A series of European secure document producers will incorporate a printed electronic code technology across some of their leading products.
From Q4 2009, Nicanti, a start-up in Finland, will supply its anti-counterfeiting and verification code and scanning system to companies manufacturing security cards, passports and financial documents.
Nicanti is a young company and has spun-out of Finnish R&D institute VTT. Kiian, a global ink supplier and R&D firm Itaca Nova (both based in Italy) collaborated with VTT to form the start-up.
Codes can be deposited straight onto labels or directly onto packaging or a product. Wilkinson says the final touches are being made to the commercial production system that will be able to print over 100,000 unique codes a month.
Each code is read by a handheld scanner (see image )which is also designed by Nicanti. The scanner decrypts the hidden code on packaging or label surfaces and transfers it to the information system wirelessly or by USB.
Paul Wilkinson, CEO of Nicanti, says: 'The technology is completely mature. We have mixed Finnish prudent design, with a creative Italian flare to produce a covert authentication technology for use in a range of supply chains.'
According to Wilkinson, work on prototype production systems and codes were completed in December 2008. Over the last 6-7 months engineers at Nicanti have been preparing ink solutions and digital software programmes.
Potential customers must select their own press to print Nicanti's codes, decide how much information the codes should contain such as product origin, numerical sequences, time of production. Trials are carried out at Nicanti's facility before the royalty to print the codes are sold with a set of unique inks customised to the customer's product.
Wilkinson says plans are underway to launch the Nicanti technology in the fashion, clothing and cosmetic markets next year.