Product security and quality control were major themes of this year's Interphex trade show, held April 26–28 in New York City. A variety of interesting packaging machinery innovations were featured at the event.

Hallie Forcinio

Overt technologies are readily visible and include features such as holograms or color-shifting ink. Covert technologies are not visible to the naked eye and include the use of security markers, or taggants, which can be mixed with inks, coatings, or the packaging material.

The taggant can be customized to create a unique signature for the product. Authentication can occur on three levels, including simple presence detection with an off-the-shelf scope, pattern matching of the cell-like taggant with a camera-based system, and the removal of the taggant to confirm its identity (Invisible Security Marker, Adhesives Research, Inc., Glen Rock, PA, http://www.adhesivesresearch.com/) Invisible Security Marker Micro-Imaging Reader, Complete Inspection Systems, Inc., Indiatlantic, FL, http://www.completeinspectionsystems.com/).

Label Vision Systems off-line configuration accommodates random sampling typically used to check incoming supplies. An in-line configuration mounts the bar code print verification system on the printing press or at the rewind.