Holograms set to combat counterfeiting

This will only strengthen holography’s role in areas such as tax stamp programmes in the next 12 months, combatting the multi-billion global trade in illicit or counterfeit tobacco and alcohol products.

While Europe and North America will continue to offer opportunity, it’s in the hot spots of Asia, where counterfeiting appears systemic, that offers massive commercial potential. IHMA chair Manoj Kochar said: "Countries across Asia, notably India and China, will continue to offer unprecedented scope for growth for holograms in the battle to stem the tide of counterfeit goods flooding onto the market.

 “We will continue to see over the coming months increased integration of holograms in these territories as part of brand protection strategies being adopted by government and security agencies looking to tackle the problem.”

 This will see the IHMA set to build on its work with the Chinese authorities to address the problems. Such moves will protect those retail brands destined for export markets against the threat of counterfeit criminals and organised crime.

 “Counterfeiting cannot be defeated in isolation, so collaboration with the likes of the IHMA will be paramount,” adds Manoj Kochar. “What we offer in terms of helping to tackle counterfeiting particularly with the use of the Hologram Image Register, has to be a welcome priority.

“International communication, open-mindedness and closer collaboration will be beneficial as we move forward, helping us to tackle and solve this problem together.”

This will include added value authentication solutions, as advocated in ISO 12931, to enable examiners to verify the authenticity of a legitimate product, differentiating it from the counterfeits.

 Even those that carry a ‘fake’ authentication feature can be distinguished from the genuine item if it carries a carefully thought-out authentication solution.

The arrival of new banknotes in 2018, including the new Armenian series, new notes from Canada and Australia and the new Swiss 200 Franc, will only strengthen holography’s central role as a cutting-edge security device.