first company working to take advantage of Checkpoint System's latest generation of RF technologies, which are marketed under the name "Electronic Signatures‚." As a leading global packaging provider, Westvaco will use this advanced technology initially in Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) source-tagging applications with customers in its targeted markets, which include media, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other consumer products.

"This alliance positions Westvaco to offer extremely cost-effective and flexible EAS source-tagging solutions for global anti-theft applications," says Todd H. Huffman, Manager of Customer Solutions for Westvaco's Consumer Packaging Group. "Our vast packaging expertise and innovative production methods will help lower the cost of these technologies, while significant Checkpoint advances, such as 'off-on-off' activation functionality, will provide tremendous advantages to our customers at all points in their supply chains."

Westvaco's alliance with Checkpoint Systems also provides important synergies with its existing security capabilities. Westvaco has been a leader in EAS source tagging, especially for pharmaceutical packaging, since 1993. It has pioneered various award-winning solutions for applying source tags in high-speed converting and filling operations, as well as for validating EAS tag functionality.

In the future, Westvaco will also collaborate with Checkpoint to leverage its technology for use in high-value brand-protection and supply-chain-management applications.

back to top of page

Databac Group provides collectable access cards for British Grand Prix

The Databac Group, specialist provider of identification solutions, provided personalised, branded access cards for the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Circuit, Northants, on 15-16 July. The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), organisers of the event, commissioned Databac to design, supply, personalise, test and encode 5,000 proximity cards for Life Members, VIPs, their guests and all people granted access to the BRDC facilities at Silverstone. In addition, Databac supplied branded lanyards, card holders and vehicle permits and holders, held in presentation packs especially produced for the Club.

BRDC club secretary Rear Admiral Roger Lane-Nott CB said: "The BRDC is very happy with the performance of the Databac proximity cards used for access to the BRDC facilities at Silverstone. Apart from the ease of use and application, the design of the cards makes them an attractive and collectable item. We will continue to use Databac products, which provide us with the quality and functionality we require to run the largest outdoor motor racing event in the United Kingdom."

back to top of page

MARKET DEMAND IN THE UK CREATES NEW SMART CARD SHOW

The award winning team behind the hugely successful Infosecurity Europe Show have the launch of SmartSolvexpo 2002- the smart solutions and applications event for the UK. The event will be held at Olympia 2, London from 23-25 April 2002 and will run alongside Infosecurity Europe 2002. SmartSolvexpo 2002 has been launched after extensive research has shown that the market for smart card solutions in the UK is now approaching a period of phenomenal growth.

At this year's Infosecurity Europe, 21% of the 7098 visitors expressed a desire to find out more about smart card applications. Studies from leading research agencies such as Gartner Dataquest report that the surge for smart solutions is just beginning. In 2000 598m smart cards were issued and this market is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 32% over the next four years, clearly confirming the need for a high profile solutions focused event for the UK smart card market.

back to top of page

Saudi Arabia Specifies the "Smart Optical Card" for Its Planned Ten Million Card National ID Card Program

Drexler Technology Corporation confirmed that its Smart/Optical™ cards will be offered in response to the Government of Saudi Arabia's RFP (request for proposal) calling for a national ID card program utilising a "Smart Optical Card, "which is a card with an optical memory and an 1C chip.

back to top of page

PAXAR RELOCATES LONDON TICKET PRODUCTION PLANT

Paxar Apparel Group, the labelling specialist with plants throughout the UK, is proposing to move ticket and packaging production from its site at Harlesden, London. It proposes to relocate to Harlow, where it will join Paxar's barcode labelling operation, bringing together "role-to-role" and "flat-sheet" ticket production on to one site.

back to top of page

ACG Continues on Its Growth Path with Contactless Smart Card Products

New distribution agreement signed with Legic

High-tech company ACG AG and Legic Identsystems, a company of the Swiss Kaba Group and a supplier of contactless identification solutions, have signed a distribution agreement. Effective July 1, 2001. ACG AG markets products of Legic Identsystems via its world-wide sales network. The portfolio comprises contactless read and write modules, transponder microchips, and Legic chip cards. These are used in access control, in electronic ticketing and in vending machines.

back to top of page

Jarvis Porter sells Swing Tickets and Tags business

Jarvis Porter Group PLC, the labels and speciality print group, announced the proposed closure of its Creative Packaging division following the continuing substantial losses incurred by that division.

The Group at the time said that active steps would be taken to secure a sale of at least parts of the business. The Group have announced the sale of the Swing Tickets and Tags business, which supplies special labels and tickets to a wide range of industries for UK£ 600,000.

The business has been acquired by Spreckley Limited, a company set up by a management team led by Trevor Jackson, the manager of the Creative Packaging Division. Spreckley Limited will take over the Jarvis Porter leasehold premises at Nottingham. A total of 27 employees, will transfer with the business.

back to top of page

WESTVACO BRAND SECURITY VP TO ADDRESS PRODUCT & IMAGE SECURITY CONVENTION

Westvaco Brand Security Vice President, Richard H. Weatherly, will address the Third Annual International Product & Image Security Convention, November 6-8, 2001 at the Sheraton Hotel in Florence, Italy.

In his presentation, "Introducing New Levels of Security to Brand Managers," Weatherly will examine how effective global solutions are developed to fight product piracy. He will also discuss how emerging technologies, such as Westvaco's Brand Theft Solutions", can help combat counterfeiting and diversion, which drains the global economy of $400 billion annually and is growing at a estimated rate of 15 percent annually.

"The biggest challenge for a company is to realize and acknowledge that it has a counterfeiting problem, which most companies are reluctant to do for fear that it could change the product's image in the market," Weatherly says. "By acknowledging a problem and doing something about it, companies can raise the value of their brand in the market."

Weatherly's presentation will take place on November 8 at 11:30 a.m.

back to top of page