Year: 2009

Part design:

In 2008 alone, fraudulent transactions using counterfeit credit cards caused losses of around EUR 40 million. However, our new polycarbonate film Makrofol® ID ProteXXion could put a stop to criminal activities in this “line of business”.
The film contains tiny metallic identification particles (OVDot®), which are distributed stochastically and can be arranged in customized patterns to deliver identification security features. In this way, each film has an unmistakable, unique surface. Every polycarbonate card produced using this type of overlay film is unique and thus virtually counterfeit-proof.
We are working closely with Bayer Technology Services GmbH on the market launch of the new film. The cooperation came about as a result of the ProteXXion® technology platform (www.protexxion.de) recently launched by the Bayer subgroup.
This platform features laser-optic scanners for reading off surface information to ensure counterfeit-proof authentication of objects. A laser scanner records and digitizes the reflective characteristics of an object’s surface and compresses the information using special analysis algorithms.
The resulting datasets can be compared at any time with previously generated registration scans stored in a database – either locally or via a Web application. This enables the object or card to be unambiguously authenticated.
Bayer Technology Services is making all the technical peripherals of ProteXXion® – such as laser-optic scanners and analysis and comparison software – available to companies using cards made of our new film for quick and indisputable card authentication.
The metal particles, which measure around a tenth of a millimeter, can also be provided with alphanumeric information, such as letters, to meet specific customer requirements. Logos, pictograms and national emblems can also be incorporated. This adds an extra dimension of security against counterfeiting.
In addition to cards, this new film offers great potential for all applications requiring unique object identification, such as brand protection for high-quality articles and in the production of counterfeit-proof labels.