A number of recent developments in tamper proof labels caught our attention, two of which are described in this article.

While tax stamps often use diffractive effects to protect against counterfeiting, the process for making these stamps can often be time consuming and limited to printing firms with specialist equipment. But that could be about to change!

Demax Holograms was one of the first manufacturers of security holograms in eastern Europe and now sells its products to over 70 different countries. It took the opportunity to present its latest nano-optical elements for physical security at the recent Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ in Tbilisi, Georgia (2-4 October 2023).

Smart packaging is a term that means different things to different communities. The aim of this article is to take a wider look at trends in smart packaging and consider some of the potential implications for tax stamps and track and trace solutions.

High security printing is based on features made available exclusively for that market. In the case of special inks, for example, this includes pigments with several modes of fluorescence, rare earth pigments, or different types of color shifting.

As the traditional linear 1D barcode celebrates its 50th birthday, its days could be numbered now that GS1 – the global body responsible for barcode standards – prepares for the worldwide acceptance of younger, 2D codes in retail outlets by the end of 2027.

The Switzerland-based Thymaris group is a second-generation family business that has been operating since 2000. The business provides integrated authentication technologies (software and machines) on a global scale. Its mission is to close the security gap in existing barcode serialisation infrastructures.

In September this year, Reconnaissance International will release a new publication – ‘Smartphones for Authentication’ – the only publication of its kind.

In India, each state has the power to control and regulate its own liquor trade. Given that the country comprises 29 states and seven union territories, each with their own set of laws, this presents a major challenge for the alcoholic beverage industry – a challenge that is further exacerbated by the limitations placed on the movement of alcohol between states.

This short series on emerging technologies was a result of presentations made at the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ (TSTF), in May 2022. This final article in the series picks up on one theme not yet covered – the topic of substrates. But first we should consider why this debate should be defined as an emerging technology.