Toppan develops Illumigram hologram

Trade in counterfeits and imitation goods that infringe intellectual property rights continues to expand, with the global scale estimated to reach nearly USD 4.7 trillion in 2022, the company said. Holograms can enable product authentication. 

 

Images appear when an intense light (point source) is shone on Illumigram, providing clarity for verification of authenticity. It is therefore anticipated to see demand from sectors looking to prevent the distribution of counterfeit goods. Toppan will target use for such items as pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, luxury brand goods, machinery and parts, licensed goods, and tickets/vouchers. 

 

Yoshiyuki Mizuguchi, senior general manager of Security Device Development in Toppan’s DX Design Division, said: ‘To distinguish authentic goods from counterfeits, there are growing needs for technologies using simple devices as well as methods based on visual confirmation with the naked eye. Illumigram is highly user-friendly in that it requires no dedicated device and assessment is possible using the naked eye because the optical effect can be produced by simply using a smartphone’s flashlight. We will continue to develop new hologram products that take advantage of our electron beam fine patterning and other manufacturing technologies as we aim to contribute to a safe and secure society by providing countermeasures to imitation goods.’  

 

The new patented technology achieves an effect whereby three-dimensional images can only be confirmed when illuminated by a point-source light. Clear assessment of authenticity can be made because the images appear even under the light of a smartphone’s flashlight. If the light source is moved, the three-dimensional images that appear move accordingly. 

 

Illumigram can be combined with conventional holograms that have clearly visible text and images. It can also be fused with Toppan’s existing hologram manufacturing technologies, such as Secure Color, which produces pastel structural color, and S-White, with which negative and positive images reverse when the hologram is turned through 90 degrees. In addition, Illumigram can be linked to ID-NEX, Toppan’s service for reading an ID with a smartphone to confirm authenticity.