Using Variable Data Security Printing to Provide Customized Package Protection

摘要

Variable data printing (VDP) provides an opportunity to improve the security of packages. Currently packages, even for high value goods like pharmaceuticals, are often highly susceptible to counterfeiting. This is due in part to the fact that most of the printed material on packages is "static" in nature. Even "variable" data features—such as bar codes, lot numbers, and expiry dates—are typically identical for entire pallets or even larger production runs. This makes "spoofing" far easier than it should be. With VDP technology, every copy hole on a package is, potentially, part of a multi-feature authenticating design. This is advantageous, because when multiple features are involved, verification accuracy degrades with package damage; the counterfeiter has to determine how each copy hole has been used to encode both overt and covert information; and a combination of end user, investigator and machine authenticable features can be deployed. Variable linking of different variable print features furthers the package protection. In this paper, we address how fully variable package printing is implemented to provide security while still addressing branding considerations.