How can traceability and authentication be integrated in any moulded product
Veronica Savu, CEO, Morphotonix, shares how traceability and authentication can be integrated in any moulded product.
We are witnessing an increase in supply-chain complexity and a shortage of raw materials. This leads to more and more illegal copies of original components, which threaten the integrity and safety of consumers and of the industry relying on them.
To mitigate these risks, savvy brands implement traceability and authentication of their products. Traceability identifies the path all the way to the place of production, while authentication ensures that the parts are original. The anticounterfeiting features must be identifiable as such by consumers, legal authorities, investigative teams or the brands themselves.
Which solutions?
Typical solutions involve printing or laser etching. This can include batch and serial numbers, QR codes, special product features such as shapes, colours, or in-mould labels, security labels, material taggants and other additives.
For moulded products, a new solution solves both issues with zero consumables and no post-processing. It provides anticounterfeiting with instant authentication and tracing of the part to the original mould cavity. It is based on engraving parts of the mould (inserts or cavities) with nano-precise features. Such features were previously only available for flat designs such as passport security. For three-dimensional moulds, the nano-features are created not with a laser, but by lithographical means. They are then transferred with a proprietary patented technology to hardened-steel inserts or cavities, from which they are replicated into the moulded parts.
Due to their extraordinary precision of just tens of nanometres, the structures diffract light, similar to the visual effects of CDs. But the diffraction is now fully customised, with the logo or more complex design the brand chooses. Hidden security can be included via micro/nano-images and text, as well as laser-readable codes.
Why nano-engraving?
The nano-engraving is used in 3 main cases:
- Difficulties for printing/ lasering/ labelling due to materials or shape.
- Large volume production where any additional step and consumable becomes prohibitively expensive.
- Secure product differentiation, where the brand value, IP and R&D efforts have to be protected in an intelligent way, easy for consumers as well as other stakeholders to identify.
This solution was developed by the Swiss company Morphotonix, and is securing products in the medical, packaging, automotive and technical industries. By confirming the legitimacy of the products, it prevents safety hazards, malfunctions, and failures caused by illegal copies. This protects brands from damage to their reputation and potential legal liabilities. It also protects the manufacturers of moulded parts – they have an easy proof to identify an item produced on their moulds and on their premises.
Unlike labelling, printing or lasering parts, the nano-marking involves no consumables and no further part processing, while maintaining 100% of the original material composition. The Morphotonix solution was selected by the European Innovation Council (EIC) for its market potential and sustainable profile. A life cycle analysis proved that companies using this anti-counterfeiting technology save 1.7 tons equivalent CO2 emissions for 1 million Morphotonix-marked products, compared to using labels.
The Swiss company is partnering with mould manufacturers and injection moulding companies to increase market awareness about this low carbon footprint, instant authentication method.
With one of them, the nano-engraving behaviour was analysed in detail in long-term production. EMI Wissler, an Alsace-based company with expertise in processing of thermoplastic and composite materials, has been using the Morphotonix solution with a lifetime of over 1m cycles. Gautier Depiesse, the project manager, has verified that there is no change in moulding parameters, and that tooling maintenance is as simple as previously for a mirror-polished surface. Steel quality and surface finish are critical for the optical intensity of the diffractive security marking. Implementing it on ejector pins or inserts makes the re-furbishing of the security marking easier, while minimising the machine down-time by having a 2nd set of marked ejectors/inserts ready to be mounted once the 1st set reaches its warranty.
In this rapidly evolving technology landscape, being on top of the game for brands means not only creating functional, “green” and aesthetic products, but also making sure that the consumers and users are safe and satisfied and can easily differentiate originals from counterfeits.