There is tremendous interest in supply chain security, from preventing counterfeiting to providing authentication, serialization and track and trace features. This is of particular significance to the packaging industry, which is responsible for foods, medicines and much more.

The question becomes how to provide these features in an efficient, secure manner. INX International Ink Co. and VerifyMe, Inc. believe they have the answer.

INX and VerifyMe have been collaborating since January 2019 on inkjet inks incorporating VerifyMe’s RainbowSecure pigment. VerifyMe’s RainbowSecure™ invisible ink technology, which includes variable VeriPAS Serialization, track and trace technology, is then inkjetted as part of a hybrid system with label and packaging flexo or roll-fed presses.

Michael Brice, VP of sales and business development for INX International Ink Co., said that bottle caps and shrink sleeve applications featuring VerifyMe’s RainbowSecure invisible ink technology are in the market and readily available.

“Apparel labels have been successfully tested for durability using both covert and overt marks, and labels with covert variable data are also a viable product,” added Brice.

Brice noted that the collaboration began in early 2019 when VerifyMe was looking to expand its portfolio of print deposition methods.

“They needed an ink company with a global footprint and the ability to research, formulate and manufacture inks for all print mediums,” Brice said. “Keith Goldstein, the COO of VerifyMe, was introduced to me through a mutual friend. We met in January 2019 and Keith explained the technology and VerifyMe’s needs. He quickly realized that INX was the company to partner with in order to meet his strategic and growth needs.

“With the support of the INX executive management team and knowing this technology opportunity fits with INX’s enterprise strategy goals to work with brand owners and grow our platform for smart packaging, it was an obvious choice to secure a relationship and reach an agreement,” he added.

“We are very excited to work with VerifyMe to bring their proprietary security, authentication and tracking technology to label and packing manufacturers around the world,” said John Hrdlick, INX president and CEO. “We are strong believers in delivering what the market wants and needs, and there is a huge demand for brand protection and anti-counterfeiting. We look forward to working with VerifyMe’s team to bring their solutions to market.”

Brice noted that every industry has a significant counterfeiting and diversion problem.

“In a recent issue of Label & Narrow Web magazine, it noted that counterfeit pharmaceuticals amount to $200 billion annually,” Brice added. “According to a 2019 International Monetary Fund study, counterfeiting and piracy are estimated to be the sixth-largest economy in the world (nominal GDP) by 2022 at $2.8 trillion. That would rank between the economies of India and the UK. The greatest interest is in products that go in or on the body, such as food and beverage, cosmetics, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cannabis.”

Brice said that VerifyMe has a proprietary, patented security pigment and patented detection devices that work with cloud-based authentication for track and trace.

“Their technology is unique where they can combine both covert and overt codes that are either static or dynamic,” added Brice. “You can authenticate those codes via patented devices, decode them, and use geo-location for track and trace in a secure cloud server.”

“The RainbowSecure pigment is inorganic, with great lightfastness that illuminates at a particular wavelength,” Brice said. “INX has formulated inks with this pigment for metal deco, rigid plastic, offset, piezo inkjet, CIJ, UV flexo, solvent gravure and flexo. Product development is ongoing, depending on the brand owner and application need.

“Since the secure mark can be printed either as covert or overt – and in either a static or dynamic (variable) code – brand owners would determine what level of brand protection they require, as well as their data capture and track and trace needs before they engage with their printer/converter partner,” he added. “INX would then supply the ink based on their need and printing process. Brand owners would use the detection equipment supplied by VerifyMe to ensure product security and integrity, which could simply be detecting the presence of the taggant or full track and trace: detection, decode and authenticate.”

As part of the Sakata INX group, INX maintains a global footprint with world-class R&D and manufacturing capabilities for nearly all print mediums.

“We also maintain a commitment to consistent quality, sustainability, safety and employee welfare,” Brice continued. “INX is the only ink manufacturer in North America to achieve a certified Business Management System accredited by the ABS Quality Evaluations assessment organization. The certification includes three integrated standards: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018. All were key factors for VerifyMe in choosing an ink supplier.”

“This is a significant milestone for our company as we expand the global availability of our RainbowSecure technology,” VerifyMe CEO Patrick White said. “Our technology is currently available for use on the INX NW140 and NW210 UV digital inkjet presses that run INX NWUV multi-purpose inkjet inks for paper and plastic films. It will soon be available on additional industry-leading industrial inkjet heads used for variable printing in the high-speed label and packaging industry.”