Unique colour reader helps deliver security breakthrough that embeds extreme protection in routine printing

* novel spectrometer helps realise low-cost detector for document/product authentication

An innovative security printing solution that addresses the growing global problem of product and document counterfeiting is making its worldwide debut at Technology World05. Developed by UK innovator Colour Secure, the company's unique ‘colour signatures’ promise to extend sophisticated anti-counterfeiting protection to a far wider audience than previously possible, and are verified by a colour reading terminal employing a novel form of spectrometer designed by Cambridge Consultants.

Colour Secure's colour signatures can be printed onto documents and products such as passports and pharmaceutical packaging as part of the normal production or production process - at a fraction of the cost of alternative security techniques in common use today. This printing can even be done using a conventional office printer and security inks.

Cambridge Consultants' role has been to help combine this innovative low-cost security technique with a simple colour recognition capability that can accurately measure invisible-to-the-eye information embedded in the colour signatures.

To achieve this, Cambridge Consultants produced a novel spectrometer, which has been integrated into a compact handheld verification terminal developed by the electronics design and manufacturing consultancy Ingenion Design. The resulting package is allowing the security company to demonstrate its colour signatures, and to provide development kits to users such as governments and corporations.

"Cambridge Consultants' colour reading technology is helping us to widen the potential applications for our security process substantially - as it helps to bring authentication costs down to a level that makes sense even for small volume applications", says Professor Peter Keay of Colour Secure. "The consultancy has worked alongside us as part of our development team, helping us to simplify and speed our path to market."

"For this application we focused on developing colour recognition technology that is both low cost and robust, based on patented intellectual property we have in this technology area", adds Dr Bob Jones of Cambridge Consultants. "By employing innovative design techniques we've managed to come up with a spectrometer element that can be built for a relatively low price in volume, helping keep the cost of terminals down to enable Colour Secure's security innovation to be commercialised at an attractive price".

Colour Secure's technology uses special security inks that create unique and discreet colour signatures that can be printed onto labels or documents using standard printing technology. These signatures can hold encrypted information such as product ID, to combat attempts at forgery. The colour signatures are virtually impossible to copy and cannot be read by any other commercially-available terminal.

The technology can be applied in many industry sectors as an anti-fraud tool or administrative aid. Applications include: printing on high value product labels and packaging to verify genuine goods and identify fakes; improved security on passports, ID cards, visas and similar documents containing personal details; printing on products to aid stock control and supply chain management; use with pharmaceutical products to guarantee the products are genuine; printing on tickets for high value events such as concerts and sports matches; security on currency, bonds, legal documents and certificates; authentication and coordination of travel documents such as boarding cards and tickets.

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Notes for editors:

Cambridge Consultants Ltd has for over 40 years enabled its clients to turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of over 200 engineers, scientists and consultants in offices in Cambridge (UK) & Boston (USA), it is able to offer solutions across a diverse range of industries including healthcare, industrial & consumer products, automotive, transport, energy & wireless communications.

Colour Signature is a trademark of Colour Secure.