Counterfeiting is one of those dirty "public" secrets in the tobacco world. Everyone knows that there is falsification and that counterfeiting can cause harm. However, no one knows how deep this wound is, and they cannot explain exactly how much damage is done by fraud.
More and more tobacco companies are looking for solutions to counterfeit issues and related thefts and hand-backs. These companies often incorporate solutions to these problems into their packaging. Now, there are even technologies that can identify products on site or in the lab.
Tobacco companies have found that safety is not an easy task because some methods are also easily counterfeited by counterfeiters. Everyone is beginning to realize that coating safety applications—whether explicitly or implicitly—are necessary, and that these applications must be supported by aggressively conducted identification and execution plans.
The problem is not just loss of income. In the past few years, some tobacco companies have established a large number of brand equity that they must protect. The sale of counterfeit cigarettes or cigars whose product quality or packaging is very poor will keep consumers away from these brands. If the package has taint or odor, this may even cause the company to bear the notoriety of no guarantee of quality. Brand equity may be one of the most valuable assets of tobacco companies.
There is a vacuum in the opportunity to develop a solution, and material suppliers, processors and high-tech companies are eager to fill this vacuum. Some companies have developed a fairly good technology, but the scope of application of this technology is often limited. As a result, they are not close to providing a thorough solution. Collaborating with companies that combine various elements such as packaging inks and taggants, it is a good idea to produce a comprehensive solution that is truly effective in the market.
Difficulties
In choosing to ensure product safety, tobacco companies face three difficult factors that must be overcome: quantity, speed, and price. For example, due to the large number of cigarettes produced per day, it is virtually impossible to use safety applications on each cigarette. In addition, the cost of doing so is too great.
However, it is possible to incorporate safety methods into the design of primary packaging, carton wrapping, and banding. Through the visual or other effects generated by ink applications, tobacco companies can track the products they produce, verify the authenticity of the products, and take advantage of brand recognition features that are difficult to replicate to prevent their product copyright from being infringed.
In general, there are two basic types of security ink: implicit and explicit. Explicit security features are visible to consumers. These may include special pigments that have unique luster or color conversion capabilities and are often used as trademarks or logo colors to make it easier to identify genuine products. The hidden effect is hidden, and consumers can't see it, but if you know what to look for, then you can see these effects. These effect recognition may require special testing equipment.
Another possible security application is Radio Frequency Identification (FRID), which enables data to be transmitted by a mobile device called a tag. The RFID tag has an antenna that enables these tags to receive inquiries from the RFID transceiver and react to these inquiries. This label may contain special information about the product, such as the date and place of production, transit points, and so on. RFID tags have proven very useful in inventory control and supply chain management. However, the cost of these labels and the ability of tobacco processors to apply all of them to packaging still need to be addressed. It is not generally considered that RFID is an effective security device because it is very easy to arbitrarily alter and alter the data. Consumers also worry that the data stored in the RFID system may infringe their privacy.
Variable marker
Another possible solution is to use variable tags, which may include codes that provide important information about cigarettes, sources of cigarettes, and channels for cigarettes to reach the market. It has been found that counterfeiters can easily print this code to bypass this security hurdle — but only if the counterfeiter sees the code and knows where the code is on the package. To this point. This technology provides the ability to "track and trace" throughout the supply chain.
The concept is to apply “encoded ink” (ink with a unique signature code) to the product package and “feel” it by applying proprietary reader and taggant technologies. These can be incorporated into any element of the package and are invisible to the naked eye.
It is estimated that more than 300 companies provide technology to prevent counterfeiting and identification of products. Many of these companies only provide one or two elements of safe packaging. However, other companies are closer to providing overall solutions.
The scope of these security issues has grown to the extent that tobacco companies cannot ignore them. There are a variety of dazzling security choices in the market. Choosing the right solution can save your brand image and help you regain lost income.
Unique anti-counterfeiting features
Sun Chemical is the world's largest manufacturer of printing inks and pigments. It offers products with unique anti-counterfeiting properties that can be used for both explicit and implicit applications, but this feature is also recognized for achieving the low stain and stringent taste control required by the industry. It is one of the largest suppliers of inks and coatings to the tobacco industry. It has a series of well-established products, from alphabetic designs and tipping paper inks to transparent outer wrappers for outer films. Since Sun Chemicals is active in all areas of packaging and is an international supplier, it can ensure that all products work together to ensure success. It even produces low-cost printed conductive inks for RFID antennas.
Packaging products
Sun Chemical's SunScree technology extends beyond packaging. It provides exciting new technologies that enable rapid identification of actual products without the use of taggants or labels. As a single system, this technology for criminal detection “snaps” the entire product “fingerprint” and can also be used to ensure quality and production sources without the need to add other substances to the product. Sun Chemical's appraisal system uses a portable field application system to conduct criminal detection-based “live” authenticity testing and high-speed automated detection of thousands of samples for authenticity screening. For example, even if other anti-counterfeiting measures are destroyed, tobacco companies can know within a few minutes whether a cigarette is the product they produce. Much like the high-tech criminal investigation evidence shown in the American popular television series "CSI", this scientific evidence has even been recognized by the court.
Another important factor to consider in terms of product safety is to ensure that the elements you use to prevent counterfeiting do not fall into the hands of the counterfeiter, because these counterfeiters will use them against you. Supply chain security is extremely important. Tobacco companies can produce their products in countless locations around the world. Because the cost of security inks or specialty ink products is usually more expensive than traditional ink systems. However, they are much cheaper than many other types of anti-counterfeiting technologies. These inks can be mixed with rare raw materials that combine to produce a truly "high-tech" product while at the same time ensuring consumer safety. The degree of blending is the key to defeating counterfeiters. The coating safety device makes it difficult for a counterfeiter to identify and purchase all the special materials that are applied. In some cases, special detection equipment may be added to ensure that more stringent safety standards are met. In general, the cost of buying anti-counterfeiting inks is very small compared with the possible loss of sales or consumers' lower trust due to poor quality “replica”.
All security and anti-counterfeit inks are custom-made. Sun Chemicals Company does not openly discuss all options that can be applied to increase the security of these special inks and stop any unauthorized use of these materials. When a customer expresses interest in the ink or coating, a thorough assessment of the options can be made when needed. Sun Chemicals does not provide “a hundred households” products that meet various needs. It can help brand owners understand their needs and determine what options may be most effective for them in this highly classified area. . Often, only a small group of people inside the tobacco company understands the various security features, and they must believe that suppliers like solar chemicals will ensure their confidentiality.
